ben Hallinan's dashboard

Is it possible to use digital pins on the Arduino to switch a BlinkM on and off, and then have the BlinkM run a pre-loaded 'standalone' sequence, so as to not require using the analogue pins for i2c communications? As the BlinkMs would be pre-loaded with what they need to do whenever they receive the 'go' and perhaps 'stop' (if a 'stop' in this sense is possible)

This is because I plan to use the 6 analogue pins on my arduino for 6 analogue sensor inputs. Then use six 6 blinkMs - with each one set to start a cycle whenever a corresponding sensor input is sensed (ie BlinkM 1 whenever sensor 1, BlinkM2 when sensor 2... etc you get the drift.

Only I would like to not have to worry with multiplexing/shift out/in types of scenarios if there is no need.

Also - each blinkM would be with its corresponding analogue sensor in six independent satellite units - ie the arduino is the base, and then the 6 units plug in to the arduino box but are able to be moved around separately from one another - each attatched with about 6 feet of cable. Due to this, would relying on an i2c situation (if not able to just go independent digital pin on/off way) be an issue as their would be 12 feet between each BlinkM on the i2c chain.