There are many different input devices available for Arduinos.  There are devices to measure pushing force, stretch force, distance, temperature, and much much more.  By using some combination of these devices one can allow their Arduino to reach to physical changes in the environment.

Conductive rubber chord is an extremely interesting input device.  Normally rubber isn’t conductive to electricity, but particular type has been carbon-black impregnated, meaning it can carry a current.  As the chord stretches, its resistance increases.  So by measuring the amount of voltage getting through the chord, one can tell how far the string is being stretched and incorporate this information into their Arduino programs.

Ultrasonic range finders use sonar like a bat or whale to find how far the nearest solid object is by detecting sound waves bouncing off of the surface of that object.  Devices like this can be used to make a scary Halloween pumpkin that flashes and plays spooky sounds when children get near it.

This liquid flow meter could be used to make the Inebriater, which I posted about in my previous passion blog post.  It works by measuring the rotation of a pinwheel enclosed within the sensor.

There are even liquid level sensors that measure how far a liquid comes up the sensor.  I can imagine making a system that reminds you to buy more milk with something like this!

There are many more types of sensor on the market that perform a variety of unique, but useful  functions.  Perhaps I’ll acquire some of these senors over winter break and be able to make some really cool new projects.

This is a picture of Dorothy Counts, the first black student to be enrolled at Harding High School.  In the photography you can see Dorothy and her father marching towards the school with solemn, disappointing looks on their faces.  You can see what seems like the entire white community of the town taunting, ridiculing, and attempting to intimidate the counts.  Looking at this picture transports the viewer back into the late 1950’s and begins to do the impossible task of relating what it would be like to be Black in that era. The hate received by black people from men, women, and even children is documented in this photo.

The photo shows just how far we have come as a society, but also reminds us that not too long ago racism was encouraged and acceptable behavior. The picture begs us must remember lessons we learned from the Civil Rights movement and be careful not to repeat the same mistake with different peoples from other cultures.  A lesson we must take careful heed of as more and more different cultures become and peoples more prevalent in the country.