Assignment

Concept

I created a simple switch using aluminum foil around my index finger and thumb. The goal was to make a switch that doesn’t use hands in the traditional sense ,  instead, it works by touching two parts of my own body together. When I bring my thumb and index finger together, the LED turns on. When they are apart, the LED turns off.

For this Arduino project.  I wrapped foil around my thumb and index finger to extend the conductivity, and connected each foil piece to the Arduino using jumper wires. . This simple prototype shows how the human body can become part of an electronic circuit.

 Link to video : Video

Highlight of the code

The code itself is simple. The Arduino reads the input from the foil on your fingers using digitalRead(). When your fingers touch (closing the circuit), it reads HIGH and turns on the LED. When you separate your fingers, the input reads LOW and the LED turns off.

int footSwitch = 2;   // Define the digital pin connected to the  switch (foil pad)
int ledPin = 13;      // Define the digital pin connected to the LED

void setup() {
  pinMode(footSwitch, INPUT);   // Set the foot switch pin as an input to read HIGH/LOW
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);      // Set the LED pin as an output so we can turn it on/off
}

void loop() {
  int switchState = digitalRead(footSwitch);  // Read the current state of the  switch

  if (switchState == HIGH) {    // If the switch is pressed (fingers touching)
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Turn the LED on
  } else {                      
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);  // Otherwise, turn the LED off
  }
  
  delay(10); // Small delay to stabilize readings and avoid flickering
}

Reflection

This prototype is simple but effective. I noticed that the foil doesn’t always maintain perfect contact, so the LED sometimes flickers if the foil slips or my skin doesn’t touch the metal fully. I could improve this by using stretchable conductive tape  to make contact more consistent.

Even with these small issues, it was exciting to see how my body can act as a switch. Using just fingers and foil, I was able to control the LED and experiment with a non-traditional, hands-free interaction. It’s a great demonstration of how electronics and the human body can be creatively combined in fun, unexpected ways.