John Nussey - Arduino for Dummies, 2nd Edition

Arduino For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2018951004

ISBN 978-1-119-48954-2 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-48955-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-48957-3 (ebk)

The moment a For Dummies book comes out, it's definitely a milestone in the history of a product.

Programming embedded computers used to be a very difficult task, reserved only to experienced engineers willing to master the obscure assembly language. In recent years, however, many platforms have tried to make this task simpler and more accessible to everyday people. Arduino is one of the latest attempts at making technology less scary and more creative.

With John, this books author, we watched this creative tool being adopted by designers and artists in London, making its way into many memorable projects. Now Arduino has escaped the lab of Arts & Design and spread like a virus, becoming the tool of choice for all kinds of people who have great ideas they want to realize.

I'm really glad that John decided to write this book, because he's an early user of the Arduino platform from back in the days when it was still quite experimental. Having taught Arduino classes for many years, he has the ability to introduce the subject to all audiences.

Any newcomer to Arduino will, with the right tools and teaching such as those found in this book show true genius in no time.

Massimo Banzi

Arduino is a tool, a community, and a way of thinking that is affecting how we use and understand technology. It has rekindled a love and understanding of electronics for many people, including myself, who felt that electronics was something that they had left behind at school.

Arduino is tiny circuit board that has huge potential. It can be used to blink a Morse-code signal using a single light-emitting diode (LED) or to control every light in a building, depending on how far you take it. Its capabilities are limited only by your imagination.

Arduino is also providing a new, practical approach to technical education, lowering the entry level for those wanting to use electronics to complete small projects and, I hope, encouraging you to read further to take on big ones.

A huge and ever-growing community of Arduinists has emerged users and developers who learn from each other and contribute to the open-source philosophy by sharing the details of their projects. This open-source attitude is responsible for the huge popularity of Arduino.

Arduino is more than just a gadget; its a tool. A piece of technology that makes understanding and using todays technology easier.

So if the prospect of understanding the limitless possibilities of technology doesnt sound interesting to you, please put this book down and back away.

Otherwise, read on!

This is a technical book, but its not for technical people only. Arduino is designed to be usable by anyone, whether theyre technical, creative, crafty, or just curious. All you need is an open mind or a problem to fix and youll soon find ways that using Arduino can benefit you.

This book starts on the most basic level to get you started with using and understanding Arduino. At times throughout the book, I may refer to a number of technical things that will, like anything, take time to understand. I guide you through all the basics and then on to more advanced activities.

Much of what is in this book is based on my learning and teaching experiences. I learned all about Arduino from scratch, but have always found that the best way to learn is in practice, by making your own projects. The key is to understand the basics that I cover in this book and then build on that knowledge by thinking about how you can apply it to solve problems, create things, or just entertain yourself.

I assume nothing about your technical knowledge. Arduino is an easy-to-use platform for learning about electronics and programming. It is for people from all walks of life, whether youre a designer, an artist, or a hobbyist.

It can also be a great platform for people who are already technical. Maybe youve done a bit of coding but want to bring your projects into the physical world in some way. Or maybe youve worked with electronics and want to see what Arduino can bring to the table.