5 Minutes of Programming in Exhibitions

• Christiane Gresse von Wangenheim UFSC
• Aldo von Wangenheim UFSC
• Fernando S. Pacheco IFSC
• M. Nathalie F. Ferreira UFSC
• Jean C. R. Hauck UFSC

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/wei.2017.3548

Abstract

In order to popularize computing in a playful way at science fairs, we created an exhibit to demystify physical computing and at the same time to motivate and stimulate interest in computing. We designed two minion-shaped interactive programmable robots (one more than one meter high) that in a recreational way show how easy and interesting it can be to create programs in a few minutes in a drop-in setting. The robots are visually programmed via a Scratch 2/Snap! program and automated by an Arduino Nano microcontroller in a simple, low-cost, platform-independent way. Our experience at SEPEX 2015 with more than 4,000 visitors shows that offering such exhibits to the general public can be an engaging alternative for popularizing computing in an inexpensive way.

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