Setting up and testing Spark Core to interact with appliances

In this task, we will set up Spark Core. It is a development board that makes bringing Wi-Fi to hardware very easy. We will use the Core for this project because we love the simplicity of the setup and operation. You can read more about Spark Core at the official website, https://www.spark.io/.

You are welcome to use a similar device of your choosing. A good alternative will be to use an Arduino with a Wi-Fi adapter/shield (for example, the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module can be found at http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/WiFi_Serial_Transceiver_Module) or if you prefer, an Ethernet shield (as discussed in the previous task of this project).

Prepare for lift off

In this task, we will set up the Spark Core. Power up the Spark Core using a micro-USB cable connected to a power source (5 V source). It can be powered using a battery pack, a laptop, or a 5 V USB wall wart. Based on your project needs, you can use a battery pack if the sensor node for...