Graphical Arduino IDE system with wiring layout and flowchart functions for physical computing education

Arduino, a widely used tool for physical computing, is favored for its affordability and easy availability. However, a drawback for beginners is the requirement of prior knowledge of C programming language and circuit theory for effectively utilizing Arduino. In this research, we address this issue by developing a Graphical Arduino IDE system that allows users to control Arduino without the need for prior knowledge of C language and circuit theory. Users can create node graph-based scripts in the Wiring Tab of the Graphical Arduino IDE and develop flowchart-based scripts in the Algorithm Tab. The scripts created in the Wiring Tab serve as guidelines for wiring, thus preventing users from making wiring mistakes. Additionally, users without knowledge of C language can control Arduino by creating flowchart-based scripts in the Algorithm Tab. The finalized scripts are converted into Arduino code and uploaded to the Arduino board using the built-in Code Upload feature. Finally, a paired t test was conducted between the Graphical Arduino IDE and Scratch for Arduino, confirming that the Graphical Arduino IDE required fewer user inputs.