Java Evangelist Jim Weaver, Senior Engineer Gerrit Grunwald and Community Manager Yolande Poirier discussed the Internet of Things(IoT), Java Embedded, and the new IoT community page on Java.net. The page gathers blogs, resources and many sample applications from Java developers who create embedded applications with Java. "If we prepare developers correctly to be able to program those devices and put structures in place that monitor and control those devices, then we can have a very productive world of development: one that is powered by Java, that has the underline security and needed APIs, and that leverages Java developer expertise" Jim explained. 

"I use one Raspberry Pi with Open Dophin and many sensors to synchronize data instead of multiple Raspberry Pi's" explained Gerrit Grunwald. "Over the last 10 years, the server side was prepared very well and now it is time for the embedded side to catch up and combine everything in one big Java world" he added 

In this video, Java Evangelist Angela Caicedo talked about her new Duchess robot built with Lego Mindstorm. "We are moving into the Internet of Things and I am looking for cool devices that we can connect and use Java" said Angela   

Devoxx IoT Hack Fest offered the chance for attendees to code with Java Embedded for multiple devices. Attendees built embedded applications using devices and sensors in just a couple of days. A pre-configured panel, created by Globalcode founder Vinicius Senger, a long-time Java embedded developer and trainer, connects Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Beaglebone black, and Gemalto boards to a series of sensors such as distance, motion, alcohol and temperature sensors, as well as relays and camera. Those components are accessible remotely via a web server and REST calls. A new addition to IoT Hack Fest at Devoxx was the Leap Motion. ZeroTurnaround senior developer Geert Bevin lent nine Leap Motion controllers, gave a training session and was the onsite mentor for the Leap Motion.  

During two days, attendees learned and hacked the panel and the Leap Motion. For example, Hartmut Lang hacked a sensor distance and the blink(1) component with Java Embedded Suite, Jersey API. He turned on a ThingM blink(1) multi-colored USB light via the proximity sensor on the Java Embedded Panel. The proximity data is accessible through a Java sever running on a Raspberry PI with an Arduino bridge. REST calls give access to the current sensor data. This was then translated to Java calls that control the intensity of the blink(1) light. Everything was programmed in Netbeans and was running on a dedicated Raspberry PI.

A number of projects were about controlling the relays using Java SE Embedded, Pi4J and JavaFX. They connected their applications to the panel with the Raspberry Pi's and relays. Others worked with JavaFX and Raspberry Pi. They created a distance measurement using Fuzzy Logic, Arduino, Java Embedded Suite, RXTX, Things API and JavaFX to control lights. Thomas Kriechbaum worked with Java SE Embedded, Apache Camel, MQTT for Android, MQTT with Camel and Mosquito to control actuators and reading sensors. Geert Van Landeghem built an animation framework for LCD displays using Java SE Embedded, Pi4J/I2C and LCDPlate Adafruit

Senior software architect Claude Falguière created an interactive game to teach kids the principle of programmed operations. This is done by leading a robot through a maze. Changing the directions of the robot is done via hand gestures with the leap Motion controller. Each direction change is recorded as a card and shown as the list of operations. These can be manipulated and started again.

An ant-chasing game, written in Scratch used the Leap Motion plugin with a Java application for the gesture-interpreting gateway. Players moved their fingers around in the air and an ant chased its movements. 

Geert Bevin created an application controlling multi-colored led strip with hand gestures. The Leap Motion controller detects hand position in 3D-space and sends the X/Y/Z data straight to the led strip to control the intensity of the red/green/blue lights. The led strip was connected to a Raspberry PI with an Arduino bridge and could be piloted through REST calls running on an embedded Java server. In this video, Geert explains the project.  

More projects online at the IoT Community on Java.net

The Raspberry PI and Leap Motion hands-on labs at Devoxx 2013 started with a packed room, we even had to fetch additional chairs for people standing in the back. Vinicius and Yara senger explained their super useful embedded devices panel where many sensors and boards can be accessed through easy REST URLs.

After my quick overview of the Leap Motion controller, the attendees could experiment with all available devices and get acquainted with it before starting a hack. Surprisingly though, only a couple of developers were interested to stick around for the real hack-fest that lasted the rest of the day.

 We set up everything upstairs in the Devoxx open-space and started hacking with the brave few that showed up. As the day advanced though, more and more people came by and were impressed to see the work in progress. On Tuesday evening all the tables were packed with hackers testing and building cool stuff. Ten of them were able to finish their project and some even presented it on video for the Oracle Technology Network YouTube channel.

I had a great time and it's wonderful to see how easily accessible physical embedded devices speak to the imagination of so many developers. 

Here's my hack that lets you control a strip of multi-colored lights that are connected to Arduino over a Raspberry Pi and are remotely controlled with the Leap Motion controller over the network.

On November 11th and 12th, Devoxx attendees will get the chance to build a Java embedded application onsite. During the Raspberry Pi & Leap Motion hands-on labs on Monday and Tuesday mornings, you will learn about Raspberry Pi development with Java embedded using Leap Motion and other sensors. The afternoons are hacking time on a project of your choice. You can get your inspiration from existing projects. You can also use their project source code and improve on already developed applications. 

The goal is for you to create something fun and innovative in only a couple of days, no matter your experience in embedded systems.  We provide you with equipment like the Raspberry Pi, sensors, and Leap Motion. Thanks to Stephan Janssen for lending us 10 Leap Motions for the Hack Fest. Raspberry Pi and sensors are pre-configured. You will access the sensors via a web address. You can build a project alone if you want. We also give the opportunity to brainstorm ideas with other attendees and maybe build something more complex. You will get one-on-one help from top-notch coaches. Vinicius Senger has tons of experience with Java and the Raspberry. He runs Java embedded challenges and give training year round. Geert Bevin contributed to many open source projects and his latest venture is with the Leap Motion. Bruno Borges's expertise is in connecting backend logic with great interfaces. Yara Senger is a Java Champion and a great Java embedded mentor.   

Don't miss this opportunity! This is your chance to transform your idea into a Raspberry Pi or a Leap Motion application.