# Data visualization? **URL:** \ **Category:** Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer\ **Created:** [August 16, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734 "2022-08-16T14:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon68865393](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@anon68865393](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon68865393)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/1 "2022-08-16T14:23:33Z")
Hi, I’ll be using the Elegoo Super Starter kit and teaching high school students this semester. I came across this software videos and the data visualization example interests me greatly. [MakerPlot-j YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTa11z7R41vS1uXM8vqBRyg) In the example they are just using sine type data being sent out, but what sensors would be able to produce similar or interesting visualizations to control the line’s coordinates/colors or the aspects of the ovals. I’ll probably give the gyros a test with it, but is there anything in the kits that may produce interesting results? I think it would interest the students beyond just serial data monitoring or plotting. And maybe they can get a free license mentioned with some “real use”? Are visualizations like this used anywhere in real life? Thanks much. ---
**Author:** ![johnwasser](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/johnwasser/32/214270_2.png) [@johnwasser](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/johnwasser)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/2 "2022-08-16T14:54:09Z")
Looks like you have a little over a month. [http://www.selmaware.com/makerplot-j/](http://www.selmaware.com/makerplot-j/) "The beta will stop operating on October 1st (for now)." Another option for displaying Arduino data on a PC is the [Processing.org](http://Processing.org) project. It allows for visualization projects in Java, Javascript, Python, and Arduino. ---
**Author:** ![anon68865393](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@anon68865393](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon68865393)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/3 "2022-08-16T16:12:19Z")
Cool, thanks, but it seems like a new language to use and how to get serial data from sensors is isn’t readily apparent. I may dig deeper, but I need something simple, makerplot looks just needs data sent to it, and maybe a few tweaks to it. The students will have enough on their hands on the basic Arduinos stuff. I’m testing the software now, maybe I’ll see about a license if it comes to it. I appreciate the feedback, but any response to my actual question? ---
**Author:** ![johnwasser](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/johnwasser/32/214270_2.png) [@johnwasser](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/johnwasser)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/4 "2022-08-16T16:17:34Z")
> [@anon68865393](#): > > how to get serial data from sensors is isn’t readily apparent. > **[Processing and Arduino Serial Example](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-and-arduino-serial-example/31650)** > > Hi @josephh, @glv, @PhilHaw, @TfGuy44, I’ve included you specifically because I’ve seen you reply to Proceesing+Arduino Serial questions, but anyone else is welcome to join in. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the same problems come up again and... ---
**Author:** ![Grumpy\_Mike](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/grumpy_mike/32/213521_2.png) [@Grumpy\_Mike](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Grumpy_Mike)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/5 "2022-08-16T16:21:36Z")
> [@anon68865393](#): > > but it seems like a new language to use It is based on Java, which is written with a C syntax. The only place it differs is when you go and build libraries and call them the syntax is a bit different. But your students should have little difficulty with that. It is just what would be called the loop function on the Arduino is called the draw function in processing. ---
**Author:** ![anon68865393](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@anon68865393](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon68865393)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/6 "2022-08-16T17:04:55Z")
Thanks for the info on Processing, but makerplot-j is closer to PLC-HMI that I teach at a community college as well. I need to spend class time teaching the arduino, sensors, etc, and how it relates to industrial applications. I was just curious about the visualization aspect with sensors for some “cool effect” using the software. I checked, we still have a license for the original makerplot that carries over, this version seems much much easier to develop an interface for instead of sticking to the canned ones, and the visualizations are nice. Thanks though. Don’t get grumpy with me, lol. ---
**Author:** ![anon68865393](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@anon68865393](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon68865393)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/7 "2022-08-16T17:10:55Z")
Thanks again, I’m good with arduinos, but that example is makes my head spin! Way too complex for the average student (and me). Maybe I’m posting in the wrong forum area for what I’m looking for. ---
**Author:** ![johnwasser](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/johnwasser/32/214270_2.png) [@johnwasser](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/johnwasser)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/8 "2022-08-16T17:19:15Z")
> [@anon68865393](#): > > Maybe I’m posting in the wrong forum area Maybe "Interfacing with software on the computer" would be a better fit. > **[Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer](https://forum.arduino.cc/c/using-arduino/interfacing-w-software-on-the-computer/28)** > > \Firmata, Processing, Max/MSP, PureData, VVVV, etc.\ ---
**Author:** ![hallowed31](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/hallowed31/32/1093680_2.png) [@hallowed31](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/hallowed31)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/9 "2022-08-16T17:28:55Z")
+1 for Processing. I can only speak from my experience but it was easy to pick up and play tinkering around with the numerous great example sketches in the various libraries to do interesting things with data visualization (I'm a fan of pushing my son's gaming PC to the limits by playing around with the Mandelbrot set). ---
**Author:** ![hallowed31](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/hallowed31/32/1093680_2.png) [@hallowed31](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/hallowed31)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/10 "2022-08-16T17:34:16Z")
> [@anon68865393](#): > > something simple It's very simple once you get your head around it once. Honest. I'm a regular Joe with no education or training in this stuff and do some pretty cool visualizations in Processing all the time. Arduino was based in part on Processing, I think. That's why Arduino calls the programs "sketches" if I'm not mistaken. Processing is (either) 2D or 3D digital graph paper. Graph paper you can add sound, animations, whatever to. It's worth a closer look IMO. ---
**Author:** ![anon68865393](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@anon68865393](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon68865393)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/11 "2022-08-16T17:41:40Z")
Thanks ---
**Author:** ![anon68865393](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@anon68865393](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon68865393)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/12 "2022-08-16T17:44:01Z")
Thanks, the data visualization is just a small aspect, we’ll use the software for plotting, monitoring, data logging, etc. it just caught me eye. ---
**Author:** ![Nick\_Pyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e8c25b/32.png) [@Nick\_Pyner](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Nick_Pyner)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 4:52am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/13 "2022-08-17T04:52:39Z")
> [@anon68865393](#): > > plotting, monitoring, data logging, Sounds like a job for Excel - which you may already have. ---
**Author:** ![MikeDax](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/mikedax/32/832176_2.png) [@MikeDax](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/MikeDax)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 4:36am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/15 "2022-08-28T04:36:15Z")
I've been working on a set of tools for building user interfaces for microcontrollers, it's called Electric UI. We do free education licenses. > **[Build an Arduino User Interface with Electric UI](https://electricui.com/hello/arduino)** > > Perfect for quick data logging, debugging, telemetry, dataloggers & whitelabel software. Fantastic documentation with simple to advanced examples, screenshots and code provided. To write a UI with it you use a similar syntax to HTML which might be easier for the high school level. An IMU will give a fast, tactile, low latency sensor to play with. It's multi-dimensional, you can throw in a lesson about why the gravity vector is a certain constant! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:36am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/data-visualization/1022734/16 "2023-02-24T04:36:33Z")
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