# Why does Processing send so many signals at once?
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420
**Category:** Electronics (Arduino, etc.)
**Tags:** homework
**Created:** [July 24, 2021, 10:43am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420 "2021-07-24T10:43:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Adilic0](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Adilic0)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2021, 10:43am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420/1 "2021-07-24T10:43:38Z")
I am trying to make a Breakout clone game and try to connect the Arduino to control the LED when the ball hit the bricks
and I wrote the codes like this
```auto
void checkCollision(){
if ( ball.x > bar.x && ball.x < bar.x + bar.barWidth ){
if ( ball.y > bar.y && ball.y < bar.y + bar.barHeight ){
ball.vY = -ball.vY;
}
}
for (int i = 0; i < MAX_BLOCKS; i++){
if ( blocks[i].hitFlag == false ){
if ( ball.x > blocks[i].x && ball.x < blocks[i].x + blocks[i].blockWidth ){
if ( ball.y > blocks[i].y && ball.y < blocks[i].y + blocks[i].blockHeight ){
ball.vY = -ball.vY;
blocks[i].hitFlag = true;
```
this is to realize the function of disappearing after the collision between ball and bar and bricks.
and I want the LED to change color every time the collision happened so I need to send the signal to Arduino, using these codes
```auto
import processing.serial.*;
Serial serial;
void Color() {
if ( ball.x > bar.x && ball.x < bar.x + bar.barWidth ){
if ( ball.y > bar.y && ball.y < bar.y + bar.barHeight ){
serial.write("R");
}
}
for (int i = 0; i < MAX_BLOCKS; i++){
if ( ball.x > blocks[i].x && ball.x < blocks[i].x + blocks[i].blockWidth ){
if ( ball.y > blocks[i].y && ball.y < blocks[i].y + blocks[i].blockHeight ){
serial.write("L");
```
_**but the problem I found is that every time the ball hit the bricks the processing sends a lot of R or L to Arduino instead of a single R or L that I expected.
i mean although it can work and achieve the effect I want, its processing efficiency is too low, because it has to be sent many times in each collision, which leads to the collision being stuck.**_
I am a beginner. Maybe my mistakes are very basic. I hope someone can help me.
---
### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420/2 "2021-07-24T11:28:35Z")
Hello,
Welcome aboard!
Take a look at this topic:
> [@Processing to Arduino Serial Library Example](https://discourse.processing.org/t/processing-to-arduino-serial-library-example/11143/5):
>
> I modified the existing “SimpleWrite” example to: save and check for the state of mouseOverRect() print state to console only writes serial data once a delay() to wait for Arduino to reset once connected to it; in my case, it is an Arduino Mega 2560 R3. I kept the spirit of the original example intact and left it as a “Simple Write” program. My edit of “SimpleWrite” example so it only sends data once: /\*\* \* Simple Write. \* \* Check if the mouse is over a rectangle and writes the status …
If you are using the Processing environment you can also use:
[https://processing.org/reference/println\_.html](https://processing.org/reference/println_.html)
It can be very useful for examining and debugging code.
Only use it only when needed! It can slows things down.
Example:
```auto
int counter;
void setup()
{
frameRate(1); //Slows things down for this example
println("Setup: ", counter, frameCount);
}
void draw()
{
background(0);
println("Draw: ", counter, frameCount);
counter++;
}
```
`:)`
---
### Author:  [@Adilic0](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Adilic0)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2021, 11:45am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420/3 "2021-07-24T11:45:54Z")
I am very grateful for your reply. Thank you for taking your time to answer this may be a very elementary question. I am studying it carefully.
Thank you very much again.
---
### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2021, 11:52am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420/4 "2021-07-24T11:52:16Z")
> [@Adilic0](#):
>
> I am a beginner. Maybe my mistakes are very basic.
We were all beginners and learn from our experiences and will be making mistakes. I am still making them!
Mistakes are opportunities to learn from.
Serial communications can be a challenge to new users.
And even a challenge for experienced ones at times!
* * *
There are resources (tutorials, references, examples, etc.) here:
[https://processing.org/](https://processing.org/)
And examples that come with Processing:
Check out the GUI examples!
One example in there may help with your nested` if()` statements:
> **[Button / Examples](https://processing.org/examples/button.html)**
>
> Click on one of the colored shapes in the center of the image to change the color of the background.
Your code may work _as is_ but can be combined into one` if()`
`:)`
---
### Author:  [@Adilic0](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Adilic0)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2021, 12:01pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-does-processing-send-so-many-signals-at-once/31420/5 "2021-07-24T12:01:18Z")
This is really helpful.
thanks a lot 🙂