Physical Interaction Design Using Processing

  

Microcontroller links

Basic Stamp 2
Pros Cons
  • Tons of web examples; it's a hobbyist's classic
  • Very easy to set up, in terms of hardware
  • Great educational tools available from Parallax
  • Simple language (pBASIC)
  • Cross-platform development environments (Mac BS2 by Murat Konar)
  • Initial setup costs: ~$100
  • Additional units cost: $50
  • Slow; code is interpreted, not compiled
  • Until recently, really irritating implementation of BASIC
  • Expensive relative to PIC

BasicX (BX-24)

Pros Cons
  • Faster than BS2 (compiled code)
  • More detailed version of BASIC (Visual BASIC)
  • More features (timers, analog to digital converters, etc.)
  • Initial setup costs: ~$100
  • Additional units cost: $50
  • Fewer code samples available
  • Expensive relative to PIC (same price as BS-2)
  • Windows development environment only

Basic Micro

Pros Cons
  • Faster than BS2 (compiled code)
  • More detailed version of BASIC (Visual BASIC)
  • mBASIC is compatible with PicBasic Pro, pBASIC)
  • More features (timers, analog to digital converters, etc.)
  • Initial setup costs: ~$100
  • Additional units cost: $50
  • Smaller user base than others so far
  • Expensive relative to PIC (same price as BS-2)
  • Windows development environment only

PIC microcontrollers

Pros Cons
  • Many models to choose from
  • Many languages to choose from
  • Fast and cheap
  • Initial setup costs: ~$300
  • Additional units cost: $1 - $10
  • Steeper learning curve to get going
  • Initial setup is more expensive than BASIC modules
  • Need an external programmer
  • Windows development environment only (Mac/linux is possible, but only for very patient advanced users)

AVR Microcontrollers

Pros Cons
  • Many models to choose from
  • Many languages to choose from
  • Higher code density than PIC
  • Cheaper programmers and compilers than PIC
  • Cross-platform development environments
  • Initial setup costs: ~$100
  • Additional units cost: $1 - $10
  • Steeper learning curve to get going
  • Need an external programmer

Phidgets

Pros Cons
  • Simple setup: modules, not components
  • USB interface
  • Cross-platform API
  • Initial setup costs: ~$300
  • Additional units cost: $20 - $50
  • Expensive relative to microcontrollers and modules
  • Smaller user base; less sample code and examples

Making Things' Teleo

Pros Cons
  • Simple setup: modules, not components
  • USB interface
  • Initial setup costs: ~$200
  • Additional units cost: $50 - $150
  • Expensive relative to microcontrollers and modules
  • Smaller user base; less sample code and examples
  • More limited in terms of development platforms

Wiring

Pros Cons
  • Setup is between BASIC modules and microcontrollers in terms of simplicity
  • USB interface
  • Cross-platform development environment
  • Open source software and hardware!
  • Initial setup costs: ~$50
  • Additional units cost: $20 - $50
  • Smaller user base; less sample code and examples
  • Have to build your own modules (so far)

Arduino

Pros Cons
  • Setup is between BASIC modules and microcontrollers in terms of simplicity
  • USB interface
  • Cross-platform development environment
  • Open source software and hardware!
  • Simpler board to build than Wiring (so far)
  • Easier migration path to more powerful programming language than wiring (so far)
  • Initial setup costs: ~$25
  • Additional units cost: $20 - $30
  • Smaller user base; less sample code and examples
  • Have to build your own modules (so far)

Instant Soup

Pros Cons
  • Flash-based development recipes for Wiring and Arduino
  • Flash-based development recipes for Wiring and Arduino