diff --git a/arduino.pde b/arduino.pde
index 51cb859..7d10134 100644
--- a/arduino.pde
+++ b/arduino.pde
@@ -6,146 +6,167 @@ int cmd_arg[2];
 
 int serialStatus = 0;
 
-void setup() {
-  // connect to the serial port
-  Serial.begin(115200);
-  setupPins();
-  serialStatus = 1;
+void setup()
+{
+   // connect to the serial port
+   Serial.begin(115200);
+   // setup the output and input pins
+   setupPins();
+   serialStatus = 1;
 }
 
 void loop()
 {
 
-  if(serialStatus==0)
-  {
-    Serial.flush();
-    setupPins();
-  }
-  askCmd();
-
-  {
-    if(Serial.available()>0)
-    {
-      cmd = int(Serial.read()) - 48;
-  
-      if(cmd==0) //set digital low
-      {
-        cmd_arg[0] = int(readData()) - 48;
-        digitalWrite(cmd_arg[0],LOW);
-      }
-  
-      if(cmd==1) //set digital high
-      {
-        cmd_arg[0] = int(readData()) - 48;
-        digitalWrite(cmd_arg[0],HIGH);
-      }
-  
-      if(cmd==2) //get digital value
-      {
-        cmd_arg[0] = int(readData()) - 48;
-        cmd_arg[0] = digitalRead(cmd_arg[0]);
-        Serial.println(cmd_arg[0]);
-      }
-  
-      if(cmd==3) // set analog value
-      {
-        Serial.println("I'm in the right place");
-        cmd_arg[0] = int(readData()) - 48;
-        cmd_arg[1] = readHexValue();
-        analogWrite(cmd_arg[0],cmd_arg[1]);
-      }
-  
-      if(cmd==4) //read analog value
-      {
-        cmd_arg[0] = int(readData()) - 48;
-        cmd_arg[0] = analogRead(cmd_arg[0]);
-        Serial.println(cmd_arg[0]);
-      }
-  
-      if(cmd==5)
+   if(serialStatus == 0)
+   {
+      Serial.flush();
+      // setup the output and input pins
+      setupPins();
+      serialStatus = 1;
+   }
+   askCmd();
+
+ 
+
+   {
+      if(Serial.available()>0)
       {
-        serialStatus = 0;
+         cmd = Serial.read();
+
+         if(cmd == 0) //set digital low
+         {
+            cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+            digitalWrite(cmd_arg[0],LOW);
+         }
+         else if(cmd == 1) //set digital high
+         {
+            cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+            digitalWrite(cmd_arg[0],HIGH);
+         }
+         else if(cmd == 2) //get digital value
+         {
+            cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+            cmd_arg[0] = digitalRead(cmd_arg[0]);
+            Serial.write(cmd_arg[0]);
+         }
+         else if(cmd == 3) // set analog value
+         {
+            Serial.println("I'm in the right place");
+            cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+            cmd_arg[1] = readHexValue();
+            analogWrite(cmd_arg[0],cmd_arg[1]);
+         }
+         else if(cmd == 4) //read analog value
+         {
+            cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+            cmd_arg[0] = analogRead(cmd_arg[0]);
+            Serial.println(cmd_arg[0]);
+         }
+         else if(cmd == 5)
+         {
+            serialStatus = 0;
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            // invalid command
+         }
       }
-    }
-  }
+   }
 }
 
 char readData()
 {
-  askData();
-
-  while(1)
-  {
-    if(Serial.available()>0)
-    {
-      return Serial.read();
-    }
-  }
+   askData();
+
+   while(1)
+   {
+      if(Serial.available() > 0)
+      {
+         return Serial.read();
+      }
+   }
 }
 
 
 //read hex value from serial and convert to integer
 int readHexValue()
 {
-  int strval[2];
-  int converted_str;
-
-  while(1)
-  {
-    if(Serial.available()>0)
-    {
-      strval[0] = convert_hex_to_int(Serial.read());
-      break;
-    }
-  }
+   int strval[2];
+   int converted_str;
 
-  askData();
+   while(1)
+   {
+      if(Serial.available() > 0)
+      {
+         strval[0] = convert_hex_to_int(Serial.read());
+         break;
+      }
+   }
 
