The Ponderer
New Member
Hi
I was starting to get interested in PIC technology, I got quite enthuisiastic, and then I pondered... Why use a PIC, a PC and a big MAPLAB software download when the "old"er technology did it quite well?
I have googled endlessly for "uses for PIC controller", "interesting uses for PIC controller", " novel uses for PICs" etc ... and I am left wondering why use a PIC in the first place?
About the most "really useful use" I found was for an automatic plant waterer. This detected the soil humidity, turned on a water pump, lit LEDs, stopped when soil was wet and so forth. A bit O.T.T., I thought.
I understand that PICs are used everywhere nowadays, but how many amateur electronics people have the need to replicate "washing-machine type" automatic controls of this nature?
If I could dream up a number of good uses for a PIC, I know I would enjoy learning the programming as a new personal challenge.
I understand people do enjoy new challenges, but if the end result is the ubiquitous "hammer to crack a nut", could someone please help to motivate me and make me believe that I may have got the wrong end of the stick?
Please help!
I was starting to get interested in PIC technology, I got quite enthuisiastic, and then I pondered... Why use a PIC, a PC and a big MAPLAB software download when the "old"er technology did it quite well?
I have googled endlessly for "uses for PIC controller", "interesting uses for PIC controller", " novel uses for PICs" etc ... and I am left wondering why use a PIC in the first place?
About the most "really useful use" I found was for an automatic plant waterer. This detected the soil humidity, turned on a water pump, lit LEDs, stopped when soil was wet and so forth. A bit O.T.T., I thought.
I understand that PICs are used everywhere nowadays, but how many amateur electronics people have the need to replicate "washing-machine type" automatic controls of this nature?
If I could dream up a number of good uses for a PIC, I know I would enjoy learning the programming as a new personal challenge.
I understand people do enjoy new challenges, but if the end result is the ubiquitous "hammer to crack a nut", could someone please help to motivate me and make me believe that I may have got the wrong end of the stick?
Please help!