**General**

http://www.arduino.cc%|%Arduino%|% is the official name for an open source micro-controller hardware technology developed in Italy.  The boards (manufactured, kits or do-it-yourself plans) are available fairly cheaply and there are sensor, motor, communication and other hardware add-ons available.  They have been adapted for many purposes. See the http://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/learn/materials/1/Arduino_final_handout.pdf%|%handout%|% from an Arduino training course from http://www.sparkfun.com for some great references.

Tcl/Tk seems ideally suited as a programming languages for this technology as the interface to deliver code and i/o to the microcontroller boards.  What a great new future for tcl as a Tool Command Language for actual tools as well as software tools. (But wait! 
http://www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/documentation/6-emc-history%|%According to Linuxcnc.org%|%, Tcl/Tk was used for the interface to early CNC equipment at http://www.nist.gov/index.html%|%NIST%|%. It is still used as an interface to EMC2 in a software called http://axis.unpy.net/about%|%Axis%|%.)

** The Hardware**

Arduino is the not the only type of hardware out there.  An incomplete overview of the landscape:

   * http://www.arduino.cc%|%Arduino%|% - a specific set of Arduino-approved devices.  The makers and sellers of these boards support the Arduino project financially.  Check out the hardware comparison guide at sparkfun.com
   * 'duino - spin-off technologies which are not specifically authorized by Arduino 
   * http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs%|%RaspberryPi%|% - Credit-card sized complete computer.  Runs Linux OS.  Buy it http://www.farnell.com/%|%here%|% (this one does not have distributors in North America, though) and http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=raspberrypi%|%here%|% 
   * Android - Android computer boards and USB-keys are now available.  https://www.tte.ca/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=146%|%An Example%|%.
   * https://github.com/ytai/ioio/wiki%|%IOIO-OTG%|% - Buy it https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11343%|%here%|%
   * ARM - 
   * AVR - 
   * Beagle - 
   * Chumby - 
   * FPGA - 
   * Gadgeteer - 

**Tcl Projects**

There are a few projects noted around the web:

   * There is a related GSoC project proposal: [http://wiki.tcl.tk/37728] based on the http://www.firmata.org%|%Firmata%|% protocol which has the intent of controlling an Arduino with Tcl scripts.  There is https://github.com/pdt/tfirmata%|%downloadable code%|% at Github to try out.
   * http://jeelabs.org/2010/04/22/a-mini-scope/
   * http://www.icanprogram.com/opndrs/arduino/2012Sept06.html
   * https://forum.sparkfun.com/viewtopic.php?p=74659

**References**

   *   http://www.arduino.cc%|%www.arduino.cc%|%
   *   http://www.sparkfun.com%|%www.sparkfun.com%|%
   *   Book: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11471
   *   Book: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10626
   *   Book: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11170

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