App Inventor — a Google cast-out that is now maintained by MIT — is a graphical tool that unlocks the power of an Android handset to those with the most basic of programming understanding.

He then made some modifications to the OpenCV Android Face Detection app to send commands to the Arduino based on ‘where’ the Face is detected; if the face is in the right half of the screen ...

However, as the video above shows, you can also create your own simple apps for your Arduino project using MIT App Inventor.

Using a one-meter-by-one-centimeter copper cable, the Android app Tricorder, and a 120-ohm resistor, Joe made a coil from all the copper wire, which then connected to the arduino via the resistor ...

The Arduino gets a Bluetooth attachment and a set of code. Then you'll need Android Meets Robots, an app that lets you pair voice recognition with any Bluetooth module.

The official Arduino development team have this week announced the free download of its Arduino Create app for Chrome classrooms.

The height and spoon positioning can be adjusted too, depending on pot size. An Arduino Uno helps keep the stirrer moving once the app connects. The Android app is made using the Google ADK.

There's more to Android than just hacking that app or operating system, says Google. You'll soon be able to hack Android hardware too, thanks to a new Arduino-based platform.