The first lab for Physical Computing consists of connecting a push-button switch to the Arduino Uno in order to transfer current from one LED to another upon pressing the button.

Please excuse the unsteady cinematography…I have already ordered a tripod to hold the iPhone while shooting demos.

For kicks, I removed the switch and connected two wires to the breadboard, and attached them to the inside of a toy car door. A lit green LED indicates the door is open; when the door shuts the red LED lights up, and the green LED looses current, indicating proper closure.

The mock-up is pretty crude, but setting up the model gives an adequate understanding of say, how the interior lights in your car turn on when you open your car door.