PREFACE
PREFACE The BBC micro:bit is a credit sized computer based on a highly popular and high performance ARM processor. The device is designed by a group of 29 partners for use in computer education in the UK and will be given free of charge to every secondary school student in the UK. The device, based on the Cortex-M0 processor, measures 4 x 5 cm and includes several important sensors and modules such as an accelerometer, magnetometer, 25 LEDs, 2 programmable push-button switches, Bluetooth connectivity, micro USB socket, 5 ring type connectors, and a 23-pin edge connector. The device can be powered from its micro USB port by connecting it to a PC, or two external AAA type batteries can be used. ARM offers 32-bit and 64-bit processors mainly for the embedded applications. Nowadays, the majority of mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and GPS receivers are based on the ARM processors. The low cost, low power consumption, and high performance of the ARM processors make them ideal candidates to be used in complex communication and mixed signal applications. The BBC micro:bit was created using the ARM mbed development environment which is basically a web based interface used to compile user’s code which can then be uploaded to the target device using USB or Bluetooth connections. The BBC micro:bit appears as a USB drive when connected to a computer. The compiled code can be dragged and dropped to this drive so that it is uploaded to the BBC micro:bit automatically. This book is about the use of the BBC micro:bit computer in practical projects. The BBC micro:bit computer can be programmed using several different programming languages, such as Microsoft Block Editor, Microsoft Touch Develop, microPython, and JavaScript. The book makes a brief introduction to the Touch Develop programming language and the microPython programming language. It then gives 35 example working and tested projects using these language. Readers who learn to program in Touch Develop and microPython should find it very easy to program using the Block Editor or any other languages. The following are given for each project: • Title of the project • Description of the project • Aim of the project • Touch Develop and microPython program listings Complete program listings are given for each project. In addition, working principles of the projects are described briefly in each section. Readers are encouraged to go through the projects in the order given in the book.
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BBC Microbit UK 160929.indd 5
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