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Chapter 2
：
What Makes a Machine “Come to Life”
Interactive devices
In the next few chapters, we'll build interactive projects such as a button controlled single LED, a
simple colorful LED animation, or even make our own music. These devices can be categorized as
"interactive devices." In order to help build a better understanding of their mechanisms, we need
to first understand how they are composed.
The simplest interaction device consists of 3 parts:
Input unit for command acceptance or data
collection
Control unit for data or signal processing
Output unit for sending data or executing actions
You must be confused by these conceptions and eager to know how they actually function. Let’s
taking our own body as an example, we collect information in the form of light, sound, taste, and
power through our eyes, ears, nose, and skin. These information enter our brains and determine
what response to take. Ultimately, we take physical actions based on these information to change
the material environment. Specifically, your friend, for example, says "hello" to you, and you
respond "hello". Here, your ears act as input units, your brain acts as a control unit, and your mouth
plays the role of output unit.
Similarly, while building projects by using the micro: bit, we will use a variety of sensors as the input
units, the micro:bit as the control unit, and the actuator as the output unit.
Input Unit
——
sensor
Sensors (also called transducers) are physical components that detect the environmental
characteristics such as light, temperature, humidity, etc. and convert them into signal data. In this
tutorial, sensors such as buttons, sound sensors and temperature sensors will be applied.
Control Unit
——
micro: bit
The micro: bit will act as a control unit in this tutorial, using the signal pins to establish connections
between input units and output units and processing the data in the calculation processing
module.
Output Unit
——
actuator
The actuator is the one responsible for moving or controlling a system or a mechanism. It converts
electrical energy into motion, sound and light. In this tutorial, the actuators such as LEDs, small fans
and servos will be applied.