Micro Bit For Mad Scientists

Build your own secret laboratory with 30 coding and electronic projects! The BBC micro:bit is a tiny, cheap, yet surprisingly powerful computer that you can use to build cool things and experiment with code. The 30 simple projects and experiments in this book will show you how to use the micro:bit to build a secret science lab complete with robots, door alarms, lie detectors, and more--as you learn basic coding and electronics skills. Here are just some of the projects you'll build: A "light guitar" you can play just by moving your fingers A working lie detector A self-watering plant care system A two-wheeled robot A talking robotic head with moving eyes A door alarm made with magnets Learn to code like a Mad Scientist!

Strengthen your overall coding skills by exploring the wonderful, wild, and often weird world of esoteric languages (esolangs). Strange Code starts with a dive into the underlying history of programming, covering the early computer-science concepts, like Turing machines and Turing completeness, that led to the languages we use today. It then explores the realm of “atypical” programming languages, introducing you to the out-of-the-box thinking that comes from these unusual approaches to coding. Later chapters address the even more unusual esolangs, nearly all of which are like nothing you’ve ever seen. Finally, author Ron Kneusel helps you develop and use two entirely new programming languages. You may not apply these languages in your day job, but this one-of-a-kind book will motivate you to think differently about what it means to express thought through code, while discovering the far-flung boundaries of programming. You’ll learn: How to program with pictures using Piet How to write two-dimensional programs in Befunge How to implement machine-learning algorithms using the text pattern matching language SNOBOL How to decipher Brainfuck code like [->-[>+”]>[[-+]+>+”]““]/liliHow to design and create two original programming languages Learning to think in these languages will make you a better, more confident programmer.

A book for anyone teaching computer science, from elementary school teachers and coding club coaches to parents looking for some guidance. Computer science opens more doors for today's youth than any other discipline - which is why Coding in the Classroom is your key to unlocking students' future potential. Author Ryan Somma untangles the current state of CS education standards; describes the cognitive, academic, and professional benefits of learning CS; and provides numerous strategies to promote computational thinking and get kids coding! Whether you're a teacher, an after-school coach, or a parent seeking accessible ways to boost your kid's computer savvy, Coding in the Classroom is here to help. With quick-start programming strategies, scaffolded exercises for every grade level, and ideas for designing CS events that promote student achievement, this book is a rock-solid roadmap to CS integration from a wide variety of on-ramps. You'll learn: tips and resources for teaching programming concepts via in-class activities and games, without a computer development environments that make coding and sharing web apps a breeze lesson plans for the software lifecycle process and techniques for facilitating long-term projects ways to craft interdisciplinary units that bridge CS and computational thinking with other content areas Coding in the Classroom does more than make CS less formidable - it makes it more fun! From learning computational thinking via board games to building their own websites, students are offered a variety of entry points for acquiring the skills they need to succeed in the 21st-century workforce. Moreover, Somma understands how schools operate - and he's got your back. You'll be empowered to advocate for the value of implementing CS across the curriculum, get stakeholder buy-in, and build the supportive, equitable coding community that your school deserves.

The micro:bit, a tiny computer being distributed by the BBC to students all over the UK, is now available for anyone to purchase and play with. Its small size and low power requirements make it an ideal project platform for hobbyists and makers. You don't have to be limited by the web-based programming solutions, however: the hardware on the board is deceptively powerful, and this book will teach you how to really harness the power of the micro:bit. You'll learn about sensors, Bluetooth communications, and embedded operating systems, and along the way you'll develop an understanding of the next big thing in computers: the Internet of Things.

