PhidgetLab: crossing the border from virtual to real-world objects

Teaching pupils the ideas behind objects in programming languages can be difficult since these concepts are mostly abstract and not comprehensible at first sight. Etoys as a visual programming environment counters such issues by introducing visible objects and simple tiles for programming them. However, all of these objects can only be experienced virtually on the screen. This paper presents PhidgetLab, a programming environment for electronic components (Phidgets) realised on top of the Etoys environment. PhidgetLab helps crossing the border from virtual to real-world objects. Pupils interact with tangible objects that are seamlessly connected to the digital world. PhidgetLab was evaluated in a case study with 22 pupils, following the principles of the Design Thinking methodology and comprised the realisation of five prototypes within a short period of time.