Arduino For Nubies

Arduinos for Total Newbies:

Abstract:

You've probably heard lots about Arduino. But if you don't know what it is, or how you can use it to do all sorts of cool things, then this fun and easy workshop is for you. As an example project, we'll be creating a TV-B-Gone remote control out of an Arduino you can take home with you.

Full Description:

Arduino is an amazingly powerful tool that is very simple to learn to use. It was designed so that artists and non-geeks can start from nothing, and make something cool happen in less than 90 minutes. Yet, it is powerful enough so that uber-geeks can use it for their projects as well.

This workshop is easy enough for total newbies to learn all you need to know to get going on an Arduino.

Taught by Mitch Altman. Participants will make their own Arduino clone, and set it up on solderless breadboards to make their own TV-B-Gone remote control to turn off TVs in public places -- a fun way to learn Arduino (and electronics) basics. Bring your laptop, if you can.

Big thanks to Ken Shirriff, who came up with the original TV-B-Gone for Arduino.

Workshop Itinerary

• Intro to Arduino

• Very short lesson to learn everything you need to know about electronics!

• Then we will learn to solder. Don't let this scare you! I've taught well over 40,000 people to solder, most of whom have never made anything before in their lives. It is actually a very easy skill to learn. It is also very useful.

• Then we will each make our own Arduino clone from a kit made by Evil Mad Scientist: Diavolno.

• Now that we each have our own Arduino, we will set up the free and open-source software on our laptops (if you bring one) -- Windows, MacOS, or Linux are all fine!

• And then its time to make something and learn how easy it is to use Aruino! I'll (very easily!) show you how to read schematic diagrams, and you'll put together your own TV-B-Gone remote control using your Diavolno. We will use a solderless breadboard. These are really useful, and provide a fast, and very easy way to put circuits together without needing to solder.

• Target practice is available after the workshop.

Summary

     What: Arduino workshop for total newbies, using TV-B-Gone remote controls as an intro
     When: 11:00am to 2:00pm, Day 3, Sunday, September 07th
     Where: Tesla      Who: Anyone and everyone can have fun learning Arduino. Ages 10 to 100
     Max #: 30 participants --
     This workshop will fill up, so please make registration! Send an email with subject Arduino BalCCon2k14 at jelena (at) balccon.org
           -- Please register for the workshop and get a kit
     Cost: €35 for materials -- includes everything you need to make your Arduino TV-B-Gone!
          And you get to bring your Arduino TV-B-Gone home with you.
          Optional: €15 communications/programming cable -- (some will be available to use for free during the workshop).

     Instructor: Mitch

     Please register to take this workshop and get a kit.

Bring your laptop if you want to go home with the free Arduino software installed on it.
Arduino software runs on Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Links:

Arduino For Total Newbies page
TV-B-Gone website
Ardiuno website
Ken Shirriff's TV-B-Gone Arduino project page
Diavolino kit page