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{{distinguish|Mechanical computer}}
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'''Physical computing''' involves interactive systems that can sense and respond to the world around them.{{clarify|reason=If there is any distinction from an embedded system, mention it here.|date=September 2016}} While this definition is broad enough to encompass systems such as smart automotive traffic [[control system]]s or factory [[automation]] processes, it is not commonly used to describe them. In a broader sense, physical computing is a creative framework for understanding human beings' relationship to the [[Digital data|digital]] world. In practical use, the term most often describes handmade art, design or [[DIY]] hobby projects that use [[sensor]]s and [[microcontroller]]s to translate analog input to a [[software system]], and/or control [[electro-mechanical]] devices such as [[Electric motor|motor]]s, [[Servomechanism|servo]]s, [[lighting]] or other hardware.
Physical computing intersects the range of activities often referred to in academia and industry as electrical engineering, [[mechatronics]], robotics, computer science, and especially [[Embedded system|embedded development.]]
[[File:Physical computing.svg|500px|frameless|right|Physical computing]]
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Physical computing is used in a wide variety of domains and applications.
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The advantage of physicality in education and playfulness has been reflected in diverse informal learning environments. The [[Exploratorium]], a pioneer in [[inquiry based learning]], developed some of the earliest interactive exhibitry involving computers, and continues to include more and more examples of physical computing and [[tangible interface]]s as associated technologies progress.
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In the art world, projects that implement physical computing include the work of [[Scott Snibbe]], [[Daniel Rozin]], [[Rafael Lozano-Hemmer]], [[Jonah Brucker-Cohen]], and [[Camille Utterback]].
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Physical computing practices also exist in the product and interaction design sphere, where hand-built [[embedded system]]s are sometimes used to rapidly prototype new digital product concepts in a cost-efficient way. Firms such as [[IDEO]] and [[Teague (company)|Teague]] are known to approach [[product design]] in this way.
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Commercial implementations range from consumer devices such as the Sony [[Eyetoy]] or games such as [[Dance Dance Revolution]] to more esoteric and pragmatic uses including [[machine vision]] utilized in the automation of quality inspection along a factory [[assembly line]]. [[Exergaming]], such as Nintendo's ''[[Wii Fit]],'' can be considered a form of physical computing. Other implementations of physical computing include [[speech recognition|voice recognition]], which senses and interprets sound waves via microphones or other soundwave sensing devices, and [[computer vision]], which applies algorithms to a rich stream of [[video]] data typically sensed by some form of camera. [[Haptic technology|Haptic]] interfaces are also an example of physical computing, though in this case the computer is ''generating'' the physical stimulus as opposed to ''sensing'' it. Both [[motion capture]] and [[gesture recognition]] are fields that rely on computer vision to work their magic.
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Physical computing can also describe the fabrication and use of custom sensors or collectors for scientific experiments, though the term is rarely used to describe them as such. An example of physical computing modeling is the ''[[Illustris project]]'', which attempts to precisely simulate the [[Chronology of the universe|evolution of the universe]] from the [[Big Bang]] to the present day, [[Age of the universe|13.8 billion years]] later.<ref name="IP-20140614">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=The Illustris Simulation - Towards a predictive theory of galaxy formation. |url=http://www.illustris-project.org/ |date=14 June 2014 |work=
== Methods ==
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== External links ==
{{Commons category|Physical computing}}
{{External links|date=October 2022}}
* [http://www.arduino.cc/ Arduino], a highly popular open source physical computing platform
* [http://www.raspberrypi.org/ Raspberry Pi], complete computer with GPIO's to interact with the world, huge community, many tutorials available. Many Linux distros available as well as Windows IoT and OS-less unikernel RTL's{{
* [http://beagleboard.org/bone BeagleBone], a complete Linux computer with GPIO's, but a little less flexible
* [http://www.acmesystems.it/ FoxBoard (and others)], yet another Linux computer with GPIO, but with little information
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