diff --git a/Arduino/arduino.py b/Arduino/arduino.py
index 13e9ce4..2b181fb 100644
--- a/Arduino/arduino.py
+++ b/Arduino/arduino.py
@@ -345,7 +345,51 @@ class Arduino(object):
         rd = self.sr.readline().replace("\r\n","")
         if rd.isdigit() == True:
             return int(rd)
-            
+
+    def shiftOut(self, dataPin, clockPin, pinOrder, value):
+        """
+        Shift a byte out on the datapin using Arduino's shiftOut().
+
+        Input:
+            dataPin (int): pin for data
+            clockPin (int): pin for clock
+            pinOrder (String): either 'MSBFIRST' or 'LSBFIRST'
+            value (int): an integer from 0 and 255
+        """
+        cmd_str = self._buildCmdStr("so",
+            (dataPin, clockPin, pinOrder, value))
+        self.sr.write(cmd_str)
+        self.sr.flush()
+
+    def shiftIn(self, dataPin, clockPin, pinOrder):
+        """
+        Shift a byte in from the datapin using Arduino's shiftIn().
+
+        Input:
+            dataPin (int): pin for data
+            clockPin (int): pin for clock
+            pinOrder (String): either 'MSBFIRST' or 'LSBFIRST'
+        Output:
+            (int) an integer from 0 to 255
+        """
+        cmd_str = self._buildCmdStr("si", (dataPin, clockPin, pinOrder))
+        self.sr.write(cmd_str)
+        self.sr.flush()
+        rd = self.sr.readline().replace("\r\n","")
+        if rd.isdigit() == True:
+            return int(rd)
+
+    def _buildCmdStr(self, cmd, args):
+        """
+        Build a command string that can be sent to the arduino.
+
+        Input:
+            cmd (str): the command to send to the arduino
+            args (iterable): the arguments to send to the command
+        """
+        args = '%'.join(map(str, args))
+        return "@{cmd}%{args}$!".format(cmd=cmd, args=args)
+
 
 class Shrimp(Arduino):
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/sketches/prototype/prototype.ino b/sketches/prototype/prototype.ino
index a245952..867c360 100644
--- a/sketches/prototype/prototype.ino
+++ b/sketches/prototype/prototype.ino
@@ -154,6 +154,35 @@ void ConfigurePinHandler(String data){
     }
 }
 
+void shiftOutHandler(String data) {    
+    String sdata[4];
+    split(sdata, 4, data, '%');
+    int dataPin = sdata[0].toInt();
+    int clockPin = sdata[1].toInt();
+    String bitOrderName = sdata[2];
+    byte value = (byte)(sdata[3].toInt());
+    if (bitOrderName == "MSBFIRST") {
+       shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST, value);
+    } else {
+       shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, LSBFIRST, value);
+    }
+}
+
+void shiftInHandler(String data) {
+    String sdata[3];
+    split(sdata, 3, data, '%');
+    int dataPin = sdata[0].toInt();
+    int clockPin = sdata[1].toInt();
+    String bitOrderName = sdata[2];
+    int incoming;
+    if (bitOrderName == "MSBFIRST") {
+       incoming = (int)shiftIn(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST);
+    } else {
+       incoming = (int)shiftIn(dataPin, clockPin, LSBFIRST);
+    }
+    Serial.println(incoming);
+}
+
 void SS_set(String data){
   delete sserial;
   String sdata[3];
@@ -341,7 +370,14 @@ void SerialParser(void) {
   }  
   else if (cmd == "cap") {
       readCapacitivePin(data);   
-  }  
+  }
+  else if (cmd == "so") {
+      shiftOutHandler(data);
+  }
+  else if (cmd == "si") {
+      shiftInHandler(data);
+  }
+
 }
 
 void setup()  {