-  while(1)
-  {
-    if(Serial.available()>0)
-    {
-      strval[1] = convert_hex_to_int(Serial.read());
-      break;
-    }
-  }
+   askData();
+
+   while(1)
+   {
+      if(Serial.available() > 0)
+      {
+         strval[1] = convert_hex_to_int(Serial.read());
+         break;
+      }
+   }
 
-  converted_str = (strval[0]*16) + strval[1];
-  return converted_str;
+   converted_str = (strval[0]*16) + strval[1];
+   return converted_str;
 }
 
 
 int convert_hex_to_int(char c)
 {
-  return (c <= '9') ? c-'0' : c-'a'+10;
+   return (c <= '9') ? c-'0' : c-'a'+10;
 }
 
 
 void askData()
 {
-  Serial.println("?");
+   Serial.println("?");
 }
 
 
 void askCmd()
 {
-  askData();
-  while(Serial.available()<=0)
-  {}
+   askData();
+   while(Serial.available() <= 0)
+   {}
 }
 
 
 void setupPins()
 {
-  while(Serial.available()<1)
-  {
-    // get number of output pins and convert to int
-    cmd = int(readData()) - 48;
-    for(int i=0; i<cmd; i++)
-    {
-      cmd_arg[0] = int(readData()) - 48;
-      pinMode(cmd_arg[0], OUTPUT);
-    }
-    break;
-  }
+   // wait for serial data, to define the outputs
+   while(Serial.available() < 1)
+   {
+      // first byte of number of pins, 
+      // then each byte is a pin to activate
+      cmd = readData();
+      for(int i=0; i < cmd; i++)
+      {
+         cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+         pinMode(cmd_arg[0], OUTPUT);
+      }
+      break;
+   }
+
+   // wait for serial data, to define the inputs
+   while(Serial.available() < 1)
+   {
+      // first byte of number of pins, 
+      // then each byte is a pin to activate
+      cmd = readData();
+      for(int i=0; i < cmd; i++)
+      {
+         cmd_arg[0] = readData();
+         pinMode(cmd_arg[0], INPUT);
+      }
+      break;
+   }
 }
diff --git a/example_blink.rb b/example_blink.rb
index 5780450..73b3747 100644
--- a/example_blink.rb
+++ b/example_blink.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
 board = Arduino.new(port)
 
 #declare output pins
-board.output(13)
+board.output(13) # manditory function call
+#declare input pins
+board.input()    # manditory function call
+
 
 #perform operations
 5.times do
diff --git a/example_io.rb b/example_io.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1ba3ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example_io.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+
+require 'rubygems'
+require './lib/arduino.rb'
+#require 'arduino'
+
+#specify the port Baudrate is optional and set to 115200 by default
+#board = Arduino.new("/dev/ttyAMC0")
+board = Arduino.new("/dev/ttyUSB0" ) 
+
+puts "connected"
+
+#declare output pins
+#board.output(12, 13) # multiple outputs
+board.output(13)
+
+puts "output defined"
+
+#declare input pins
+#board.input(10, 11) # multiple inputs
+#board.input() # no  inputs
+board.input(10)
+
+puts "input defined"
+
+puts board.to_s
+
+puts "running... "
+
+while true
+
+   #puts "checking input"
+ 
+   # checking a normally open button
+   # when the button is pressed, turn on the LEDs
+   if(true == board.isLow?(10)) 
+      #puts "on"
+      board.setHigh(13)
+   else
+      #puts "off"
+      board.setLow(13)
+   end
+
+end
+
+board.close
+
+
diff --git a/lib/arduino.rb b/lib/arduino.rb
index 2e21d6d..ba043d4 100644
--- a/lib/arduino.rb
+++ b/lib/arduino.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-# A ruby library to talk to Arduino without 
+# A ruby library to talk to Arduino without
 # having to burn programs repeatedly to the board.
 #
-# Author::    Akash Manohar  (akash@akash.im)
+# Author:: Akash Manohar (akash@akash.im)
 # Copyright:: Copyright (c) 2010 Akash Manohar
-# License::   MIT License
+# License:: MIT License
 
 require "serialport"
 
