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Physical Computing

This book includes guides and how to guides around Physical Computing.

pcomp
electronics
components
buying guide
tutorials

Making sounds with a piezo

Physical Computing How To Guides

'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...

components
pcomp
electronics
tutorials

Using a Sparkfun Sound Detector

Physical Computing How To Guides

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...

tutorials
electronics
pcomp
sound
music
sensors

How to connect a push button or switch

Physical Computing How To Guides

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...

tutorials
sensors
electronics
pcomp
components

Using a HC-SR04 distance sensor

Physical Computing How To Guides

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...

tutorials
sensors
components
pcomp
electronics

Connecting a Potentiometer

Physical Computing How To Guides

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...

tutorials
electronics
pcomp
components
sensors

How to connect a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

Physical Computing How To Guides

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...

tutorials
components
electronics
pcomp
sensors

How to use a rotary encoder

Physical Computing How To Guides

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
tutorials
electronics
pcomp
sensors

Using the serial monitor and serial logger

Physical Computing How To Guides

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...

tutorials
electronics
pcomp
arduino

Using Arduino Leonardo to send USB MIDI data

Physical Computing How To Guides

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 ...

arduino
tutorials
electronics
pcomp
music
midi
sound

Useful learning resources

Physical Computing

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...

pcomp
electronics

What kit can I borrow?

Facilities

There is a large array of equipment available to use in addition to the fixed equipment listed here. Please bare in mind that the way technical services operate is as a collaboration, we're not just a kit room, we expect to you to come to us early in your proj...

equipment
kit
borrow
loan
cls
kit room
ehd
hire
rent
pcomp