Workshop: Connect Electronics to the Internet of Things

Suppose you have a cool electronics project idea that you want to control or monitor remotely. You might be familiar with the friendly and and easy to learn Arduino platform, but how can you connect a device like that to the Internet?

At previous workshops we learned how to load programs onto an Arduino, how to lay out a circuit onto a breadboard, how to receive information from sensors and how to turn on lights.

The particle photon is a compact arduino-like microcontroller that connects to the cloud. You can write programs for it using a web-based code editor or by pressing buttons in an easy-to-use smartphone app. When your program is ready, you can upload it to your Photon over the Wifi. The cloud fun continues with built in APIs that allow you to invoke functions on your Photon with simple, secured REST requests. Device interaction is further facilitated by built-in methods for publishing and subscribing to events in the cloud.

Some background experience with the Arduino platform is necessary for this activity. If you attended one of our previous workshops or have done an introductory arduino tutorial on your own, then you have enough experience.

This kit includes everything you need to create several fun and simple Internet-connected projects:
-make an invisible tripwire to detect a burglar
-make a smart plant pot that warns you when it's dry
-make a smart button that does mysterious things on the Internet

*The Internet of Things is a popular buzzword which describes electronic devices that can send or receive information over the Internet.

Kit includes:

1 x Particle Photon
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Breadboard
1 x IR LED
1 x IR Receiver
1 x Photoresistor
1 x Soil Moisture Sensor
2 x 8mm RGB LED
2 x Toggle switch
1 x Tactile switch
15 x Resistors
30 x Male-Male Jumpers

Recommended age: 14+

Skill level: intermediate