This is, based on your desire no processors, complicated approach but
you could design a solution around a color sensor :
Back to processors for a moment, assuming you do not know how to program have
you ever looked at block languages ? Kids in 6'th grade on using this to program robots.
Here is an example where the goal was to use a pot to create a simple V to Pulse Width
converter. Could use it to control a LE brightness or a dc motors speed or....
Just took 5 blocks.....
Here used to control a fan speed :
Basically you drag out of 2'ond window blocks of functionality into right hand window, config them, like
setting pin number for manipulation or reading, and then hit button to program board / chip. mBlock
converts your block configuration into Arduino code and then programs the board / chip.
A more involved, but still simple, program to do a very sophisticated timer with sequenced operations.
Think of as super 555 timer approach.
Often users, developers, hobbyists need timed and qualified event generators, many resorting to 555 timers and the like. The venerable 555 has had a long run but its limited in accuracy and capability. This approach uses block language to create...
www.electro-tech-online.com
mBlock is free, board to start with $ 2 to $ 3, Arduino Nano. Videos online and in Youtube to
get started.....
There are many block languages, here is a more sophisticated design a talking voltmeter
using Snap4Arduino, another block language :
Micro design has for years relied on ASM and C programming and other languages. Often many tasks are fairly simply but these tools were focused and quite a learning curve, especially ASM and C and C++. There are a number of new GUI based tools that essentially take out the "strong typing"...
I would posit you have been using a 4 function calculator since you were a kid. Then
you were programming a micro, even though it was not called that. You understood
sequence of operations, operations like mul divide subtract, saving intermediate
values, eg. variable..
Regards, Dana.