Category: arduino

Yesterday was the first of the four classes that comprise the Spooky Projects – Introduction to Microcontrollers with Arduino. Click that link to read the class notes and see some of the links mentioned.

The class seemed to go okay. We finished a little early. I had packed the first class a bit light fearing we’d be fighting USB serial driver issues, but the students in this class are all smart cookies and solved any issues they had themselves.

Logistically, the class was sponsored and held at Machine Project. They have a new large open area downstairs that is perfect for meetings or classes of around 15 people. It’s a great space and separated from the main gallery space meaning that classes and gallery showings don’t collide.

Parallax’s Basic Stamp is the mainstay for hobbyists wanting to add intelligence to everyday devices. A new system called Arduino provides the benefits of the Basic Stamp at a greatly reduced cost, increased speed, and is entirely open-source.

Continue reading “Arduino, the Basic Stamp killer”

Do you love Arduino?
Do you think the concept of Arduino shields is just the coolest?
Do you wish you could get some of those neat Arduino Prototyping Shields that Tom Igoe made?
Too bad no one sells them yet, because building your own versions of those boards is a bit out there for us ADD’ers.

Don’t despair, there is a solution to the lack of breadboarduinos. You can build your own Arduino shield with a solderless breadboard in about 10 minutes and 10 bucks. It’s not nearly as full-featured as Tom’s prototyping shields, but it’s great way to quickly add a solderless breadboard to Arduino.

Continue reading “Arduino breadboard shield: $10 & 10 mins”