ACTAM - Embedded programming with MicroBit

04/12/2024

What is embedded programming? And what does it take?

  • The process of developing software for embedded systems
  • Specialized hardware and IDEs,
  • ... not really our topic, is it?

What if we had a device that can be programmed to

  • control our music applications
  • be the music application itself
  • ... now we're talking!

Two paths

  1. Leverage sensors to input external data (good ol' theremin)
  2. Portable audio synthesis (better with a DAC)

What is a microcontroller and how can be useful?

An integrated circuit with contrained resources that govern specific operations

  1. Create custom MIDI controllers
  2. Enhance interactivity with music application

What does it look like

Entry-level Features

  • Buttons: programmable buttons (A, B and A+B)
  • Sensors: accelerometer, compass, and temperature
  • Connectivity: Usb, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and radio for wireless communication.
  • Programming: JavaScript or Python

Where to start

https://makecode.microbit.org/

Goal for today

  • Explore the block-based programming and simulation
  • Connect and send data to a webapp