Beyond the security problems that the so-called "Internet of Things" faces, the truth is that it won't go anywhere without the help of developers and the DIY community. Millions of enthusiasts are waiting for the right tools to carry out their first projects, and the people at Arduino decided to respond to that demand with ESLOV, a modular kit designed and prepared especially for those who have no prior knowledge of software or hardware.
The Challenge of Getting Started
We all know that at the core, the best way to get the most out of Arduino hardware is by assimilating its programming language. The official Arduino FAQ indicates that the language is just a set of functions in C and C++, so it should be relatively easy to learn with enough practice… however, code is intimidating. It always has been, and always will be. We also need to mention the "patience factor". Personally, I have developed some skill in restoring and repairing keyboards, but every time I tried to cross swords with loading and editing firmware, I ended up defeated and tired. Now imagine this situation, extended to those who never fought with a piece of hardware or software. How can we convince them that the DIY world has a place for them? What tool would be ideal thinking about them "getting their feet wet"? Well, the people at Arduino are looking to launch something very special: ESLOV.
ESLOV: A Modular Kit
The idea behind ESLOV is to combine all the flexibility and compatibility we know in Arduino hardware and software into a new modular platform that significantly simplifies the creation of devices. This "invention kit" comes with several modules that connect to each other through simple cables, and its programming is at a very high level, with simple drag and drop commands. Projects can be published on the Arduino Cloud to control them via the Internet, and advanced users have the option to program the modules with the online version of the Arduino editor, or its desktop IDE.
Both the hardware and software of ESLOV is open source, and all relevant information will be released once the crowdfunding campaign concludes. This will also enable the development of third-party modules, so ESLOV will go far beyond "official" hardware.
Pricing and Crowdfunding
The Arduino people decided to fund the launch of ESLOV on Kickstarter, and if my currency conversion doesn't fail me, they need the equivalent of about 495 thousand dollars. The price of the main module is $49, the basic configuration (main module plus three auxiliary) goes up to $99, and the rest of the scales are $179 (8+1), $249 (15+1) and $499 (22+1). All deliveries are scheduled for June 2017.
