Make: Sensors

Chapter 5. Touch

Touch is the most common way to tell a device what to do. Flip a switch to turn on the lights, press a button on a remote control, or click a key on your keyboard.

In this chapter, you’ll meet a button, a squeeze sensor, and a capacitive touch sensor. You’ll learn to use pull-up resistors to avoid floating pins. Finally, you’ll build a haunted bell to try your touch skills in a project.

A button is the most basic sensor, so it’s also the most basic touch sensor. When a button is pressed, its leads are connected, closing a circuit. A microswitch is a type of small, durable button.

A FlexiForce sensor detects how much force is being put on it. You can use it to test the might of your fingers or to detect when someone is sitting on ...