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Communication
  • Data Logging
  • MIDI signal
  • Teensy
  • Wireless Communication 101
  • Xbee
  • Xbee Direct (Xbee-Xbee)
  • Xbee Direct (Multiple Xbee - Xbee- comp)
  • Xbee Direct (Sensor-Xbee-Comp)
  • Xbee dongle
  • Xbee FirmwareUpdate
  • Xbee Serial Communication

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    Content by Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson


    Hannah is currently a graduate student in the MIT Media Lab's
    High-Low Tech research group


    Supported by Distance Lab

    Communication

    Teensy

    Use the Teensy board to fake Human Interface Device (HID) input. Human interface devices are recognized by your computer without need for drivers or custom software. They include computer mice, keyboards and joysticks. You can program the Teensy using arduino!!!

    Data Logging

    Sparkfun has a nice little module for logging up to three channels of sensor data for up to three hours and then spitting it out on command.

    MIDI signal

    MIDI, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a useful protocol for controlling synthesizers, sequencers, and other musical devices. MIDI devices are generally grouped in to two broad classes: controllers (i.e. devices that generate MIDI signals based on human actions) and synthesizers (including samplers, sequencers, and so forth). The latter take MIDI data in and make [...]

    Xbee

    xbee is a wireless communication device from digi.com that uses ZigBee protocol. “ZigBee is a specification for a suite of high level communication protocols using small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard for wireless personal area networks (WPANs), such as wireless headphones connecting with cell phones via short-range radio. The technology defined by the ZigBee specification is intended to be simpler and less expensive than other WPANs, such [...]

    Xbee Serial Communication

    The simple thing xbee can do is to replace the serial connection wirelessly.
    You can do this pretty much out of the box.
    It is like replacing the USB cable of arduino (serial communication) to invisible cable (wireless).
    Here is an example of how to set up serial wireless communication:
    On Arduino side, the connection is following. Basically you [...]

    Wireless Communication 101

    There are many ways to do wireless communication. When developing wearable technology project, it tend to come in play. At the moment, xbee is our favorite, although there are many other ways to do wireless communication.

    Sparkfun made a great comparison on wireless modules. 
    Sometimes you do not need large data rate, or you need something that [...]

    Xbee Direct (Multiple Xbee - Xbee- comp)

    This post explores how to establish a communication between multiple xbee that are connected with sensors to one receiving Xbee that is connected with computer. Xbee 802.15.4 with chip antenna is used in this example.
    For reading the Xbee input, I am using XBee API Library for Processing from Rob Faludi and Dan Shiftman

    This example is applied to WIRELESS JOYSLIPPERS. For detail of the physical construction, [...]

    Xbee Direct (Sensor-Xbee-Comp)

    This example explains how to send sensor input (analog) wirelessly to computer via xbee (Series 1 802.15.4) without using microcontrollers.
    Step 1:
     You need to set up the AT command for both receiver and sender.
    You can use X-CTU or some kind of terminal software,  Rob Faludi’s Xbee Terminal Max. I am using a small Max Patch made [...]

    Xbee Direct (Xbee-Xbee)

    xbee can be connected directly like an invisible wire. You can set the matching pins as one of them as input (AI/DI) and the other as output (PO/DO).

    Xbee dongle

    To communicate with xbee from your computer, you need to make serial or USB/serial connection between your computer and Xbee.
    There are some Xbee-USB dongles you can buy, such as XBee Explorer USB from Sparkfun or USB-XBEE-DONGLE-CARRIER from New Micros.
    Also, here is a nice site that shows how to make your own USB-Xbee dongle (I think you [...]

    Xbee FirmwareUpdate

    How to upload firmwares on Xbee using Arduino board.