var val; 
     #get a positive value for acceleration
     # >128 indicates acceleration
     val=js2.a[1]/2+128;     
     #produce a braking value
     # <128 indicates brakes
     # we need to reverse the sense of the axis
     val-=js2.a[0]/2;     
     a[0]=val;
     #note that accelerating and braking at 
     # the same time results in no action
     # but cannot be resolved here