World Maker Faire – EarthMake.com today introduced its inaugural product: The ArduinoLCD. This new device minimizes development time and hardware costs for Arduino based projects that require a graphical user interface (GUI). The ArduinoLCD “all-in-one” modular design unites a 3.5 inch color LCD, touchscreen, 16 bit GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and mounting bracket, with the Arduino development environment. The EarthSEMPL programming language provides users quick customization of macros, graphical objects, fonts, and images, thereby shortening the user touchscreen interface design. Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for electronics designers, hobbyists, artists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

Front and rear image of ArduinoLCD. (Photo: Business Wire)

The ArduinoLCD features a 3.5 inch, 320 x 240 resolution, 65K colors, 250 nit brightness LCD with integrated resistive touchscreen. Its intelligent control module is highlighted by a 16-bit GPU, 4 megabytes of flash memory, USB 2.0 and Arduino Shield interfaces. The ArduinoLCD operates from 6 to 9 volts, draws less than 200mA, and provides a -20 to 60°C operating temperature range. Its low cost makes it a credible alternative to character modules, vacuum fluorescent displays, STN passive matrix displays, or more expensive, complex graphical LCD products. The ArduinoLCD is available for a limited time at the introductory price of $79.00.

Randy Schafer, EarthMake founder, exclaimed, “The ArduinoLCD should re-ignite the Arduino Marketplace, allowing Makers to develop products that have a smart-phone like graphical interface!” With the intuitive EarthSEMPL language and the Arduino Shield I/O, users can make 3D printer controllers, robot interfaces, home automation controllers and even kinetic art. There are over 288 I/O shields compatible with the ArduinoLCD. Macros and GUI widgets allow users to build a user interface prototype FAST - within hours, not days!

According to Ken Segler, Chief Maker at EarthMake.com, “The only close alternative to ArduinoLCD functionality is a very slow, software driven, 2.8" LCD shield that uses almost all your I/O pins! This is a full featured, 'smart' ezLCD GPU with the Arduino Uno on the same PCB, in a thin, easy to integrate package. The 3.5" LCD has 64% more display area than a 2.8" LCD Shield. We leveraged the hardware and software API of 'ezLCD' and the Arduino open source Uno R3 design to give users the ability to simply copy macros, fonts, and bitmaps to the ArduinoLCD flashdrive from a PC via USB. The Arduino IDE allows for rapid product development under Windows, Linux and OSX operating systems.”

EarthMake.com is a spinoff of EarthLCD, a manufacturer of industrial and embedded LCD products. EarthMake licensed the award-winning ezLCD technology from EarthLCD, the recognized leader in smart touch LCDs.

For further information, contact Randy Schafer, CEO, 3184-J Airway Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; Tel: 949-248-2333, Fax: 949-248-2392, randyschafer@gmail.com or visit www.Earthmake.com.

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