Science is easier when it is automated.
This book is aimed at scientists and amateur scientists who want to learn how to use small, cheap (sometimes under $3) computers to build automated lab equipment to take the drudgery out of lab work.
After all, real science is fun.
But we aren't limited to science. We can automate cooking, photography, gardening, and other hobbies and interests as well, using the same techniques, and often the same equipment.
And it's a lot easier than you might think!
We assume you know nothing about computer programming. By the end of the book, you will be comfortable programming in several computer languages, such as C, C++, Python, Javascript, and PHP, and will be introduced to others as well. What you learn about one of these languages will transfer well (and easily) to the others, as they all have the same basic concepts and structures.
We also assume you know nothing about building electronic gadgets and attaching them to computers. But by the end of the book you will be happily hooking up sensors, motors, and controls to your tiny computer, and hooking it all up to the Internet so you can monitor and control your projects from anywhere, and collaborate with fellow scientists, cooks, and hobbyists.