ABOUT MEEric Holm

Interactive Media @ HvA

Physical computing with Arduino

WHAT I’M GOING TO TELLWhat is Physical Computing?

What is Arduino?

Some Demo’s

My graduation project

PHYSICAL COMPUTING (definition by Wikipedia)

Physical computing, in the broadest

sense, means building interactive physical

systems by the use of software and

hardware that can sense and respond to

the analog world.

PHYSICAL COMPUTING (definition by Arduino)

Physical Computing is about prototyping

with electronics, turning sensors, actuators

and microcontrollers into materials for

designers and artists.

PHYSICAL COMPUTING (definition by Arduino)

Physical Computing is about prototyping

with electronics, turning sensors, actuators

and microcontrollers into materials for

designers and artists.

WHAT IS ARDUINOOpen Source Physical Computing Platform

• a physical board

• a programming environment

• a development philosophy

THE ARDUINO BOARD

Small computer with inputs and outputs

that you can program.

THE ARDUINO BOARDThe microcontroller can run completely

stand-alone, talks to other devices.

Specifications:• 8 kBytes of Flash memory (new version 16 kB)

• 1 kByte RAM

• 16 MHz clock

• 13 digital input/output pins

• 5 analog input pins

• 3 analog output pins (PWM)

• usb connection

WHY ARDUINO?Arduino was developed out of an

educational environment and is therefore

great for newcomers to get things working

quickly.

• well documented, a lot of examples and a great

community

• open source hardware/software

• works on Windows/Mac and Linux

• usb connection

• (cheap)

A DEVELOPMENT PHILOPSOPHYThe ‘Arduino Way’

• making instead of talking

• getting lost

• hacking

THE ARDUINO BOARD

HOW DOES IT WORK?• Write code on your Computer

• Upload it to the Arduino board

• Arduino board can then be used

standalone

“THE ARDUINO PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ONMAKING DESIGN RATHER THEN TALKINGABOUT IT”

DIGITAL OUTPUTThe blinking LED the ‘Hello World’ of

physical computing.

DIGITAL OUTPUT + ANALOG INPUTAnalog input with a Potentio meter to

control the blinking interval of the LED.

DIGITAL OUTPUT + ANALOG INPUTAnalog input with a Light Dependent

Resistor (LDR) to control the interval of the

blinking LED.

DATA + ARDUINO + PCThe USB port on the Arduino is avirtual Serial Port in your computer.

Some software that can talk to theSerial Port:- Processing

- Flash (not directly)

- Director

- Max/MSP

- Pure Data

- Ruby/Python/C

ARDUINO & PROCESSINGAnalog input with a potentio meter to

control something on the screen.

ARDUINO & FLASHAdvanced digital input: digital

accelerometer(used in Laptops, Air bag systems and the Nintendo wii

controller)

A LOT MORE STUFF TO CONNECTsensors:

distance sensor, temperature sensors, gyro

scope,

actuators:

leds, piezo speakers, electrical motors, etc.

etc.

MY GRADUATION PROJECT1) setting up a workshop for the Study of

Interactive Media

2) a project with the Arduino

OTHER ARDUINO’S

CONCLUSION (SORT OF)• great way to prototype your product

• a totally new way to interface your

computer

• easy to start

QUESTIONS?This presentation and some more info,

on my weblog:

www.ericholm.nl/blog