'How to use a microcontroller' is not taught in most biology programs, hence what any electronics enthusiast must do is either attend an engineering or electronics course or teach themselves. This is ironic because many of the scientific instruments one uses are super expensive, but would be inexpensive to make (i.e. data loggers). There is often an assumption in science that the more expensive an instrument the more accurate it is; that the sum is more than the components. Perhaps companies well versed in industrial design often make more hardy, consumer friendly instruments than the average maker. As such, it is important to use good design principles when making something that other people will use.
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| Adafruit arduino experimenter kit and guide |
My dive into microcontrollers was via the Adafruit
arduino experimenter kit ($85). I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn to use microcontrollers and analog components (such as relays, potentiometers, temperature and light sensors, motors, pressure sensors, etc). Each section was a tutorial on a component, such as a temperature sensor, with a wiring diagram, example code (online and in the book), and suggestions on how to tweak the system and better understand it. This was the best set of tutorials on any subject I have ever used. I am not only super impressed with adafruit's prototyping device design but with their pedagogical design as well.
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| Tom Igoe's popular science physical computing book! |
I am currently reading 'Making Things Talk,' a popular science guide to physical computing by Tom Igoe. Tutorials are on networking your arduino through projects such as physically playing a game of computer pong using a stuffed animal monkey, and having a cat send pictures to you via the internet by stepping on sensors.
