Congratulations on your PicoBoard purchase. As you inventory your package, make sure you have the following items:
- PicoBoard
- Serial port to USB connector
- four sets of alligator clips
Before we can start using the PicoBoard, we must ensure our computers have the proper drivers installed. The driver is just a term tech people use to sound smart, but it's really just some software we install on our computer to make the PicoBoard work properly with Scratch.
Windows Vista users can rest for a minute while the rest of us install the necessary software.
Driver installation is straightforward. Go to www.picocricket.com/picoboardsetup.html, and click on the download link for your operating system to download the file to your computer.
After the file downloads, unzip it using whatever tools are available on your computer. Usually, double-clicking on the file will display the contents of the ZIP file so you can extract it. Extract the setup file to your desktop and double-click it. Then, follow the installer's instructions.
After the driver installs, connect the PicoBoard to the computer.
Welcome back Vista users. We're ready to connect the PicoBoard to our computer. Find the serial port to USB connector cable that came with the PicoBoard. Connect the serial connector to the PicoBoard and the USB connector to your computer.
Not sure what a serial or USB connector is? Don't worry. The serial connector has nine pins, and the USB end looks like the connector used for your mouse, MP3 player, or printer. Computer cables plug in only one way, so find the connections that match and go for it.
After we connect the PicoBoard to the computer, the computer detects the board and makes it ready to use. Windows users will see a message display in the Windows system tray (near the clock) that indicates the new hardware is ready.
Tip
When you work with the PicoBoard, open only one instance of Scratch. Multiple Scratch windows may cause Scratch to not detect the PicoBoard's sensor information.
Now, we're ready to program.