Monday 7 June 2010

Hardware: Phidgets

Portage: Crossing Points (click for micro-site which, with I worked on with the help of Paul Mackinnon of Dundee University) when setting up the exhibition, which is currently on in Bonhoga Gallery, Shetland, I heard one of the artists speaking about a "Phidget"...

"What are Phidgets?

Phidgets are a set of "plug and play" building blocks for low cost USB sensing and control from your PC.

All the USB complexity is taken care of by our robust API. Applications can be developed quickly by programmers using their favorite language: C/C++, C#, Cocoa, Delphi, Flash AS3, Flex AS3, Java, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Max/MSP, MRS, Python, REALBasic, Visual Basic.NET, Visual Basic 6.0, Visual Basic for Applications, Visual Basic Script, and Visual C/C++/Borland.NET."

Website: http://www.phidgets.com/

Friday 4 June 2010

Hardware: Arduino

Over the past few weeks I have been reading up on some books, some posted in earlier post Book List. One which I read in one sitting was "Getting Started with Arduino", has made me very excited about stating to work with Arduino on this project.

I must say, all the books Ive been reading are targeted directly at designers/artists of projects just like this, so the books have given me a great understanding as they talk on the same level, I would thoroughly recommend them for any artists or designer thinking about interactivity in their work!

There is a long way to go yet but I now know that what I thought was impossible for me to do, will be totally possible, especially with the help of these books and advice/help from people who are interested in becoming involved. Another thing to explore is the online communities for the likes of Arduino, they will be a great resource for understanding and problem solving!

My next step with this project is to start prototyping using hardware and programming, I am just going through what best hardware to purchase, from the Arduino website there are a number of suppliers in the UK.

Arduino Website
Arduino Forums - to explore!

Suppliers UK:
Cool Components
SK Pang Electronics
oomlout
Robotiq
RobotBits

Got my eye on this one to begin with (Arduino Duemilano Starter Kit - E v2) from SK Pang.