Arduino: The physical to your digital
By Thomas Ruffie at January 27, 2012 | 11:22 amPrint
With the help of technologies like Kinect, 2011 saw the rise of an increased interest in interactive installations.
Whether it was for art, for marketing, for fun or anything else, interactive installations popped up everywhere around the globe last year. The basic concept usually consisted of a projector, a surface to act as a display and a sensor (such as the Kinect).
The problem with this is that it can limit your technical and creative teams, especially if you want your software to interact with the physical world in an engaging and meaningful way.
The answer to that problem is Arduino.
So what is Arduino?
The official definition for Arduino is “an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments”.
To put it simply, it’s a tiny programmable computer that can do anything you want it to with the help of buttons, sensors, diodes, servos and much more. And everything is open source!
Arduino can be broken down in two parts: the software and the hardware.
The software is an IDE written in Java and looks very much like the Processing IDE.
The language you use is the Arduino Programming Language, which is based on Wiring, a C/C++ framework for microcontrollers.
There are 13 different Arduino boards at the moment, each with their own specs.
The board’s main part is the microcontroller, which is the part you will program using the Arduino IDE. You also have the programmable input/output pins that allow you to connect all of your components, including buttons, sensors, LEDs, servos etc.
On top of that, you can hook up compatible ‘shields’. Shields are boards with a specific purpose that you can plug into your Arduino, like an mp3 player, a joystick or an LCD screen.
So Arduino’s goal is to make dealing with electronics a simple matter. In fact, you don’t even need to know much about electronics or microcontrollers to get started! And the awesomeness doesn’t stop there – you can get a basic Arduino board for around $25!
What can you do with Arduino?
ANYTHING! Arduino opens up an infinite number of amazing possibilities. In fact, the only limitation is your own imagination. I mentioned interactive installations earlier, like this awesome wooden mirror.
But Arduino can be used for much, much more. It’s probably easier to show you examples of what people have been using it for.
Want to build an open source game boy?
Use servos, a GPS unit and a battery pack to make an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?
Or a laser harp…?
So, you see, the possibilities are endless. Check out this link for more examples, a great place to start with the top 40 Arduino projects list (dating from 2009).
Arduino connectivity
Another exciting side of Arduino is the connectivity options. The board on its own can do a lot, but by using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a USB connection you can add to that the power of external hardware or software.
You could, for example, connect an Android device to use the phone’s touchscreen as an interface or to use the phone’s sensors (accelerometer, compass, light sensor) to send data back to the board. Like this RC car controlled from an app on the phone.
Using a serial to socket server you can also link your javascript or flash code to interact with Arduino. That’s a load of possibilities for such an inexpensive little piece of electronics.
It becomes very interesting for us when exploring new ideas for our clients, and finding more interesting and interactive ways to promote a brand or an event.
What do I need to get started?
So you’re hooked and feel like giving it a try? You’ll need to start by getting your hands on an Arduino board. You can find a lot of introductory packages online that also come with the essential components.
Then follow the instructions on the ‘getting started’ page of the Arduino site to install the software.
And that’s it! There’s nothing more to it – the set-up is extremely quick and easy. If you don’t already have an idea on what to work on you can find thousands of project guidelines online to help you build amazing things, step by step. Enjoy!