oh I just remembered, you'll probably need a MAX232 chip to interface with the serial port. they're very simple to use if I remember right. you need this because serial ports communicate at certain rates and other things, basically the data needs to be "prepared" to be sent to the port.
you can get free samples of the MAX232 chip from the manufacturer (I did this a while back when I had to wire a serial port onto an I-opener internet appliance, but it was a while back)
http://www.maxim-ic.com/ (Go to Samples and Literature)
thanks dean i appreciate it, i may start out with doing a dev board, but this might come out handy
and also remember you'll need some defibulators and discombobulatorizers with snazz-lite driveshafts (www.startrek.com). make sure you tell them barbara streissand sent you.