Last updated: September 29, 2008.
What Are Phidgets?
Phidgets are an easy to use set of building blocks for low cost sensing
and control from your PC. Using the Universal Serial Bus (USB) as the
basis for all Phidgets, the complexity is managed behind an easy to use
and robust Application Programming Interface (API). Applications can
be developed quickly in Visual Basic, VBA (Microsoft Access and Excel),
LabView, Java, Delphi, C and C++.
- Easy access to USB as an interface
- Clear separation of hardware and software.
- No need to explain bits, bytes and baud to the programmers: instead, refer them to our APIs.
For Programmers
- Wrap our libraries with your own proprietary software
- No reverse engineering - protocols are available.
- There are a number of open source projects to get involved with.
- Reach out into the world and make things happen!
For Researchers
- New Physical User Interfaces can be as easy as software widgets.
- Research and study, not solder and debug hardware.
- Cheap, available hardware makes it a snap to reproduce results.
Phidgets are simple to program and use. No knowledge of hardware,
microprocessors, USB,
communication protocols, is needed. An imagination is recommended, however.
Recent Updates (New Stuff)
- Voltage Divider: This is for you if you want to interface your own variable resistance sensor, such as FSRs (Force Sensor Resistor), light sensors, thermistors, bend sensors, etc. The Voltage Divider eliminates the need to connect a resistor to an analog input by putting a high precision potentiometer on the board to allow the adjustment of the 'fixed' resistor.
- Vibration Sensor: This sensor buffers a piezoelectric transducer. As the transducer is displaced from the mechanical neutral axis, bending creates strain within the piezoelectric element and generates voltages. It can be connected to the PhidgetsInterfaceKit 8/8/8 or the PhidgetTextLCD 8/8/8.
- WindowsCE 6.0 / 5.0 support available in Downloads
- Using Phidgets with Windows CE 6 Great "How To" Article from Jim Wilson
- Action Script 3.0 (Flash 9 and Flex 2.0) support available for Phidget21 Libraries
- MAX/MSP Tutorial - Build Your Own Equalizer
- Found an inspired Phidget user Video
- Two new Phidget Interface Kits:
- Look who's talking about Phidgets
- RFID Toys - Amal Graafstra
- Microsoft Developer Network - Coding for Fun
- Geek House Chapter 4 (Amazon isn't the only source for this book)
- You can use Phidgets if you have Microsoft Office. Use your Macros to control Phidgets take a look here
- Looking for information on what has changed in the library lately. Take a look a the user forum to keep track.
- Two new sensors for the Phidget Inteface Kit 8/8/8
- IR Reflective Sensor 10cm can detect objects at 10cm.
- 20 Amp Currenct Sensors AC and DC this sensor has added AC current measurement.
