The Arduino and the Lilypad Beginner's Kit

Anyone who's read this blog lately will know I'm going to the Maker Faire!  Got my ticket, ready to go!  If you also figured out that I've spent a fair amount of time making things out of basic materials, you'd be right.  Cloth, thread, wool, wood, copper have all been used for creations on this blog.

About a week ago, I took a plunge and purchased a Lilypad Arduino. If it sounds like Greek to you, I'll provide my relatively uninformed explanation.  Even so, it can be complicated to those who have no interest in things technical.  For that, I apologize.

CRAFTING WITH TECHNOLOGY

You see, the "Maker Subculture" defines an enabling attitude towards creativity and technology.  It tries to marry the two in any way possible, embracing either, but especially both. 

Eh? You may ask. 

Well, I demonstrate some creative instinct when I want to sew.  It's Maker, because I am creating something.  If I hack my toy's remote control so that it can be used on another device (I haven't, but if I did), it's Maker with technology.

Now, although sewing is Making, enabling one who sews by including him/her in the Maker fold encourages him/her to explore beyond that initial skillset, and encourages him/her in the direction of sewing with technology.

Eh? You might ask.

Before I go down that road, I need to talk about a few things.

OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY

So... I imagine that most of us have heard of Linux? Linux is distributed under the General Protection License (GPL).

I'm rusty on the nooks and crannies of the Linux GPL, but this is how I remember it.  Linux is community created and evolved software.  Individuals and companies can use and evolve Linux, but the GPL licensing must carry over.  Anyone evolving Linux must make the source available for others to use.  Moreover, companies can not charge a per-installation cost for software based upon Linux.  However, distribution of the software via a physical medium can have a value and therefore cost, as can support provided to companies or individuals.  Offered, but not required.

What is the point of the GPL?  If all those university students all around the world are doing their theses on Linux and developing new features to the software that will be offered under the GPL, it results in lower development costs for companies that market operating systems based on Linux, as they do not have to re-invent the operating system and all of the utilities.  Companies that might not otherwise have an opportunity to sell operating systems are enabled, so long as they honor the GPL.  This leads to lower per unit costs for consumers that use Linux.

And there's a lot of compatible add-on software that is available online.

OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE

Which brings us to open source hardware.  A key advance embraced by the Maker subculture is the concept of open source hardware.  Like open source software, open source hardware makes available to the public designs and documentation for hardware elements (like circuit boards).  Anyone is able to make, modify, distribute designs that are based upon the open source hardware specification, but must make these designs available to others, who can then do the same.

What does this mean? 

The open hardware licensing carries over to design derivatives of the open source hardware.  Anyone who has the ability to make a circuit board can make an open source hardware circuit board (and sell it).  BUT if he/she creates a derivative design, that design must be made available to others who can then make the derivative circuit board under the same open source hardware licensing.  The result?  A community-evolved open source hardware specification.

Eh? You might ask.

IT'S LIKE MAKING A BUNNY BIRTHDAY CAKE

If I put online the instructions for making a bunny birthday cake, and it is distributed under a license similar to the GPL, anyone who wants to mass produce the bunny birthday cake is welcome to do so.  HOWEVER, if they came up with a way to do the whole body and not just the face, they would also have to provide the instructions for making a bunny birthday cake with the whole body, AND others who wanted to mass produce the bunny birthday cake WITH THE WHOLE BODY could do so.  They could also add in their special way of doing details on the paws, but it would be under the same rules.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE ARDUINO

The Arduino specification is an open source hardware specification.  If you have the capabilities, you can hack your own Arduino together using the specification, or you can buy one already made.  However you get your Arduino going, there are online resources that you can use to program it.

And it's cool.  It reeks of geek, smarty pants, out of the box, maker, free thinker, creator, whatever you want to call it.

AND NOW THE LILYPAD

So... I'm a maker.  I must make something.  I like sewing, and I'm trying to jump further into the Maker fold, so I want the Lilypad.  A sewable version of the Arduino.

Here's what I got in my Lilypad Beginner's Kit:

• E-Textiles Starter Kit
• Fashioning Technology (the book)
• LED Sewing Kit

Photos are displayed.  I'm TERRIFIED!!! What have I gotten myself into?  There are no instructions included with the LilyPad!  The book doesn't have any either!  Am I really up to making with technology?  My instinct is to hide it all away and work on another embroidery piece with my fancy sewing machine.  After all, the Maker Faire is just three weeks away!  What could I get done in three weeks?  Eek!

Trish is very excited about her impending visit to the Bay Area Makerfaire in May.

Trish writes as for Patch and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin blog