Finland’s first book about Arduino on Finnish National TV

March 6th, 2010 |

Tero Karvinen, one of the authors of Sulautetut, a Finnish book about embedded prototyping, will be featured on Finnish National Television next week on the program Voice Heräämö. Tero was kind enough to send along a translation of the interview, which starts at around four minutes into the video above.

Juha Valvio, interviewer: Tero Karvinen, you are teaching here - but what?
Tero: Linux and embedded systems.

Valvio: I hope they are showing a translation below... Let's take it to ground level. You [and Kimmo] have written a book on embedded systems. What?!

Text box: "Tero Karvinen, Linux God, Haaga-Helia".

Anne Nurminen, Miss Finland first runner up, is showing the book: Sulautetut - learn to build robots and other embedded systems.

Tero: Embedded systems are everywhere. For example, air conditioning of this room is an embedded system. It has a tiny computer that measures air and controls motors.

Valvio: So an embedded system is ... for example ... a car computer?

Tero: Yes, it is an embedded system. It's a computer, but it doesn't have a keyboard, a normal display, or a mouse. Instead, it makes measurements and controls some outputs accordingly. Some car brakes are embedded systems too.

Valvio: Can I build a car computer in a week?

Tero: Yes, you can build a prototype.

Valvio: Matias, a student in Haaga-Helia, we are now in UbiOffice lab. What have you studied lately?

Matias: Currently, I am in practical training. I work with Linux, build web pages and the like.

Text box: Matias Korhonen, student, Haaga-Helia.

Valvio: Have you learned to build something in a week?

Matias: Yes. I took Tero's course. For example, a built a system to connect a Wii controller to a computer. So I have played with embedded systems.

Valvio: Could one build a heat seeking missile system to a car - James Bond style? Can I do it in a week?

Matias: It depends on your rocket science background.