Programming Interactivity: A Designer’s Guide to Processing, Arduino, and Openframeworks
- ISBN13: 9780596154141
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Make cool stuff. If you’re a designer or artist without a lot of programming experience, this book will teach you to work with 2D and 3D graphics, sound, physical interaction, and electronic circuitry to create all sorts of interesting and compelling experiences — online and off. Programming Interactivity explains programming and electrical engineering basics, and introduces three freely available tools created specifically for artists and designers: Processin… More >>
Programming Interactivity: A Designer’s Guide to Processing, Arduino, and Openframeworks
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Karl Kelley said :
February 6, 2010 at 7:37 am
When I began reading (studying?) this book, I was a bit disappointed because of its emphasis on Processing and OpenFrameWorks which are two programming languages closely related to the Arduino programming language. I had purchased the book specifically to gain knowledge about the Arduino language and its nuances, and here I was being “force fed” more languages!
After reading the first Chapter or two, I laid it aside for a couple of weeks, hoping to sell it on e-bay or something. I picked it up again, thumbed to some random location in the middle of the book and found that I was “hooked”. I downloaded the Processing language Development Environment as suggested in the book, found it was virtually identical to the Arduino language (from which it was derived), and was delighted that the book delved very nicely into the “nuances” that I had been looking for.
I have little interest in OpenFrameWorks language, but this book gives me everything I hoped for related to Arduino and Processing. It is thorough, simple when it needs to be simple, and more in-depth when appropriate. I recommend this book to anyone who has a desire to become proficient in the programming environment used by Arduino. (BTW…if you don’t know what an Arduino is, you probably should NOT by this book!)
Rating: 4 / 5
J. Scott Davidson said :
February 6, 2010 at 8:51 am
Being new to programming I have purchased a dozen texts as of this last purchase “Interactivity”. This is the only one of the twelve that got me coding straight away. Within twenty minutes I had something a little more interesting than blinking lights to look at. My home brew robot had an obstacle avoidance routine written and working. I have been adding to that program ever since, not laboring over seemingly hopeless examples of projects that just don’t interest me.
If you just bought an Arduino, or have any other reason to understand and use a computer language this should be your first purchased. More than any of that (and that would be enough) this text is readable, enjoyable. I would reread this book just because I enjoyed the author’s style of writing.
This book also offers you a bonus, this might scare off some that read other reviews or the book description: you will learn three languages simultaneously. This would seem like an impossible task for most folks intimidated by learning just one language, but the author demonstrates quickly how natural it is to learn all three side by side. What a boon to your knowledge base!
It is very rare a text book of such wide scope and usefulness is authored.
Rating: 5 / 5
K. Willes said :
February 6, 2010 at 11:39 am
This is a great reference for a fast moving area. The author doesn’t get too detailed with each topic but he gives you enough to get started. I specifically appreciated the author’s advice on OpenCV and OpenFrameworks.
Rating: 5 / 5
Andrea Spinelli said :
February 6, 2010 at 1:53 pm
This is a very good treatise about interaction among computers, microcontrollers, human beings and the outside world. In particular it explores Processing, Openframeworks and Arduino.
Absolutly clear on how to make things work, both hardware and software. Those who are not too familiar with electronics or programming will find the practical examples in this book easy to reproduce. Some problems may be encountered with “Openframeworks” though, having it up and running at the beginning. There are some links and forums where any unskilled individual can find help anyway.
This is a “must read” for the creative artist, designer, architect, etc.
Rating: 5 / 5
Andrew B. Montgomery said :
February 6, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I’ve purchased a variety of books on physical computing, arduino, and processing but this one is probably the best of the best. Lots of info with lots of code, probably not for absolute beginners but a great read at any level.
Rating: 5 / 5