What is an Arduino? And what can you do with one?

An Arduino is a tiny, inexpensive "computer" that allows you to directly control electricity. What that means is that you can use an Arduino to sense things in your environment using sensors (e.g. buttons, motion sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and lots more!) and to also control things in your physical world (e.g. move a motor, open a door, spray your cat!)

Arduino has an easy to use programming language so it's great for artists and hobbyist to get started. Check out some of the innovative projects built using Arduino on Vimeo! http://vimeo.com/couchmode/groups/arduinoprojects/sort:date/53613943

I want to do that! Tell me more...

Already know what a variable is? How about a for-loop? Then this Arduino workshop is for you! Attendance is capped at 8 people so you'll be guarenteed lots of individual instructor attention.

In this 3 hour course, we will:

• Start off by using these Arduino prototyping boards from Sparkfun: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10889.
• Write code to make the supplied electronics components buzz, light up, and react to human input
• Move along to the Arduino Uno and learn about electricity and curcuits using "breadboards" and "jumper wires"
• Never soldered before? Yep, we'll do that too!

Remember that materials are worked into the registration fee so, at the end of the workshop, you walk away with your own:

• Arduino Uno w/ USB cable
• Breadboard and jumper wires
• LEDs and resistors
• Buzzer
• Light sensor
• Servo Motor

Prerequisites:

Note that I assume no previous electronics experience however I ask that you are comfortable reading and writing code. The Arduino programming language is based on a simplied version of C++ but if you know the basics of JavaScript, Java, Processing, Python, etc then you should be fine.

Try reading this:

int numMice = 3;
char type[6] = "blind";

void printMice() {
  for ( int i = 1; i <= numMice; i++ ) {
    if ( i == 1 ) { 
      Serial.print( i + " " + type + " mouse" );
    }else{
      Serial.print( i + " " + type + " mice" );
    }
  }
}

printMice();
 

(If the above is gibberish, you should instead attend my Intro to Arduino Programming (for absolute beginners) workshop. Please check klab.eventbrite.com for upcoming workshops. If it's not listed, please let me know if you would like me to host one! I only need 6 attendees to make a workshop happen.)

If you have any questions, feel free to reach me at pearl[at]karma-laboratory.com.

Things to bring to the workshop

Bring your laptop and power cord! If possible, please also download and install the Arduino 1.0.2 software for your operating system in advance from http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

Want to bring your son, daughter, neice or nephew along?

Kids and teenagers (12 and up) are welcome to attend when accompanied by an adult. If you choose to bring them along, you will be "pair programming" with them on the same laptop and electronics kits.

About the instructor 

From HTML to LEDs, or Android to Arduino — Pearl Chen takes on a cross-disciplinary approach to her work. Pearl was most recently the Senior Manager Research & Technology at the CFC Media Lab and is now working independently as an educator teaching web development, Android, and electronics -- while also building tools for other educators. 

Alongside contributing to open source educational resources hosted on Github, Pearl is a published author and contributed the NFC and Open Accessory API chapters to Professional Android Sensor Programming published by Wrox.

She can be reached on Google+ (http://klab.ca/+), on Twitter (@pearlchen), or old-fashioned email (pearl[at]karma-laboratory.com).

About the host

Maker Kids is a non-profit organization that enables kids to build their ideas with real tools and materials. Our goal is to inspire and empower kids to think, design, experiment and create. We offer workshops, seminars, and afterschool programs at our Makerspace in Roncesvalles village, and participate in events in Toronto and the area.