–Wikipedia A sensor is a device that detects events or changes in quantities and provides a corresponding output, generally as an electrical or optical signal; for example, a thermocouple converts temperature to an output voltage.
Hospital Infection Control • CDC: Hospital acquired infections cost $30B per year and lead to 100K patient deaths. • Inadequate hand washing a big cause.
Auto Insurance • Rethinking traditional risk assessment • Detect unsafe driving practices. • Anticipate who is most at risk. • React to risk assessment.
What is Arduino? • Open Source Microcontroller Hardware + Software • Geared toward prototyping • “Physical Computing:” interacting with the environment "Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for anyone making interactive projects.”
Programming Arduino • Official cross-platform IDE written in java • C/C++ with some sugar • Program referred to as “Sketch” • Many open source libraries available for various hardware (sensors, etc.)
What is XBee? • Radio modules that support wireless point-to-point communication • Serial communication • Minimal connections required — power, ground, data in, data out (UART) • 2 power options (1 mW/100 mW) • Support for multiple network topologies (Mesh, star, tree, etc.)