ABOUT ME
Eric Holm
Interactive Media @ HvA
Physical computing with Arduino

WHAT I’M GOING TO TELL
What 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 ARDUINO
Open 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 BOARD
The 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 PHILOPSOPHY
The ‘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 ON
MAKING DESIGN RATHER THEN TALKING
ABOUT IT”

DIGITAL OUTPUT
The blinking LED the ‘Hello World’ of
physical computing.

DIGITAL OUTPUT + ANALOG INPUT
Analog input with a Potentio meter to
control the blinking interval of the LED.

DIGITAL OUTPUT + ANALOG INPUT
Analog input with a Light Dependent
Resistor (LDR) to control the interval of the
blinking LED.

DATA + ARDUINO + PC
The USB port on the Arduino is a
virtual Serial Port in your computer.
Some software that can talk to the
Serial Port:
- Processing
- Flash (not directly)
- Director
- Max/MSP
- Pure Data
- Ruby/Python/C

ARDUINO & PROCESSING
Analog input with a potentio meter to
control something on the screen.

ARDUINO & FLASH
Advanced digital input: digital
accelerometer
(used in Laptops, Air bag systems and the Nintendo wii
controller)

A LOT MORE STUFF TO CONNECT
sensors:
distance sensor, temperature sensors, gyro
scope,
actuators:
leds, piezo speakers, electrical motors, etc.
etc.

MY GRADUATION PROJECT
1) 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