Code

Duration: ~5 minutes

Make a count variable

We need a variable to keep track of how many motions you make.

1. Go into Basic in the toolbox and pull an ||basic:on start|| on to the workspace.
2. Ok, in Variables click on Make a Variable. Name the variable as motions. Drag out a ||variables:set to|| block and change the name with the dropdown to motions. Place the variable into the ||basic:on start|| block.
3. Let’s show that there are no motions counted yet. Get a ||basic:show number|| from Basic and put it after the variable. Now, change the 0 to the motions variable from the Variables category in the toolbox.

let motions = 0;
motions = 0;
basic.showNumber(motions);

Count your movements

Ok, now we’ll count and show all of your movements.

1. Get an ||input:on shake|| block from Input and place it in the workspace.
2. To count each of your movements, get a ||variables:change by|| and place it in the ||input:on shake||. Change the variable from item to motions.
3. Grab another ||basic:show number|| and put it at the bottom of the ||input:on shake||. Find motions again back over in Variables and replace the 0 with it.

let motions = 0;
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
    motions += 1;
    basic.showNumber(motions);
})

Reset!

If we want to start over from zero, then we need to have a way to reset the motion count. Let’s use one of the buttons to do it.

1. Go over to Input and get an ||input:on button pressed||. Place a ||variables:set to|| inside. Change the variable name to motions.
2. Grab another ||basic:show number|| and change the 0 to the a motions variable.

let motions = 0;
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
    motions = 0;
    basic.showNumber(motions);
})

Finished!

Yeah! You’re ready to count your movements. Press the |Download| button to move the code to the micro:bit. Walk around, move you arm, and watch it count! Press the A button if you want to start over.

More watch coding projects

Are you up for a bigger challenge? How about making your watch turn into a countdown timer or even a real digital watch? Take a look at some other coding projects for the micro:bit watch:

• Countdown timer
• Digital watch