Physical Computing
 Physical Computing is the art of sensing and controlling the physical world with computers. If you are wanting to really take your multimedia to the next level, then Physical Computing is definitely something to consider. The benefits gained are that you will be no longer constrained by having to use common hardware such as a mouse or a monitor. At the heart of this concept is the microcontroller, a mini motherboard, which can be thought of as the gateway between your PC and the outside world.

The two microcontrollers that can work with Director are:

1. NIQ EZIO board

2. Vellemen K8055 board

Both allow you to interface with external devices, which may include anything that can be turned on, off or dimmed.

Devices controlled may include: switches, lights, dials, sliders, audio emitters or numerous types of sensors

Which a few extra components more advance interfacing can be obtained such as motor control & game port controller simulating.

Applications for for these boards include:

Here are some brief specs of both boards

EZIO: 10 digital outputs 10 digital inputs, 2 PWM outputs, 8 Analog inputs, Serial control via native director xtra, for PC or Mac, $179 or $129 for students

K8055: 10 digital outputs (with LED indicators), 5 digital inputs, 2 PWM outputs, 2 Analog inputs,  $75 or $55 as a DIY kit - With a little more work, can also be used with Flash and the Phidget family of components. PC only USB control via Active X plug-in (8.5 only) or a native xtra by Patrick Gutlich.

First, I will start with EZIO,

I have not really found a good output tester movie/program for EZIO that I liked, so I made my own as well as another one for inputs. However EZIO's site does have some little examples your can use for testing. I had just felt that I needed something more robust.

EZIO does not come with output LEDs so you will need a LED tester board like the one pictured below this paragraph if you want to test with LEDs. It will cost you about $10 in parts and will work with my output tester program. The board consist of 10 LEDs that you should hook up top to bottom with your EZIO board for all of your 10 outputs. To test PWM, connect to any the 10 lines. I also noticed that on my board PWM1 and PWM2 lines were backwards, but maybe that is a mistake in the xtra. So what I am saying is if you find this true PWM1 should then be referred as "PWM2 in code....just wanted to point this out.

Below is a preview of the output tester movie
(download this movie)

Next is a preview of my Input tester
(download this movie)  

These tester movies use a lot of special behaviors which are designed to work with EZIO. The total amount of new behaviors I have made for EZIO is 24 and they can be downloaded in their own cast for easier managing in your own projects. Extensive instructions for these behaviors can be found in the comments  

(download cast of all EZIO Behaviors)

K8055 comes with a self running windows tester program see below. I have tested this board with director and it works well. I will more then likely be using this board more in the future due to the $100+ price difference plus it's USB. If you would like more information on controlling this board from director check out the MIDAS site. These folks are the makers of the director active X plug-in (version 8.5 or less only)  or a native xtra by Patrick Gutlich found on his blog

If you need to add more controllers, the K8055 with USB should have no issues with a USB hub. For EZIO you will need to get another serial card for an additional 2 ports. The lowest I have seen is about $35, However, I have not tested more than EZIO one at a time personally.

Below are screen shots and downloads for my tester movie for Patrick's xtra.

Motor Control

No matter what board you use, you will still need another control circuit because the microcontrollers only give out 5V and do not switch the polarity needed for reversing. To do this you will want an H-bridge circuit. You can make a your own with a breadboard and relays for about $15 or buy one already made and tested for only $2 more (better deal). You can also get some that have solid state chips instead of relays. These will last longer and will have more features like trouble shooting and protection circuitry but are $28-40. 

If you are needing more than 5 amps, you will then need to build relay H-bridge circuit mention that uses automotive relays (these will go to 30 amps!) This will run $15  and requires a  much larger board to sit on because the relays themselves are big. You will are need a TTL board. There are also a few coming out now that support 12V 30 amps and even 24V but they are $77 $130.

Newmicros.com has a good solid state 3A H-bridge for $25 or for $5 more their 5A pictured below 
   
PhidgetsUSA.com  has a good 5A relay H-bridge for $17 but they sell fast at that price
    

Generally outputs from a microcontroller do not have the capacity to drive much more than an LED as you are usually limited to 5V. This $9-15  High Current TTL Driver Board from Superdroid Robots allows you to easily drive higher current devices by changing your 5V up to 50V with as much as and 2 watts of power