Flowboard: How Seamless, Live, Flow-Based Programming Impacts Learning to Code for Embedded Electronics

Abstract

Toolkits like the Arduino system have brought embedded programming to STEM education. However, learning embedded programming is still hard, requiring an understanding of coding, electronics, and how both sides interact. To investigate the opportunities of using a different programming paradigm than the imperative approach to learning embedded coding, we developed Flowboard . Students code in a visual iPad editor using flow-based programming , which is conceptually closer to circuit diagrams than imperative code. Two breadboards with I/O pins mirrored on the iPad connect electronics and program graph more seamlessly than existing IDEs. Program changes take effect immediately. This liveness reflects circuit behavior better than edit-compile-run loops. A first study confirmed that students can solve basic embedded programming tasks with Flowboard while highlighting important differences to a typical imperative IDE, Ardublock. A second, in-depth study provided qualitative insights into Flowboard’s impact on students’ conceptual models of electronics and embedded programming and exploring those.

Proof of Concept of a Generic Toolkit for Sonification: The Sonification Cell in Ossia Score

“…This "patching" approach presents a number of well-known advantages and disadvantages in terms of learnability, flexibility and ease of use [22,23,24]. It has already been successfully implemented in several popular sound programming languages, such as Pure Data, Max/MSP, Kyma [25], and is also similar to the interaction offered by libmapper's graphical tool for data mapping [26].…”

GSM-enabled Wireless Patient Monitoring System Integrating Microcontroller for Managing Vital Signstal signs

“…It is a well-liked option among microcontroller kinds because of its ease of use and programming capabilities Brocker et. al., 2023 [6]. Although there has been a great deal of research in this area, more work has to be done to demonstrate the medical benefits and economic feasibility of these solutions.…”

“…This entails access control methods for user authentication, encryption techniques for data transfer, and routine security checks to find and fix any weaknesses. 6.…”