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Connecting Bluetooth Devices to Pivot Interactives
Connecting Bluetooth Devices to Pivot Interactives

Students and instructors can stream data from certain Bluetooth devices into Pivot Interactives data tables.

Trevor Register avatar
Written by Trevor Register
Updated over a week ago

Overview

Bluetooth device connections are currently only supported in

  • Chrome browsers on Mac, Windows, Chromebook, and Android.

  • Microsoft Edge browsers on Windows.

Note: Bluetooth device connections are not currently supported on iOS devices.

Currently, only Vernier Go Direct® and PASCO Wireless Smart Cart® sensors can be connected. More sensors will be added soon and this article will be updated to reflect that.

Compatible Sensors

Data sensors can be connected via Bluetooth to and data table in Pivot Interactives. This allows data to be collected, shared, analyzed using Pivot Interactives graphing and analysis tools.

Tested sensors as of 10 May 2021:

  • Vernier Go Direct® Temperature Sensor

  • Vernier Go Direct® CO2 Gas Sensor

  • Vernier Go Direct® Motion Detector

  • Vernier Go Direct® Sensor Cart (Green)

  • Vernier Go Direct® pH Sensor

  • Vernier Go Direct® Force and Acceleration Sensor

  • PASCO Wireless Smart Cart®

Connecting sensors to Pivot Interactives

On any graphing question, you will notice a new option in the Cog menu: "Configure Bluetooth Device." Click this option to get started.

Once you do, you will need to connect a device. To connect a device, select "Connect Device."

Once you have done this, a browser pop-up will appear showing you all of the paired Bluetooth devices near you. Each has a naming convention:

Vernier

Example - GDX-TMP 0F10D4G4

  • GDX: Go Direct Sensor

  • "TMP" - Temperature

  • The alphanumeric code at the end is the sensor ID. This matches the sensor and is written on the sensor's barcode. If you are working in a room with multiple live sensors, you should match your sensor with the sensor in the list.

PASCO

Smart Cart 109-766

  • Smart Cart - Wireless Smart Cart sensor

  • 109-766 - This is the sensor ID. This matches the sensor and is written on the sensor's barcode. If you are working in a room with multiple live sensors, you should match your sensor with the sensor in the list.

Select the sensor, then click "Pair." The pairing process can take a few seconds.

Once the device is paired, you will notice that the device name appears in the "Device Name" list and you have the option to remove it. Additionally, you have the option to set the sample rate and the number of samples taken.

Note: if the sample rate is greater than the device's capable sample rate, the rows for that sample will be blank. Once you have connected all of your devices, click "ok" to begin working.

Working with a Bluetooth Sensor

Once the sensor is connected, you will notice a live readout at the top of the column. The table will automatically adjust to have columns added for each available data stream from the sensor. To "zero" the sensor, click "zero." This will set the sensor's current reading to 0.000.

When you're ready to begin capturing data, click "capture." Once you do this, the sensor will begin sending data to Pivot Interactives that will be automatically recorded. If the sensor's data exceeds the rows of the table, the table will automatically adjust.

You can also preconfigure the graph: if you select the axis labels BEFORE collecting data, you can watch the data be plotted as it's collected. The graph will form right before your eyes!

Note: you cannot configure the graph WHILE Pivot Interactives is collecting live data.

Have a question you would like to see answered? Send us your Bluetooth sensor questions by clicking the chat bubble on the right! We will add questions here as we see them.

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