Arduino
is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware
and software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a
sensor, a finger on a button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an
output - activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing something
online. You can tell your board what to do by sending a set of
instructions to the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the
Arduino programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software
(IDE), based on Processing.
Over
the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from
everyday objects to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide
community of makers - students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and
professionals - has gathered around this open-source platform, their
contributions have added up to an incredible amount of accessible
knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.
Arduino
was born at the Ivrea Interaction Design Institute as an easy tool for
fast prototyping, aimed at students without a background in electronics
and programming. As soon as it reached a wider community, the Arduino
board started changing to adapt to new needs and challenges,
differentiating its offer from simple 8-bit boards to products for IoT
applications, wearable, 3D printing, and embedded environments. All
Arduino boards are completely open-source, empowering users to build
them independently and eventually adapt them to their particular needs.
The software, too, is open-source, and it is growing through the
contributions of users worldwide.
