Open source and Made in Italy: Arduino are circuit boards with a sense of style

Peter Shadbolt, for CNN
Published 9:45 AM EST, Wed November 26, 2014
Arduino, named after the bar in Ivrea, Italy, where the five co-founders met to discuss their venture, produces simple open-source electronics platforms that allow enthusiasts and hobbyists to build interactive projects.
Arduino, named after the bar in Ivrea, Italy, where the five co-founders met to discuss their venture, produces simple open-source electronics platforms that allow enthusiasts and hobbyists to build interactive projects.
courtesy of arduino
As a microprocessor for controlling sensors, Arduino is unparalleled and has become a common feature of the prototyping phase of many start-ups. Co-founder David Cuartilles says many of the start-ups on Kickstarter use Arduino boards.
As a microprocessor for controlling sensors, Arduino is unparalleled and has become a common feature of the prototyping phase of many start-ups. Co-founder David Cuartilles says many of the start-ups on Kickstarter use Arduino boards.
Courtesy Arduino
The striking design of the boards will grant them a place among the 'humble masterpieces' of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The striking design of the boards will grant them a place among the 'humble masterpieces' of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Courtesy Arduino
All Arduino boards are "Made in Italy"
All Arduino boards are "Made in Italy"
Courtesy Arduino
A Starter Kit contains all the needed components and accessories to complete 15 different projects
A Starter Kit contains all the needed components and accessories to complete 15 different projects
Courtesy Arduino
The colorful packaging further shows how Arduino makers care about the visual identity of the product
The colorful packaging further shows how Arduino makers care about the visual identity of the product
Courtesy Arduino
One of the platform's more interesting applications has been the development of the open-source ArduSat mission which for the first time will allow the general public to run their own space-based simulations using Arduino boards.
One of the platform's more interesting applications has been the development of the open-source ArduSat mission which for the first time will allow the general public to run their own space-based simulations using Arduino boards.
courtesy of arduino
The company estimates there are as many as 700,000 boards in the hands of hobbyists and professionals, operating everything from drones and robots to lights and motors.
The company estimates there are as many as 700,000 boards in the hands of hobbyists and professionals, operating everything from drones and robots to lights and motors.
courtesy of arduino
Arduino continues a proud tradition of innovation in Ivrea, home to the business machine, computer and typewriter giant Olivetti. In this picture dating from 1955, typewriter mechanics are trained at the company's facilities. Some of Arduino's components are manufactured in Olivetti's former facilities in the northern Italian city.
Arduino continues a proud tradition of innovation in Ivrea, home to the business machine, computer and typewriter giant Olivetti. In this picture dating from 1955, typewriter mechanics are trained at the company's facilities. Some of Arduino's components are manufactured in Olivetti's former facilities in the northern Italian city.
Hulton Archive
Everyone from Cormac McCarthy to Bob Dylan have used Olivetti typewriters to produce some of the world's best known novels and songs. Pictured is the Olivetti typewriter used by the Italian author Alberto Moravia to write some of his most famous works.
Everyone from Cormac McCarthy to Bob Dylan have used Olivetti typewriters to produce some of the world's best known novels and songs. Pictured is the Olivetti typewriter used by the Italian author Alberto Moravia to write some of his most famous works.
While Olivetti still produces everything from computers and printers to smartphone and printers, it has never regained its leading position. Like Apple before it, it concentrated on design, agonizing over everything from the position of the keys to the shape of the space bar.
While Olivetti still produces everything from computers and printers to smartphone and printers, it has never regained its leading position. Like Apple before it, it concentrated on design, agonizing over everything from the position of the keys to the shape of the space bar.
AFP/Getty Images