Beginning BBC micro:bit


Book Description

Learn essential concepts and techniques to build simple-to-advanced projects and overcome common programming challenges in micro:bit development. Beginning BBC micro:bit will take you through the complete features and capabilities of the micro:bit controller, enabling you to program and build your own projects. The uses are endless for the micro:bit and this books will help get you started on building your next project with this popular and easy-to-use microcontroller. You'll use online Python Editor and Mu Editor to build your own applications. Reviewed by the micro:bit developer team, this comprehensive guide also provides clean code examples to help you learn the key concepts behind the micro:bit API. What You’ll Learn Work with the various kits and accessories Master the micro:bit development platform with easy to follow examples and clean code Build your own micro:bit applications using an online Python editor and Mu editor Use the on-board LED matrix, built-in buttons, I/O pins, accelerometer, and compass Learn how to connect and communicate with devices through I2C, SPI, and UART Build applications with music and speech libraries Use Local Persistent File System to store and manipulate files Build applications based on wired and radio networks Use micro:bit and micro:bit Blue apps Who This Book Is For Beginners, those already experienced with electronics, and hobbyists at all levels looking to get started with a new microcontroller.




The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide


Book Description

The go-to guide to getting started with the BBC micro:bit and exploring all of its amazing capabilities. The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized electronic development platform built with education in mind. It was developed by the BBC in partnership with major tech companies, communities, and educational organizations to provide kids with a fun, easy, inexpensive way to develop their digital skills. With it, kids (and grownups) can learn basic programming and coding while having fun making virtual pets, developing games, and a whole lot more. Written by internationally bestselling tech author Gareth Halfacree and endorsed by the Micro:bit Foundation, The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide contains what you need to know to get up and running fast with the BBC micro:bit. Learn everything from taking your first steps with the BBC micro:bit to writing your own programs. You'll also learn how to expand its capabilities with add-ons through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. Set up your BBC micro:bit and develop your digital skills Write code in JavaScript Blocks, JavaScript, and Python Discover the BBC micro:bit’s built-in sensors Connect the BBC micro:bit to a Raspberry Pi to extend its capabilities Build your own circuits and create hardware The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide is your go-to source for learning all the secrets of the BBC micro:bit. Whether you're just beginning or have some experience, this book allows you to dive right in and experience everything the BBC micro:bit has to offer.




Programming the BBC micro:bit: Getting Started with MicroPython


Book Description

Quickly write innovative programs for your micro:bit—no experience necessary!This easy-to-follow guide shows, step-by-step, how to quickly get started with programming and creating fun applications on your micro:bit.. Written in the straightforward style that Dr. Simon Monk is famous for, Programming the BBC micro:bit: Getting Started with MicroPython begins with basic concepts and gradually progresses to more advanced techniques. You will discover how to use the micro:bit's built-in hardware, use the LED display, accept input from sensors, attach external electronics, and handle wireless communication.•Connect your micro:bit to a computer and start programming!•Learn how to use the two most popular MicroPython editors •Work with built-in functions and methods—and see how to write your own•Display text, images, and animations on the micro:bit’s LED matrix•Process data from the accelerometer, compass, and touch sensor•Control external hardware by attaching it to the edge connector•Send and receive messages via the built-in radio module•Graphically build programs with the JavaScript Blocks Editor




The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide


Book Description

The go-to guide to getting started with the BBC micro:bit and exploring all of its amazing capabilities. The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized electronic development platform built with education in mind. It was developed by the BBC in partnership with major tech companies, communities, and educational organizations to provide kids with a fun, easy, inexpensive way to develop their digital skills. With it, kids (and grownups) can learn basic programming and coding while having fun making virtual pets, developing games, and a whole lot more. Written by internationally bestselling tech author Gareth Halfacree and endorsed by the Micro:bit Foundation, The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide contains what you need to know to get up and running fast with the BBC micro:bit. Learn everything from taking your first steps with the BBC micro:bit to writing your own programs. You'll also learn how to expand its capabilities with add-ons through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. Set up your BBC micro:bit and develop your digital skills Write code in JavaScript Blocks, JavaScript, and Python Discover the BBC micro:bit’s built-in sensors Connect the BBC micro:bit to a Raspberry Pi to extend its capabilities Build your own circuits and create hardware The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide is your go-to source for learning all the secrets of the BBC micro:bit. Whether you're just beginning or have some experience, this book allows you to dive right in and experience everything the BBC micro:bit has to offer.




BBC micro:bit Recipes


Book Description

Build engaging programs for the BBC micro:bit using Microsoft's MakeCode web editor. Using this open source platform, you'll learn to program in an accessible way that easily translates into real-world programming. BBC micro:bit Recipes is a practical guide with a problem-solving approach. It provides exact solutions for common application development problems for the micro:bit using MakeCode. You'll discover and apply techniques that can be used to build simple games with sprites, keep score, and control game play. The micro:bit is a small programmable device that is a cross between a very small computer and a programmable embedded board. It is easy to program, extremely versatile, and designed with young learners in mind. In particular, it is designed to be easy for people who have never programmed before. By the end of this book, you'll have the foundation to build programs with the Microsoft MakeCode editor and use and process data with built-in sensors, such as accelerometer, compass, temperature, touch, and light. You'll also see how to work with communication protocols, such as Serial, I2C, and SPI and how to use variables, loops, logic, arrays, math and functions to easily solve problems. What You'll LearnDisplay text, images, and animations on the micro:bit display Connect external sensors and process data Make and play music through speakers and headphones Use Bluetooth service to communicate with Smartphones and tablets Who This Book Is For Those who are interested in learning to program the BBC micro:bit with Microsoft MakeCode. The difficulty level falls from beginner to intermediate level.




