.Internet Gadgeteer - Microsoft?s open-source toolkit for building gadgets

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DIY gadgets' makers possess a new solution for fast and simple building of custom products as the .Internet Gadgeteer platform. Utilizing .Internet Micro Framework and C# programming language, .Internet Gadgeteer is definitely an open-source toolkit combined of the fundamental ARM CPU-outfitted mainboard and a range of easily attachable modules, including shows, buttons, camera, Ethernet, USB ports, or Wi-fi compatability. The concept resembles the Arduino platform or EZ-Builder package for DIY robotics projects like DJ Sures' WALL-E.

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Roots from the project should be present in Microsoft Research engineer Steve Hodges' prototype from the SenseCam wearable camera. It required about 2 guy-years to complete the prototype and basically brought Microsoft's team to search for simpler solutions.

Nicolas Villar and James Scott of Microsoft's Sensors and Products Group, have labored in the last two and half years developing the .Internet Gadgeteer toolkit.

The .Internet Gadgeteer's central processing unit mainboard is made to enable easy affixing of selected modules, without soldering or detailed, specialist understanding of electronics. The programming is performed via C# language, depending on Microsoft Visual Studio with IntelliSense feature streamlining the coding process by auto-finishing lines of code or utilizing code packages. All needed software programs are available as free downloads.

.Internet Gadgeteer is usually targeted at engineers, designers and scientists needing a fast and simple method to build prototypes of products, or being an educational tool for instructors, in addition to any amateur tinkering enthusiast.

.Internet Gadgeteer's team has include numerous products featuring the toolkit's abilities including an automatic home-heat (to become presented at UbiComp 2011 conference in Beijing in September), a miniature stop-motion animation studio along with a miniature arcade cabinet.

GHI Electronics may be the first company to provide .Internet Gadgeteer toolkit as FEZ Spider Starter Package which has a mainboard and also over twelve of attachable modules and cables. Pre-order prices is US$249.95 and shipping starts on 30 September.

Steve Hodges and Nicolas Villar describe the .Internet Gadgeteer project within the following video:

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