Here’s an example of the Arduino being put into practical service.
Russell Durrett is a Research Specialist in Bioinformatics and Genetic Engineering and is a cofounder of GenSpace NYC, the world’s first community biology lab. He was looking for a way to develop an inexpensive PCR machine, a costly thermal cycler used in DNA lab processing. Using only Home Depot and Radio Shack products accessible to anyone, he built this PCR machine for less than $20. This prototype requires a $30 Arduino Uno to operate (which was already available), but the control system in future models can be scaled down to a much simpler circuit, an LCD screen and a few buttons.
Arduino sketch is available here.
So, this is plain awesome. I’m wondering though if you could use a hair-dryer style heating coil and increase the ramp rate substantially…