Live Sensor Dashboard
Update a reading on screen without flicker.
Live Sensor Dashboard is a free Arduino & IoT Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Arduino & IoT Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
A Living Display
A dashboard shows fresh sensor data that keeps updating. The trick is refreshing the value smoothly without distracting flicker. 📊
Static Labels First
Print fixed labels like Temp and Hum once in setup. They never change, so there is no reason to redraw them every loop.
lcd.print("Temp:");Update Only the Value
In the loop, move the cursor to just the value area and reprint only the number. The labels stay put.
lcd.setCursor(6, 0);
lcd.print(temp);Why Full Clear Flickers
Calling lcd.clear() every loop blanks the whole screen, causing a visible blink. Avoid it for fast updates.
Overwrite in Place
Instead of clearing, reprint the number at the same spot and pad with spaces to erase any leftover digits.
lcd.print(temp);
lcd.print(" ");Slow the Refresh Rate
Humans cannot read a value that changes hundreds of times a second. Update the screen only every few hundred milliseconds.
Use millis, Not delay
Time the refresh with millis() so your board keeps reading sensors while it waits, instead of freezing on delay.
if (millis() - last > 500) {
last = millis();
}Add Units
Print a small unit like C or % right after the number so anyone glancing at the screen knows what it means.
lcd.print(temp);
lcd.print("C");Two Readings, Two Rows
Show temperature on row 0 and humidity on row 1. Each gets its own cursor position and value update.
Skip Unchanged Values
For the smoothest look, only reprint a value when it actually changed since the last update. That stops needless redraws.
You Built a Dashboard
Fixed labels, targeted updates, and a timed refresh combine into a clean, flicker-free dashboard on a tiny screen. 🎉
Quick Check
Your dashboard blinks annoyingly every loop. What is the best fix to stop the flicker?
Recap
You print labels once, overwrite only the changing value, and time refreshes with millis to build a smooth live dashboard. ✅
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Live Sensor Dashboard” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Live Sensor Dashboard” is free to read here on the web, and the Arduino & IoT Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Arduino & IoT Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Live Sensor Dashboard”?
Update a reading on screen without flicker. You practise Arduino & IoT Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Arduino & IoT Academy?
No prior experience is required. Arduino & IoT Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Live Sensor Dashboard” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Arduino & IoT Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Arduino & IoT Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Wire a 16x2 LCD (I2C Backpack)
- LiquidCrystal_I2C Library
- Position the Cursor & Print
- Live Sensor Dashboard