Physical computing

Physical computing in the broadest sense means creating interactive, physical systems through the use of hardware and software . These systems react to events in the real, analog world and / or act on them. Although this definition also applies to automatic traffic control systems , it is not used in this context. Physical computing is understood to mean systems that deal with the relationship between humans and the digital world . The term is mostly used for projects with an artistic or design background or for do-it-yourself hobby projects (short: DIY). Here are sensors and microcontrollers used analog inputs to make software applications available and / or electromechanical devices such as motors , servos , diodes to control or other hardware. The systems created in this way, in which a microcontroller works within a device, are called embedded systems in the professional field .

A very well-known physical computing platform is the Arduino platform , for which some microcontroller boards and its own software are made available. Both components are open-source .

Web links

• Physical Computing , Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University
• Physical Computing by Dan O'Sullivan
• Physical Computing , material, examples and scripts from lectures in the Interactive Telecommunication Program at New York University by Tom Igoe
• Physical Computing , introduction through “learning by making” in a playful, non-technical way.
• Modularis , scalable and highly flexible integrable physical computing platform based on a building block principle