PLEASE NOTE: This is a 3-Part Workshop, taking place on Thursday September 5, 12, and 19. Registering and paying here will register you for all three. The lessons are cumulative.

DESCRIPTION:

You have physical project. And there's this internet thing. Do you want to be able to control this physical project over the internet, in a user interface on a web browser, over any web-enabled devices? Of course you do! That's why we're doing this workshop.

Here's the nitty gritty of what we're doing:

Starting with an in-depth foundation of the client-side technologies HTML, CSS and Javascript, we’ll go on to teach you how to employ Javascript server-side using Node.js. The Node.js server will act as the hub between your Arduino (connected via Serial port) and your Web Interface.

The bottom line:

By the end of the workshop series, each student should expect to have made a web-interface that can control or display feedback from and Arduino. In the process, they will have set up a node.js server and learned how to use WebSockets for seamless communication between client and server.

Want to see some examples of this kind of technology in action? Check out these links.

http://digitalfoosball.com/
http://www.quietless.com/kitchen/controlling-24-leds-with-node-js-and-a-raspberry-pi/
http://xseignard.github.io/2013/06/25/interfacing-leap-motion-with-arduino-thanks-to-nodejs/

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

None! We're going to start from scratch, but if you have a bit of coding experience, that's great. As for the Arduino stuff, we'll be giving you a pre-assembled project, so you won't be learning anything  Arduino-related, you'll just plug in.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING:

You need a Mac laptop. If you're a PC or Linux user, contact us. We can set up a couple people with loaner computers for the workshop.

You need to download and install the following software:

XCode - https://developer.apple.com/xcode/ (Note: This is a BIG file! Please make sure you have it downloaded before coming to class.)

Git - http://git-scm.com/downloads

Node.js - http://nodejs.org/download/

If you have any trouble installing this software, let me know and we can arrange to do the installation together at the beginning of class.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Michael Teixeira is a Toronto creative technologist, web developer and classical musician. He is a graduate of the Interactive Multimedia program at Sheridan College and currently works at Nurun.