@@ -19,12 +19,13 @@ def initialize(port, baudrate=115200)
         stop_bits = 1
         parity = SerialPort::NONE
 
-        @serial = SerialPort.new port, baudrate
+        @serial = SerialPort.new(port, baudrate, data_bits, stop_bits, parity)
         @serial.read_timeout = 2
         @serial.sync
         
         @port = port
         @outputPins = []
+        @inputPins = []
         @pinStates = {}
     end
     
@@ -33,25 +34,40 @@ def to_s
         "Arduino is on port #{@port} at #{@serial.baud} baudrate"
     end
     
-    # Set output pins. This is a must.
-    def output(*pinList)
-        sendData(pinList.length)
-        if pinList.class==Array
-            @outputPins = pinList
-            pinList.each do |pin|
-                sendPin(pin)
-            end
-        else
-            raise ArgumentError, "Arguments must be a list of pin numbers"
-        end
-        puts "return pinlist"
-        return pinList
+   # Set output pins. This is a must.
+   def output(*pinList)
+      sendData(pinList.length)
+      if(pinList.class == Array)
+         @outputPins = pinList
+         pinList.each do |pin|
+            sendPin(pin)
+         end
+      else
+         raise ArgumentError, "Arguments must be a list of pin numbers"
+      end
+      puts "return output pinlist"
+      return pinList
     end
     
+   # Set output pins. This is a must.
+   def input(*pinList)
+      sendData(pinList.length)
+      if(pinList.class == Array)
+         @inputPins = pinList
+         pinList.each do |pin|
+            sendPin(pin)
+         end
+      else
+         raise ArgumentError, "Arguments must be a list of pin numbers"
+      end
+      puts "return input pinlist"
+      return pinList
+   end
+    
     # Set a pin state to low
     def setLow(pin)
         saveState(pin, false)
-        sendData('0')
+        sendData(0)
         sendPin(pin)
     end
     
@@ -66,7 +82,7 @@ def isLow?(pin)
     # Set a pin state to high
     def setHigh(pin)
         saveState(pin, true)
-        sendData('1')
+        sendData(1)
         sendPin(pin)
     end
     
@@ -84,19 +100,27 @@ def saveState(pin, state)
     
     # Get state of a digital pin. Returns true if high and false if low.
     def getState(pin)
-        if @pinStates.key?(pin.to_s)
-            return @pinStates[pin.to_s]
+        sendData(2)
+        sendPin(pin)
+
+        while true
+            rval = @serial.getbyte()
+            if(rval == 0)
+               return(false)
+            end
+            if(rval == 1)
+               return(true)
+            end
         end
-        return false
     end
     
     # Write to an analog pin
     def analogWrite(pin, value)
-        sendData('3')
+        sendData(3)
         fullHexValue = value.to_s(base=16)
         hexValue = hexValue[2..fullHexValue.length]
         if(hexValue.length==1)
-            sendData('0')
+            sendData(0)
         else
             sendData(hexValue[0])
         end
@@ -105,11 +129,11 @@ def analogWrite(pin, value)
     
     # Read from an analog pin
     def analogRead(pin)
-        sendData('4')
+        sendData(4)
         sendPin(pin)
         getData()
     end
-    
+ 
     # set all pins to low
     def turnOff
         @outputPins.each do |pin|
@@ -120,9 +144,14 @@ def turnOff
     # close serial connection to connected board
     def close
         # stops executing arduino code
-        @serial.write '5'.chr  
-        # resets the arduino board (not on windows)   
-        @serial.dtr=(0) 
+
+        # reset the serial communication in the Arduino code
+        sendData(5)
+
+        # resets the arduino board (not on windows)
+        # Data Terminal Ready
+        @serial.dtr = (0)
+
         # close serial connection
         @serial.close
         p "closed"
@@ -131,15 +160,15 @@ def close
     private
     
     def sendPin(pin)
-        pinInChar = (pin+48)
-        sendData(pinInChar)
+        sendData(pin)
     end
 
     def sendData(serialData)
         while true
-            break if getData()=="?"
+            break if(getData() == "?")
         end
-        s = String(serialData.chr)
+        # send all the data as binary
+        s = serialData.chr
         x = @serial.write s
     end