Further Resources

The Hardware

A great site detailing the limits of data capturing with an Arduino - https://sites.google.com/site/measuringstuff/home

Node.js and Johnny-Five

The arduino board can be accessed solely through text based Javascript coding (provided the Arduino is running Firmata ), and I recommend this for debugging purposes often, especially to test that your overall setup is working. A number of good examples exist of this approach, with the following recommended:

• http://node-ardx.org/ - a great set of examples projects to work through based on node.js and Johnny-Five control of Arduino based projects.
• http://nodebots.io/ - the building of so called nodebots, node.js controlled robots based primarily on open source microcontrollers such as Arduino

Begin with the classic 'hello world' of hardware, namely making an LED on a breadboard and thereafter get acquainted with the code.

If you've never run a Javascript file in your life before (as I had when I started this project, visit Setting up node.js where I describe it for the complete beginner).