here is a very simple circuit, with a LED between pin 2 and ground, and a loose wire in pin 8.
Here is the sketch that was intended for use with a small 4-contact switch like these in every arduino starter kit :
int yellowCIn = 8;
int yellowCOut = 2;
void setup() {
pinMode(yellowCIn, INPUT);
pinMode(yellowCOut, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
if (digitalRead(yellowCIn) == HIGH) {
digitalWrite(yellowCOut, HIGH);
}
else {
digitalWrite(yellowCOut, LOW);
}
}
However, simply moving my hand near the loose white wire is enough to light the LED, moving it away to put it off. As I am writing this, with the arduino connected by usb, rather than on the blue battery visible in the picture, I notice moving my hands away from the keyboard lights the led, moving them close to the keyboard powers it off...
So back to my title : are my hands magic, my electronics competency crap (well, it is, for sure) enough that I never heard of such a tremendous static electricity effect (and never fried one of the many computers I built from parts), or does this board have dire problems?
Thanks for your attention :)