Looking for Arduino Lily project advice

Development Boards Arduino
1

Hi there,

I posted this over a the arduino forum http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,127918.0.html , and would like to find additional advice here. My only new thought since then is that pre-built units should still be shipped with the X in case new OSes, etc, require the sketch be adapted to remain functional (adding new ifdefs, etc).

Especially, I’m hoping to find others who’ve worked with the Lily before. Here’s the thread’s first post:

================8<=========================================================================================

Please help me start my wearable project

« on: October 18, 2012, 05:55:33 PM »

Bigger Smaller Reset Quote Modify Remove

Hello,

I’m looking into starting my first arduino project, this is going to be a 6-button wearable bluetooth transmitter that’s meant to be “velcroed” around a leg while sitting (or possibly arm while standing). The velcro strap simply transmits the 6 unique button messages over Bluetooth to the host, which interprets them contextually in the host software (buttons are used for simple UI navigation and transport control).

I’ve done some initial research and determined I probably need all of the following:

OR

Here are my questions so far:

  1. Am I missing anything? I already have a breadboard and some other components I could possibly use for prototyping

  2. Will the simple board have enough pins for what I need? I guess I need 6 separate pins to receive from each button, plus 2 more for rx and tx, but it looks like the simple board only has 6 pins total?

  3. If you had a pre-programmed LilyPad, then the FTDI wouldn’t be needed, right? I’m hoping to find a way to only need to program the initial prototype unit, then take the finished sketch and have it be loaded onto other LilyPad’s prior to being sewn into the velcro strap with the other components. The idea would be to be able to offer a pre-made wearable controller that could be purchased by software users as an optional accessory.

  4. What are some good methods, materials, links, to take the final prototype and sew it all into a velcro strap? I can upload a sketch of how the final strap should look

  5. Would any other components do a better job than the ones I have listed for my project?

  6. Would this project conform to the Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 protocol, or the regular Bluetooth protocol? I really hope that it wouldn’t burn through batteries quickly (though I doubt it would)

Thanks a lot!