Reflection on Cycle 1

I set up my goal in this class at the end of the semester as “connecting Isadora and Arduino” and “using a webcam as a sensor to operate a motorized object”.

The first step=my goal of Cycle 1 was just simply connecting Arduino to Isadora.
I researched on the web (there are some helpful articles and forums) and found that an application called “Firmata” can play a role to connect Arduino to many kinds of software including Isadora.
This article explains what Firmata is and how to get/use it.
https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Installing-Standard-Firmata/

We normally need to write a code to operate Arduino, but with Firmata, I can send output signals to or receiving inputs from Arduino without coding process.
I downloaded a protocol code called “StandardFirmata” and uploaded on my Arduino.
Here’s the test of Firmata; by clicking High/Low on Firmata window, I can turn on/off a LED connected to Arduino.

Then, I downloaded “Arduino Firmata Actor” which is an Isadora plugin to Arduino.
https://community.troikatronix.com/topic/7176/arduino-firmata-actor


Now I’m ready to connect the two.
I opened Isadora and set up Arduino Firmata Actor (and also some port connection settings) to connect to my Arduino.
Here, I can turn on/off LEDs on Isadora window (so I’m sending output signals from Isadora to Arduino).

Another test; an input signal from a photoresistor (a sensor detects brightness of light) connected to Arduino is being received by Isadora (sending signals from Arduino to Isadora).
I connected this input to a width of a square, so it’s interacting with light.

This very simple connection test was a very big step for me. The two big magics (Isadora and Arduino) are now syncing!
The next step (Cycle 2) will be connecting a servo motor (and/or a stepper motor??) and trying to operate it from Isadora. Then, I can connect it to a webcam as a sensor, just like we did in PP2 and 3.