title: real time online push button based counting system
body: <p>I am doing this project:</p>
  
  <p>I have 4 inputs. These are push buttons, connected to a microcontroller.</p>
  
  <p>Each time a push button is pressed, say for example pushbutton_1 is pressed, the press of a switch button should be recognised as a HIGH.</p>
  
  <p>In its normal unpressed state it should be recognised as a LOW.</p>
  
  <p>Then using serial communication i should transfer it to a computer.</p>
  
  <p>Along with this, i need to implement a count for each button.</p>
  
  <p>Each time a push button is pressed, the count that is assigned to that push button, should increment by 1.</p>
  
  <p>The data arriving through serial communication should be transferred to an excel sheet/database.</p>
  
  <p>The excel sheet/database should display a count for each pushbutton.</p>
  
  <p>I have 4 important question areas:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Which microcontroller should i use? (I have experience with arduino   development platform)</p></li>
  <li><p>How do i implement the transfer of data from microcontroller to computer via serial communication?</p></li>
  <li><p>Afterwards, how do i transfer the arriving data to MS excel/database?</p></li>
  <li><p>How do i run implement the system in realtime?</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Please suggest me the best possible way to implement this system. </p>