Introduction to
Hardware hacking
and Arduino
Sudar Muthu
Research Engineer, Yahoo! Labs
http://sudarmuthu.com
http://github.com/sudar
http://twitter.com/sudarmuthu

Agenda
 Why hardware for a software hacker?
 Isn’t it tough?
 Anatomy of a hardware hack
 Arduino
 Demo #1
 Talking to internet using YQL
 Talking to mobile
 Some projects which I have done
 Some hack ideas
 Thank you & Questions

Why hardware for a software hacker
 Ability to interact with the physical world.
 Removes the different layers of abstraction.
 It’s very satisfying to see objects obeying your command.
 Open lot of possibilities, especially in mobile space.
 It’s Fun!

Isn’t it tough?
NO!

Isn’t it tough?
NO!
And I will show you how 

Anatomy of a hardware hack
Sensors Motors
Processor

Motors

Sensors

Processor

Arduino
 Visual Basic for hardware
 Includes both Hardware and software
Photo credit Arduino team

Demo
Let there be LIGHT

Hardware setup

Code

Talking to internet
What you need?
An Ethernet Shield or A Wifi Shield

Talking to internet
You can also use YQL 
Both JSON and XML parsers are also
available

Talking to mobile (Android)
What you need?
ADK board or
Arduino and USB Host Shield

Other ways to make them talk
 Over Bluetooth
 Over WIFI
 Over USB
 ADK
 Normal Way
 Over Audio Jacket
 Over GSM
 Over C2DM
 Over NFC
 Others (Intermediate computer etc)

Some hacks which I have done
 Asimi – Arduino bot controlled by Android -
http://sudarmuthu.com/arduino/asimi
 iAndroidRemote – Control an Android phone using an Apple
remote - http://sudarmuthu.com/arduino/iandroidremote
 MissileLauncher – Control a USB MissileLauncher from Android -
http://sudarmuthu.com/arduino/missile-launcher
 WiiRemote – Control Arduino using WiiRemote -
http://sudarmuthu.com/arduino/wiiremote
Full list available at http://sudarmuthu.com/arduino

Hack ideas
 Get whether data and show it creatively
 Control a bot using Yahoo Messenger
 A creative way to show Messenger buzz
 Share business cards using NFC
 Snail mail alert
 A plant that pings you in Messenger when it needs water
 Get a ping in Messenger when your pet/child goes out of the
door
Most importantly have fun 

Programmable watch - Chronos ez430
Yes I was controlling the PPT using this watch 
http://sudarmuthu.com/blog/using-ez430-to-control-ppts-in-mac

Questions
Thank You
Sudar Muthu
http://sudarmuthu.com
http://gitbub.com/sudar
http://twitter.com/sudarmuthu