Contents -- Introduction -- PART I: The Basics -- Chapter 1 Electricity -- Transduction: Electrical Basics -- Electricity versus Electronics -- How Electricity Flows -- Chapter 2 Shopping -- Solderless Breadboard -- Microcontrollers -- Common Components -- Wires -- Power Supply -- Power Connector -- Voltage Regulator -- RC Servomotor -- Serial Connector -- Serial Cable -- Project Box -- Clock Crystals -- Headers -- Cable Ties -- USB-to-Serial Adaptor -- Tools -- Shopping List -- Bringing It All Back Home -- Chapter 3 Building Circuits -- Schematics -- Connection Symbols -- Power Symbols -- Finding Schematics -- Breadboards -- Where Does the Microcontroller Fit In? -- Translating Schematics into Circuits -- Using a Multimeter -- Soldering -- Powering the Breadboard -- Be Neat -- Chapter 4 The Microcontroller -- "Hello World!" Is the Hard Part -- Where Does the Microcontroller Fit In? -- Routing Inputs to Outputs -- Identifying the Pins of the Microcontroller -- Lower-Level Microcontrollers: External Clock -- Your First Microcontroller-Based Circuit -- Getting Your Program to the Chip -- Programming Stamp-Like Modules -- Programming Lower-Level Chips -- Debugging -- Chapter 5 Programming -- The Good News -- Flow Control: How a Computer "Reads" a Program -- Loops -- If Statements -- Variables -- Built-In Routines: Subroutines and Functions -- Homemade Routines -- Advanced Loops: While-Wend and For-Next -- Pseudocode -- Comments -- Debugging -- Good Debugging Habits -- The Bad News -- Chapter 6 The "Big Four" Schematics, Programs, and Transducers -- Digital Input -- Digital Output -- Analog Input -- Analog Output -- From Analog In to Analog Out: Scaling Functions -- Conclusion -- Chapter 7 Communicating between Computers -- Physical Agreement -- Timing Agreement -- Electrical Agreement -- Package Size -- Numbers or Letters: Using ASCII.

Software for the Microcontroller -- Serial Output from a Microcontroller -- Testing with an LED -- Testing with Terminal Software -- Serial Input to a Microcontroller -- Serial Freeze and Blocking Functions -- Your Private Protocol -- Sending Bigger Numbers -- Serial Communication on a Multimedia Computer -- Conclusion -- PART II: Advanced Methods -- Chapter 8 Physical Interaction Design, or Techniques for Polite Conversation -- The Conversation: Listening, Speaking, and Thinking -- Complex Responses -- Techniques for Effective Interaction -- Conclusion -- Chapter 9 Sensing Movement -- Assessing the Problem -- How Ranging Sensors Work -- Detecting Presence -- Determining Position -- Determining Rotation -- Speed of Rotation -- Video Tracking -- Identity -- Conclusion -- Chapter 10 Making Movement -- Types of Motion, Types of Motors -- Characteristics of Motors -- Special Electrical Needs of Motors -- Controlling Motors -- Controlling Stepper Motors -- Controlling Solenoids -- Basic Mechanics: Converting Motor Motion to Usable Motion -- Construction -- Conclusion -- Chapter 11 Touch Me -- Force-Sensitive Resistors -- Flex Sensors -- Pressure Sensors -- Sensing Touch Using Capacitance Sensors -- Off-the-Shelf Touch Interfaces -- Sensing Vibrations Using Piezoelectric Sensors -- Creating Vibrations -- Taking Your Temperature -- Cooling Things Off and Heating Them Up -- Getting Under Your Skin -- Force Feedback -- Conclusion -- Chapter 12 More Communication between Devices -- Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication -- Asynchronous Serial Protocols -- Learning a Protocol -- RS-232 Boxes -- Global Positioning System Data -- MIDI -- Connecting to the Internet -- Connecting over Telephone Lines Using Modems -- Special-Function ICs and Modules -- Synchronous Serial Protocols -- Wireless Serial Communication -- Infrared Serial Communication.

RF Serial Communication -- Conclusion -- Chapter 13 Controlling Sound and Light -- Sound -- Light -- BX-Basic -- Screen Graphics -- Linear Media on a Multimedia Computer -- Linear Media on a Microcontroller -- Single-Board Computers -- Conclusion -- Chapter 14 Managing Multiple Inputs and Outputs -- Setting Groups of Pins in Parallel -- Bitwise Operations -- Running Out of Pins -- Resistor Ladders as Analog Input -- Row-Column Scanning -- Shift Registers -- Multiplexers -- Latches -- Conclusion -- Appendix A: Choosing a Microcontroller -- Costs -- Time -- Expandability/Compatibility -- Physical and Electrical Characteristics -- The Microcontrollers Covered in This Book -- PIC Programmers -- Appendix B: Recommended Suppliers -- The Staples -- The Extras -- Appendix C: Schematic Glossary -- Common Schematic Terms and Abbreviations -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J-K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q-R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X-Z.