new to all of this! what parts do I need?

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey guys!

So I have very limited programming experience (some vb, some java, some php+html and little (minute) c#&c++) and had a project idea.

I need to put together a device (attaching the parts to a wrist-watch type device, so it needs to be as small as possible) which would measure the distance away from an object and then vibrate accordingly. (coding is not an issue here, learning is easy) I've just been trying to find parts small enough to achieve this and i hope the Arduino boards can help! I thought ultrasonic sensors would suffice but any suggestions....

ANY help would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys!

2

You could start with a (big) prototype. For example an Arduino Uno board and an ultrasonic sensor.
Once it is working, you can try making it smaller.

The Arduino Uno is the most common Arduino board: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoBoardUno
These are common used sensors : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultra-Sonic-sound-Ultrasonic-Range-Sensor-module-for-Arduino-Uno-Mega-Arm-/321058835050
This is a vibrating motor without moving parts on the outside: Vibrating Mini Motor Disc : ID 1201 : $1.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

Small Arduino-compatible boards are for example the FLORA : FLORA - Wearable electronic platform: Arduino-compatible [v3] : ID 659 : $14.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits
You can upgrade to the more expensive Maxbotix
Ultrasonic Range Finder - LV-MaxSonar-EZ0 - SEN-08502 - SparkFun Electronics
Maxbotix Ultrasonic Rangefinder - LV-EZ1 [LV-EZ1] : ID 172 : $28.50 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

3

nexusman:
measure the distance away from an object

A specific object, or any object? Figuring out how to measure the distance is your biggest problem, and you haven't given us enough information about that side of it for us to know what options are feasible.