CASScot12 - Chris Martin - Arduino

{Live capture of session at CASScot2012}

One standpoint is you need to walk before you can run.
Others think, no, you need something to run towards.

First standpoint is the importance of setting foundations and introducing the basics. The other is about inspiration.

{Curses! Lost stuff while I went and fiddled with the Arduino. I'll quickly try and type up what I remember. - DM}

Started out talking about inspiration and showed an example of an Arduino kit that used ultrasonic sensors to detect when someone walked past. Every time someone was detected, it played a bit of "Pop Goes The Weasel". At the end of the song, there's a surprise {Deliberately vague in case you ever see the same demonstaration! - DM} Talked about the inter-disciplinary nature of such a project. Showed a video of an advert students created for a physical interface to Twitter.

Went on to develop an Aduino program which started with a simple "turn on a light" program and progressed to using potentiometers, buttons and sound. Talked about making variables physical.

Really nice demonstration. An Adruino starter kit can be purchased from Proto-Pic.