Here is a list of Arduino kits you can buy to use in this workshop.
I would recommend the adafruit Starter Pack for most people, but I wanted to offer some other choices and options.
If people are interested in the LilyPad for wearable applications, I would still start with another starter kit to get familiar with the basics first. Embedding electronics in garments is a little tricky, requiring soldering and sewing.
| Name | Source | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Pack | Adafruit.com www.adafruit.com/products/68 |
$65.00 | Everything you need for basic projects and then some: USB cable, AC & battery, breadboard, wires, components, and a prototyping shield (requires soldering). This is good if you’ll want to do more than simple exercises. |
| Budget Pack | Adafruit.com www.adafruit.com/products/193 |
$49.50 | This will get you going at a minimal cost. You can add other stuff later if you stay interested. |
| “Getting Started with Arduino” | Adafruit.com www.adafruit.com/products/263 |
$12.95 | A lovely little book by Arduino founder Massimo Banzi that is a thorough introduction to using Arduino hardware and software, for those who like nicely illustrated explanations on paper. |
| Inventor’s Kit | Sparkfun.com www.sparkfun.com/products/10173 |
$94.95 | A starter kit that has a lot more components than the adafruit one, plus a set of sample exercises and booklet. Does not have battery or AC power adapters (for untethered applications). |
| Starter Kit | Sparkfun.com www.sparkfun.com/products/10174 |
$59.95 | Another starter kit, but with fewer parts and components than the Inventor’s Kit. |
| “Getting Started with Arduino” | Sparkfun.com www.sparkfun.com/products/9301 |
$10.95 | Same book as above, from a different vendor. |
| LilyPad Pro Kit | Sparkfun.com www.sparkfun.com/products/8873 |
$39.95 | A version of the Arduino designed specifically for wearable applications. It is waterporrof and can be sewn into graments. Requires soldering, so not for the beginner, but very cool. |
| LilyPad E-Sewing Kit | Sparkfun.com www.sparkfun.com/products/10554 |
$19.95 | An add-on pack for the LilyPad with versions of components that can be sewn into fabric and clothing. |