Getting Started with Arduino

What Is Physical Computing?

Physical Computing uses electronics to prototype new materials for designers and artists.

It involves the design of interactive objects that can communicate with humans using sensors and actuators controlled by a behaviour implemented as software running inside a microcontroller (a small computer on a single chip).

In the past, using electronics meant having to deal with engineers all the time, and building circuits one small component at the time; these issues kept creative people from playing around with the medium directly. Most of the tools were meant for engineers and required extensive knowledge. In recent years, microcontrollers have become cheaper and easier to use, allowing the creation of better tools.

The progress that we have made with Arduino is to bring these tools one step closer to the novice, allowing people to start building stuff after only two or three days of a workshop.

With Arduino, a designer or artist can get to know the basics of electronics and sensors very quickly and can start building prototypes with very little investment.