Software Reference

The Arduino is a small, cheap hardware component for hobbyists. It includes a processor and a serial interface, and you can add all sorts of sensors, switches and so on to create projects for sensing and control. For example, you could wire up a project with a light sensor and a motor to close your curtains automatically once it becomes dark outside. Both the software and the hardware are open source.

Have you tried using the Arduino? Are you interested? Would you buy a book about it?