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Physical Computing Lab

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Useful learning resources

Physical Computing Lab

Books Getting Started With Arduino 3rd Edition by Massimo Banzi and Michael Shiloh A short and practical guide to the getting started with the Arduino platform. Explains what you might use it for, the principles behind the platform, some basic code and elect...

electronics
pcomp

Making sounds with a piezo

How To Guides Physical Computing

'Piezo' normally refers to an electrical component which can be used to make sound, however more broadly a piezo is a component that is susceptible to the two-way piezoelectric effect where pressing or squeezing the piezo element can create a small voltage, an...

guide
components
pcomp
electronics

Using a Sparkfun Sound Detector

How To Guides Physical Computing

The Sound Detector is a board made by Sparkfun electronics that provides a way to detect ambient sound levels. There are three connections on the board: Audio - This is the raw audio from the microphone. Envelope - This is a analog value representing the vo...

guide
electronics
pcomp
sound
music
sensors

How to connect a push button or switch

How To Guides Physical Computing

Buttons and switches are a way of opening and closing a circuit, i.e. making and breaking a connection as one of the most rudimentary forms of sensor you can use with an Arduino. There are dozens of different types of switches and buttons, but at their most ba...

pcomp
guide
sensors
electronics
components

Using a HC-SR04 distance sensor

How To Guides Physical Computing

The HC-SR04 is a ultrasonic distance sensor, it uses ultrasound to send out a ping and measure how long the sound takes to come back, exactly like bats use to fly in the dark. The sensor works between 2-400cm however if the ping sound is reflected away from th...

guide
sensors
components
pcomp
electronics

Connecting a Potentiometer

How To Guides Physical Computing

A potentiometer (often abbreviated to pot) is an electronic component with three connections, the main purpose of the pot is to create a variable voltage as an input to a circuit, for example controlling how loud your speakers should be. Inside a potentiomete...

guide
electronics
pcomp
components
sensors

How to connect a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

How To Guides Physical Computing

An LDR or Light Dependent Resistor is a component which restricts how much power can flow through a circuit based on how much or little light hits the sensitive part on the top. Wiring To use a Light Dependent Resistor, we have to use it in combination with a...

sensors
guide
pcomp
components
electronics

How to use a rotary encoder

How To Guides Physical Computing

A rotary encoder is a device used to measure the rotation of something, similar to a rotary potentiometer but not limited to how many rotations can be made, a common example of a rotary encoder is the volume dial on a car radio, which can be turned infinitely ...

components
guide
electronics
pcomp
sensors

Using the serial monitor and serial logger

How To Guides Physical Computing

Serial communication is a type of communication between two devices, normally between a computer and a microcontroller (such as an Arduino), between computers, or between Arduinos. Serial communication can be over physical cables between two Arduinos, or via a...

guide
electronics
pcomp
arduino

Using Arduino Leonardo to send USB MIDI data

How To Guides Physical Computing

One of the secrets of Arduino Leonardo is the in-built USB MIDI support. This is really useful for sending data from Arduino to applications like MadMapper, Max and Ableton Live. In order use this you'll need to follow the guide on How to install libraries to ...

music
guide
electronics
pcomp
midi
arduino
sound

What kit can I borrow?

About Technical Resources

An extensive array of equipment is available in addition to the fixed equipment listed here. Please bear in mind that the way technical services operate is as a collaboration; we're not just a kit room; we expect you to come to us early in your project life cy...

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