LESSON 1: Simple Introduction to the Arduino (Video -- this is the future)

youtube ^

[RoosterRedux]

Video Link -- I only learned about Arduino yesterday. This might not be the best video to explain what it is, but it will introduce you to the concept.

Arduino is an open source company in Italy IIRC that essentially marries cheap-off-the-shelf hardware to simple code such that you and I can develop our own moving things (i.e. robots, drones, motorized camera mounts, etc.). The only limits are your imagination and determination.

Here's another shorter introductory video that might help...Thinking About Getting an Arduino? Watch This

And "believe me" (as Trump says), I am an old fart so don't tell me that old farts can't learn.;-)

You are smarter than you think.

[loungitude]

Hi see my post # 20.

[RoosterRedux]

I think you have hit the nail on the head. Except for those who can conceptualize problems and solutions and see how--somehow--this kind of thing can lead to solutions to problems we don't yet know of or understand.

That said, I have a problem that drew me to this possible solution.

I have a GoPro camera.

When I shoot "film" by hand, it is unstable.

At first, I thought I needed a slide.

But when I created a slide, I realized I needed a motorized slide.

Then I realized I needed a precise motorized slide...and one that could move all about (up and down, back and forth, side-to-side) with precision.

And then I discovered Arduino.

I have yet to create the product I need, but I have already envisioned it (i.e. created it in my mind...and am continuing to do so).

[Cololeo]

You write functions for various things and call them from the loop. The loop is just the shell. I have written very useful programs for my photography, automating things like water drops, etc.

[TheNext]

Arduino loop is equivalent to the old main(){}
main(param){ loop() }

Common loops are:

do { something } while ( conditions )
while ( conditions ) do { something }

example:

while (sun is down) do { porch light on }

[nopardons]

And I want to know how to do this.....why?

And what good is this info, for people like me, who are tech challenged?

[RoosterRedux]

Nice.

Clarify for those new to this stuff what you mean by "call them from the loop."

[xone]

ph

[Right Wing Assault]

Fun stuff! A lot of kids (and old kids) love these.

Also look into Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black, and others, and peripheral boards for them. All three were featured in at least one book published, get ready, in the olden-days, January 2015, almost two years ago!

[loungitude]

Therefore you have a need.
Evidently you have the skills and tools to create the solution. The need gives you the path, and most importantly, tells what you need to learn/solve/change/implement/troubleshoot/refine....

[RoosterRedux]

You are not tech challenged.

Those fluent in "Tech" are not good are explaining it.

Don't blame yourself.

It is like rock climbing with your mind.

You have to find that first little rock ledge onto which you can get a grip and hang. And then look for the next little ledge.

Techies can't help it. They are young and they get it. They will one day find that tech has developed beyond their understanding...and they will either have to start the difficult climb or die.

Go out and look for that first little foothold and handhold...and keep searching and moving up.

The joy is not in the ease of climbing but in the success of overcoming difficulties.

Those who find it easy will soon be bored. But those who endure when it is hard will succeed and keep on succeeding.

[TheNext]

I have had 30 software languages. One H-1B wipes them all out. Lol.

True about needing an objective. Arduino is really a proof of concept, test board. A commercial product would be microprocessor based.

Idea => Requirements => Specification => Development => Test => Production

[RoosterRedux]

We all have a need...we just have to keep searching for it.

The skills will come.

Humans are profound creatures...we need to believe in ourselves.

Living ain't easy.

We need to fight.

And we need to fight with out minds.

We all have it...we just need to get over the fear and intimidation...and fight.

[loungitude]

See my post #21

[Right Wing Assault]

And I want to know how to do this.....why?

Like a mountain - it's there. You might find it not so bad for a non-tech person. The thrill kids have when they come up with an idea, and they make it work, is fun to see. As someone else said, when you play with things like this, you come up with reasons to use it. It's a tool. It's a toy. It's a challenge. Take your pick(s).

I've read reviews written by people who bought, let's say, a small welder or some tool, to fix a broken item. Now they say, I've found so many things to do with it, I wish I had bought it years ago.

They are SO cheap, it's not a big loss if you don't like it. Just take it to your closest school and they'll know what to do with it.

[TheNext]

Another skill right after the Idea is writing patents. Iron clad patents eg Microsoft are very expensive $100,000s. But if young, just start writing your own. It’s like the old saying, if you want to write, then write.

Just write patents and over the years you will own something of value.

[Cololeo]

int zr=0; //Row #
int zc=0; // Column #
int zl=0; // string length if needed - ie: 4 for integers
int zt1=0; // temp1
String zs=" "; //string to print

void ezprint(int zc,int zr,String(zs),int zl) {
//zc = column zr = row zs = string variable zl = length
//zl is the length of the print area to clear
lcd.setCursor(zc,zr);
if (zl == 0) zl = zs.length();
for (zt1 = zl; zt1 > 0; zt1--) {
lcd.print(" "); }
lcd.setCursor(zc,zr);
lcd.print(zs);
}
//end ezprint


void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Wire.begin();
lcd.begin(lcdw,lcdh);
lcd.clear();
}


void loop(){
a="Hello";
ezprint(0,0,a,5);

[truthluva]

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[nopardons]

Many thanks for your very kind words; however, people have tried to teach me how to CCP for the past almost 20 years; to no avail. I have a mental block. The ONLY way I ever managed to do that, was when I had a step by step, written sheets of instructions...which I have now managed to lose. :-(

Funnily enough, I learned how to do HTML quickly and well; so go figure.

I'll take a look at the link, even though I believe that drones should be outlawed/nobody should have them ( this is due to the problems they cause for airports and idiots using them to spy on neighbors, etc. ) and I have NO idea at all what I would do with this info.

[reed13k]

for ltr

[RoosterRedux]

That must really helpful to those who don't know what a loop is.

Are trying to spread knowledge (i.e. teach) or just brag about your grasp of it.