Micro:bit for Mad Scientists


Book Description

Build your own secret laboratory with 30 coding and electronic projects! The BBC micro:bit is a tiny, cheap, yet surprisingly powerful computer that you can use to build cool things and experiment with code. The 30 simple projects and experiments in this book will show you how to use the micro:bit to build a secret science lab complete with robots, door alarms, lie detectors, and more--as you learn basic coding and electronics skills. Here are just some of the projects you'll build: A "light guitar" you can play just by moving your fingers A working lie detector A self-watering plant care system A two-wheeled robot A talking robotic head with moving eyes A door alarm made with magnets Learn to code like a Mad Scientist!




Beginning Data Science, IoT, and AI on Single Board Computers


Book Description

Learn to use technology to undertake data science and to leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) in your experimentation. Designed to take you on a fascinating journey, this book introduces the core concepts of modern data science. You'll start with simple applications that you can undertake on a BBC micro:bit and move to more complex experiments with additional hardware. The skills and narrative are as generic as possible and can be implemented with a range of hardware options. One of the most exciting and fastest growing topics in education is data science. Understanding how data works, and how to work with data, is a key life skill in the 21st century. In a world driven by information it is essential that students are equipped with the tools they need to make sense of it all. For instance, consider how data science was the key factor that identified the dangers of climate change -- and continues to help us identify and react to the threats it presents. This book explores the power of data and how you can apply it using hardware you have at hand. You'll learn the core concepts of data science, how to apply them in the real world and how to utilize the vast potential of IoT. By the end, you'll be able to execute sophisticated and meaningful data science experiments - why not become a citizen scientist and make a real contribution to the fight against climate change. There is something of a digital revolution going these days, especially in the classroom. With increasing access to microprocessors, classrooms are are incorporating them more and more into lessons. Close to 5 million BBC micro:bits will be in the hands of young learners by the end of the year and millions of other devices are also being used by educators to teach a range of topics and subjects. This presents an opportunity: microprocessors such as micro:bit provide the perfect tool to use to build 21st century data science skills. Beginning Data Science and IoT on the BBC micro:bit provides you with a solid foundation in applied data science. What You'll Learn · Use sensors with a microprocessor to gather or "create" data · Extract, tabulate, and utilize data it from the microprocessor · Connect a microprocessor to an IoT platform to share and then use the data we collect · Analyze and convert data into information Who This Book Is For Educators, citizen scientists, and tinkerers interested in an introduction to the concepts of IoT and data on a broad scale.




BBC Micro:bit in Practice


Book Description

Develop real-world interactive physical computing applications using the Micro:bit with more than 100 MicroPython examples with circuit diagrams Key FeaturesExplore hardware programming and leverage the power of the BBC Micro:bit and MicroPythonBuild real-life creative projects step by step with each chapter increasing in complexity and interactivityLearn the features of the Micro:bit and how to interface it with electronic components through circuits and code examplesBook Description This book is a one-stop guide for learning BBC Micro:bit with MicroPython, exploring many hardware components and programming techniques to provide detailed insights into developing practical applications with the Micro:bit. It will also show you how hardware components can be manipulated using a combination of Micro:bit and MicroPython for developing practical projects. BBC Micro:bit in Practice will help you gain a holistic understanding of the BBC Micro:bit platform and MicroPython programming, guiding you through mini projects aimed at developing practical knowledge of circuit design and writing programs. You'll learn how to write programs for working with built-in LEDs and buttons, interfacing external LEDs, buttons, motors, buzzers, and much more. You'll also work with built-in radio, speakers, accelerometer, and a compass. You'll dive into concepts related to the Micro:bit filesystem, interfacing external displays, and working with libraries in detail before exploring sewable circuits and wearable technology. After reading this Micro:bit book, you'll understand how to apply principles in electronics and MicroPython to create interesting real-life projects from scratch. What you will learnExplore the essentials of the BBC Micro:bit, its hardware specifications, and versionsProgram built-in and external LEDs and buttonsProgram external LED-based displays, buzzers, and stepper motorsUse analog input and pulse width modulation to drive a servo motorDetect gestures with internal sensors such as accelerometer, compass, and magnetometerWork on projects with built-in features such as music, speech, radio, and filesystemExplore the advanced features of the Micro:bitWho this book is for This book is for anyone who wants to use the combination of MicroPython and the BBC Micro:bit for building exciting real-life projects. Engineers, researchers, hobbyists, and technology instructors working in areas such as embedded systems, electronics, software development, IoT, robotics, teaching, and training will find this book useful for building projects. Prior experience with building basic electronic circuits and any programming language, not necessarily MicroPython, will be helpful.







Micro:Bit – A Quick Start Guide for Teachers


Book Description

The BBC micro:bit Quickstart Guide for Teachers is designed to support educators in effective use of the BBC micro:bit devices distributed to all Year 7 students in the United Kingdom as part of the BBC's Make It Digital initiative. Supported by Microsoft and published by Hodder Education, this indispensable guide features: An introduction to the Make It Digital initiative An outline of what the BBC micro:bit is and what it's designed to do Advice on how teachers and students can get the most out of the BBC micro:bit device, including how the hardware and the supporting services work (including the BBC micro:bit website, code editors and code compiler) Guidance on how to get started with creating programs for the BBC micro:bit using the Microsoft Touch Develop Editor, and how to compile them and upload them to your device Coding lessons of varying difficulty with step-by-step walkthroughs and solutions for each activity Curriculum references, providing educators with opportunities to introduce key computational thinking concepts and map outcomes back to aspects of the English computing program of study