Consider I have a software which is specialized for a particular type of sensor and gives readings for that sensor. So the only way to read it is to use this particular software... can the arduino get data from another software in a case such as this?
I think you are not very clear on what you are saying.
The main way for an arduino to interact is through the serial port.
You can write software, to run on the Arduino, which can read, almost, any number of sensors.
Mark
holmes4:
You can write software, to run on the Arduino, which can read, almost, any number of sensors.Mark
Well the particular thing I'm thinking of is a consortium of about 50 sensors the inputs of all are combined together by the original software and they are used to develop some statistics using scientific calculations not made available by the software.
scientific calculations not made available by the software
Any such calculation can be done in software, that's axiomatic. Of course you have to write the software!.
50 is possible for any Uno even with out external HW. But no one can tell you how unless you tell us what the sensors are (a full list would be good.
Mark
PS You can read 50 buttons (in the right conditions) with just one pin!.
Mark
PS You can read 50 buttons (in the right conditions) with just one pin!.
And have to actually tried to do this rather than just some pie in the sky theory.
Unless the software in question is running on the Arduino, the Arduino has no way to interact with it directly - any communication or interaction must be via hardware of some form. Hence you need to know what device 'the software' is running on, and what interfaces it is capable of providing on that device.