Here’s how to get started using them.

What Are littleBits?

LittleBits are small, open source, modular electronics components that snap together to form larger circuits.

The company was started byAyah Bdeirwith the goal of making DIY hardware available to everyone.

They’re billed as a simple way to learn about electronics hardware and they deliver on that promise.

They also just introduced bundles for integratinginternet applicationsandArduino programswith littleBits.

If something’s not working out, just unhook the magnets that connect each module and start over.

Each module is color-coded and divided into four different categories: power, input, wire, and output.

Input

Microphone: The microphone input takes outside sound and turns it into a trigger.

This might be triggering lights, motors, or whatever else.

you’re free to even use it toconnect to your smartphoneto record then manipulate your own audio.

you’ve got the option to alter the range and behavior of those keys.

It also operates as a simple trigger to control other non-synth based littleBits modules.

Motion Trigger: As the name suggests, the motion trigger senses motion.

So, if you wave your hand over it, it sends a signal down the circuit.

It works great for any pop in of motion alarm system.

This makes it easy to set up triggers and outputs for Arduino projects of all kinds.

You don’t need an external Arduino, the module itself has everything you need.

CloudBit: The cloudBit is the newest littleBits module and easily the most interesting.

With it, you’ve got the option to connect to all kinds of internet-connected devices.

DC Motor: The DC motor is a low powered motor that rotates.

you’ve got the option to have multiple inputs and multiple outputs for something more complex.

Things get more interesting when you work in either the cloudBit or Arduino modules.

The circuit itself works the exact same as every other littleBit.

Thesetup process is pretty simpleand isn’t that different from theinitial setup of an Arduino.

To that end, here are a few of our favorite projects we’ve seen so far.

It’s a bit of an over engineered solution, but it’s cool nonetheless.

Build a Real-Time Weather Dashboard

This one’s simple, but incredibly cool.

But it’s a good way to learn what you’re free to do with the Arduino.