After some research, it was determined that it would be relatively simple to have an Arduino convert incoming serial data into a parallel output to the printer.

While the Arduino family of boards connect to your computer using a USB virtual serial port, the ATmega ones have an actual serial connection on-board.

Arduino runs BASIC with colour output Check out the this colourful but BASIC use of Arduino... I flagged this one in the "Tweets of the Week" section of Electronics Weekly magazine, from the Arduino ...