Arduino For Dummies

Learn to: Build exciting interactive projects using Arduino Integrate inputs, outputs, and existing hardware into your projects Construct robust prototypes to get your project out into the real world Communicate between hardware and software using Arduino and Processing The quick, easy way to leap into the fascinating world of physical computing Arduino is no ordinary circuit board. Whether you′re an artist, a designer, a programmer, or a hobbyist, Arduino lets you learn about and play with electronics. You′ll discover how to build a variety of circuits that can sense or control real–world objects, prototype your own product, and even create interactive artwork. This handy guide is exactly what you need to build your own Arduino project — what you make is up to you! Learn by doing – start building circuits and programming your Arduino with a few easy examples — right away! Easy does it – work through Arduino sketches line by line, and learn how they work and how to write your own Solder on! – don′t know a soldering iron from a curling iron? No problem! You′ll learn the basics and be prototyping in no time Kitted out – discover new and interesting hardware to turn your Arduino into anything from a mobile phone to a Geiger counter Become an Arduino savant – find out about functions, arrays, libraries, shields, and other tools that let you take your Arduino project to the next level Get social – teach your Arduino to communicate with software running on a computer to link the physical world with the virtual world Open the book and find: Help choosing an Arduino starter kit How to set up your Arduino and install the Arduino Development Environment Projects you can build that produce light, sound, and motion Instructions on prototyping using breadboards and a soldering iron How to use different inputs and outputs in your projects Tips for hacking existing hardware Ways to extend Arduino′s capabilities with libraries and shields

Foreword  xvii Introduction  1 Part I: Getting to Know Arduino  5 Chapter 1: What Is Arduino and Where Did It Come From? 7 Chapter 2: Finding Your Board and Your Way Around It 17 Chapter 3: Downloading and Installing Arduino 33 Chapter 4: Blinking an LED 41 Part II: Getting Physical with Arduino  61 Chapter 5: Tools of the Trade 63 Chapter 6: A Primer on Electricity and Circuitry 75 Chapter 7: Basic Sketches: Inputs, Outputs, and Communication 91 Chapter 8: More Basic Sketches: Motion and Sound 123 Part III: Building on the Basics  161 Chapter 9: Learning by Example 163 Chapter 10: Soldering On 179 Chapter 11: Getting Clever with Code 209 Chapter 12: Common Sense with Common Sensors 241 Part IV: Unlocking Your Arduino’s Potential 287 Chapter 13: Becoming a Specialist with Shields and Libraries 289 Chapter 14: Sensing More Inputs and Controlling More Outputs 315 Chapter 15: Multiplying Your Outputs with I2C 339 Part V: Sussing Out Software  357 Chapter 16: Getting to Know Processing 359 Chapter 17: Processing the Physical World 359 Part VI: The Part of Tens  407 Chapter 18: Ten Places to Learn More about Arduino 409 Chapter 19: Ten Great Shops to Know 413 Chapter 20: Ten Places to Find Parts and Components 417 Index  421 Bonus Chapter: Hacking Other Hardware On the Companion Website at wwwdummiescom/go/arduinofd

John Nussey is a specialist in physical computing who has worked for many years creating interactive art installations and prototyping products using Arduino. He is a proud advocate of Arduino and teaches the craft of interaction design, hacking, and prototyping to people of all ages, competencies, and abilities.