Long-awaited revision of this best-selling book on the Arduino electronics platform (50,000+ copies sold). Readers gain an in-depth understanding of the Arduino -- beyond just making simple projects. The Arduino is an inexpensive, flexible microcontroller platform that makes it easy for hobbyists to use electronics in DIY projects. With its wide range of input and output add-ons, sensors, indicators, displays, and motors, the Arduino offers you countless ways to create interactive devices. Through 65 hands-on projects, Arduino Workshop will teach you the tricks and design principles of a master craftsman. This edition has been updated for the latest version of the Arduino IDE and revised to reflect current hardware and technology. It includes coverage of general electronics concepts as well as schematic diagrams and detailed images of components. You’ll experiment with touchscreens and LED displays, explore robotics, use sensors with wireless data links, and control devices remotely with a cell phone. Build projects like: An electronic version of the classic six-sided die A GPS logger that records and displays travel data A keypad-controlled lock that opens with a secret code A binary quiz game A motorized remote control car with collision detection Whatever your skill level, you’re sure to have fun as you learn to harness the power of the Arduino for your own DIY projects. NEW TO THIS EDITION: A chapter on creating your own Arduino libraries Updated robotic vehicle projects Newer shields that leverage GPS, 3G, and LoRa data transmission capabilities A chapter on MAX7219-based numeric LED displays and LED matrix modules Covers Arduino IDE 2.x

Build engaging programs for the BBC micro:bit using Microsoft's MakeCode web editor. Using this open source platform, you'll learn to program in an accessible way that easily translates into real-world programming. BBC micro:bit Recipes is a practical guide with a problem-solving approach. It provides exact solutions for common application development problems for the micro:bit using MakeCode. You'll discover and apply techniques that can be used to build simple games with sprites, keep score, and control game play. The micro:bit is a small programmable device that is a cross between a very small computer and a programmable embedded board. It is easy to program, extremely versatile, and designed with young learners in mind. In particular, it is designed to be easy for people who have never programmed before. By the end of this book, you'll have the foundation to build programs with the Microsoft MakeCode editor and use and process data with built-in sensors, such as accelerometer, compass, temperature, touch, and light. You'll also see how to work with communication protocols, such as Serial, I2C, and SPI and how to use variables, loops, logic, arrays, math and functions to easily solve problems. What You'll LearnDisplay text, images, and animations on the micro:bit display Connect external sensors and process data Make and play music through speakers and headphones Use Bluetooth service to communicate with Smartphones and tablets Who This Book Is For Those who are interested in learning to program the BBC micro:bit with Microsoft MakeCode. The difficulty level falls from beginner to intermediate level.

Quickly write innovative programs for your micro:bit—no experience necessary! This easy-to-follow guide shows, step-by-step, how to quickly get started with programming and creating fun applications on your micro:bit.. Written in the straightforward style that Dr. Simon Monk is famous for, Programming the BBC micro:bit: Getting Started with MicroPython begins with basic concepts and gradually progresses to more advanced techniques. You will discover how to use the micro:bit's built-in hardware, use the LED display, accept input from sensors, attach external electronics, and handle wireless communication. •Connect your micro:bit to a computer and start programming!•Learn how to use the two most popular MicroPython editors •Work with built-in functions and methods—and see how to write your own•Display text, images, and animations on the micro:bit’s LED matrix•Process data from the accelerometer, compass, and touch sensor•Control external hardware by attaching it to the edge connector•Send and receive messages via the built-in radio module•Graphically build programs with the JavaScript Blocks Editor

Learn the basics of using the micro:bit, an open source hardware ARM-based embedded system used to teach computer programming, to build a series of 10 different gadgets from scratch! You'll use the micro:bit to make: a scrolling name tag, animated LED displays a high-tech compass. a handheld tilting game with a buzzer and saved high score a carnival-like strength tester a powered cooling fan helmet an electronic musical instrument a security system that sends alerts to your computer when someone enters the room. a wheeled robot an alert to water your plants You will learn how simple electrical devices like speakers, motors, buzzers and fans work. You'll understand electronic components like resistors, force resistors, photoresistors, LEDs, and Op Amps, as well as Infrared distance sensors and soil moisture sensors. You'll also get a beginner's look at micropython, one of the fastest-growing computer languages. In this book you will combine multiple disciplines -- electronics, programming, and engineering -- to build a series of successful gadgets. Everything is explained with lots and lots of full-color line drawings. No prior experience is necessary. You'll have fun while you learn a ton!