Arduino Connect-a-Thon for Absolute Beginners (FULL)

Location: Corkboard Columbus (116 E. Long Street, Columbus OH 43215)
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Workshop level: Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Shawn Augustson
Cost: $25 ($15 for instruction, $10 for materials, + $35 if you want to keep your arduino) Children under 18 accompanied by an adult: Free!

Arduino is a microcontroller platform broadly used in the fields of art and design. It is used in creating all kinds of interactive artifacts, art installations, and prototypes. It is also an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It is intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

Arduino “senses” the environment via input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring) and the Arduino development environment (based on Processing). Arduino projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software on running on a computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP).

This basic, hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the basics of the Arduino. The projects will include:

  • Make a blinky light
  • Control your blinky light with a pushbutton
  • Control your blinky light with a light sensor
  • Control a servo (found in radio-controlled cars, puppets, and robots)
  • Control a servo with a knob

No programming or electronics experience is necessary. Participants will need to bring a laptop; however, there will be two laptops available for those who do not have one. Please email us to reserve a laptop. This workshop is suitable for youth and adults.

About the instructor: Shawn blogs at ArduinoFun.com and is a student in electrical engineering at Columbus State Community College. His previous career was as a graphic designer.