Processing

For my project, not only do I need to learn how to use an Arduino, but I also need to learn how to communicate with it. The best and easiest method I have found of doing this is by using a programming language called "Processing". What's interesting about Processing and what makes it suitable for communicating with my Arduino, is that the IDE used for the Arduino, is based on the one used in processing, thus making the languages work in a similar way. It also allows for an easier method of communicating with the Arduino, since processing has the ability to read inputs via the serial port on the computer.

Processing also suits the open source style of my project. The software is freely available and has a large online community who are always updating and improving the softwares functionality. Examples of this come in the form of import libraries, of which processing has over 100, that can help give projects that extra interaction or output.

The processing IDE. As you can see it is very similar to the environment used for the Arduino.

http://processing.org/

The Work Continues

With Semester 1 over and VIVA 1 behind me, it's time to start working on the production of my major project.
A previous post has already discussed the materials I needed to get my project working. Now that I have most of these materials and a prototype built. I will now start work on producing a working model.
The first step is to  upload a sketch to my Arduino that will allow me to interact through capacitance.

The main aim of this work is to have my Arduino detect the human body and measure its capacitance. I'll achieve this by using the Arduino's Capacitive Sensing library. Which turns one or more of the Arduino's pins into a sensor. I will be primarily using the digital pins on the Arduino though it is also possible through analogue pins. I will then attempt to take the values measured by the Arduino and import them into processing.
Once the values are in processing I need to turn them into sound. Though processing is primarily used to create visuals there are a few methods in which it can be used for audio output. I will post the results of my research into this further in the blog.