Making Things Talk

56 MAKING THINGS TALK

Saying Something: The Application Layer

Now that you’ve got a sense of how to make the connections between devices,

let’s build a couple of projects to understand how to organize the data sent in order

to get things done.

Monski pong

In this example, you’ll make a replacement

for a mouse. If you think about the mouse

as a data object, it looks like Figure 2-5.

MATERIALS

» 2 flex sensor resistors Images SI, Inc, (www.

imagesco.com) part number FLX-01, or Jameco

(www.jameco.com) part number 150551

» 2 momentary switches Available from any

electronics retailer. Pick the one that makes you

the happiest. Jameco part number 174414 is shown

here.

» 4 10-kilohm resistors Available at many retailers,

for example Digi-Key (www.digikey.com)

part number 10K-QBK-ND, and many others.

» 1 solderless breadboard For instance, Digi-Key

part number 438-1045-ND, Jameco part number

20601

» 1 Arduino microcontroller module

» 1 personal computer

» All necessary converters to communicate

serially from microcontroller to computer For

the Arduino and Wiring modules, all you’ll need

is a USB cable. For other microcontrollers, you’ll

probably need a USB-to-serial converter and a

connector to connect to your breadboard. Whatever

you’ve used in the past for serial communication

will work for this project.

» 1 small pink monkey aka Monski. You may want

a second one for a two-player game.

Project ...