Ok, so this isn't a post about food! but it is a story about a recipe destined for success.
Raspberry Pi is a low cost credit card sized ARM/GNU based single board computer that runs on a Linux Platform and plugs into your TV, just add a mouse and keyboard and a little imagination. It will be available to buy soon at around £22 for the fully loaded version. It's the brain child of Eben Upton, who's work as an admissions officer at Cambridge university made him realise that "kids today", were happy to use and play with technology, but not interested in programming or designing it , hence the visible decline year on year of students wishing to study technology based subjects, such as electronics.
(picture of Beta Board)
I think that part of the problem is down to the modern world, a world where the majority kids today aspire to be Rock Stars or Celebrities, rather than Astronauts or Computer Programmers, as it was in my day growing up in the early 1980's. What most of them probably don't realise is that people like Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs, were Geeks with more money of their own, than many countries have! and far more than most "celebrities" So what can we do about this! Well, Eben was keen to get the kids of today interested in the building blocks of technology, and make a product that would appeal and inspire them, and so, the Raspberry Pi was baked!
To most of us reading this, technology and how it all works is a drug, I'm certainly addicted!, I think the difference between me when I grew up, and the kids of today, is to do with the evolution of technology and modern media. Inspired by movies like Wargames and Weird Science, I pretty much had to build my own first computer from a kit, and I learnt how to write basic on it and I also used it for gaming. Today, games consoles are just that, you can't write basic on it.... the hours of fun I had writing things like "10 CLS, 20 Print " Pete is Cool!", GOTO 20 on every computer in our local branch of Dixons (electronics shop), so that all the monitors displayed it,and buying computer magazine's featuring programming code examples and spending hours typing them in to run the most basic of programes. Today they are just off the shelf throw away commodities which a monkey could operate.
So this is the problem... there’s no real incentive or easy way for kids today to get introduced and involved in technology and computers at a nuts and bolt level, and if we're not careful, within a generation, electronics hardware and software design could almost disappear from the UK, just as manufacturing almost has. So taking the technology drug into schools, and getting kids hooked on technology from an early age, seems like the answer! Now, there are platforms like Arduino around which are great for introducing electronics to beginners, however these type of applications generally require some heavier coding, where as Raspberry Pi is more along the lines of the old school computing from back in the 1980's, when BBC Micro was king and so is easier for a younger user to get to grips with. Although I understand if you want to, you can open up the Rasperry Pi and do alot more heavy programming on it.
So, Raspberry Pi is a great first step to get kids interested in technology and influence more of them to become electronics design engineers and computer programers of the future. Raspberry PI is in fact a registered Charity, and there are some big old school names involved with the Raspberry Pi project, including Jack Lang, who back in the day, was involved in taking the BBC Micro computer to market.
The sad thing is, due to the price point required to get this project to fly, it looks like manufacturing this in the UK isn't going to be possible now due to crippling taxes! Come on David Cameron and Vince Cable! these guys are a charity, don't gamble on the fate of UK Electronics and software engineering, please help these guys manufacture this in the UK, otherwise the custard I refer to in the title of this post may end up as pies in your faces....
Not surprising kids don't want to become engineers when you see the rubbish salaries being paid. You get employers bragging how big and marvellous they are, & want a designer to make a product that will produce millions in income and offer £30 000 salary. They can earn that driving a truck with no risk of making a design stuff-up. A current post on offer is asking for a Chief Engineer at a salary of £ 25 000.
By all means play around with electronics as a hobby, but don't expect to earn a decent salary. For that you have to be a plumber or a dentist or even a Health & Safety Manager, or just about anything other than an electronic engineer.
Totally agree with you. This is especially true in South Africa. I'm 61 and a mech. engineer and my hobby s electronics. I had to learn the hard way, by paying my own way to get a qualification; there were no hand-outs for me. Had to study deep into the night, because I also had to work during day-time.
Man! That was really hard, but in the end it was probably worthwile. Or so I thought.
Now, after 40 years of experience in the mech field, I get a salary of the equivalent of approx. GBP 2400 per month. And then I have to even try and teach today's youngsters about engineering, while the only thing they seem to be interested in, is a car and a "sound system" in it. They actually live for Fridays, when they get paid. Why? Because then they can go and spend their money on booze and fuel to race each other down the streets of ZA. Come Monday, they are badly hung-over and you cannot get an hours worth of work out of them. BUT; THEY GET PAID MORE THAN I DO!
Then people wonder why there are revolutions and war going on all around the wotld. It's because of the free world system, for Pete's sake! Please, don't get me wrong. I grant these kids everything they get. It just riles me that I have to literally work a 16 hour day for 7 days a week, just to try and get through all my work, and I don't earn a decent salary, while these kids just run around and do as little as possible. And get paid to do that.
And, yes, you are right. It's all about making the owners/sharholders rich. As quick as possible.
The solution to the problem? I have no idea. As long as capitalism exists, this is the way it will go. And kids will be more interested in money now, than having to study.
Of course, in ZA there is an additional, much more serious problem at the moment. If you are white, and you have 9 distinctions on your matric sertificate, you have less than a 10% chance of being accepted into one of our Universities or Colleges, simply because the openings are reserved for black kids first. It actually happened at the beginning of this year!
So, what the answers are, I really have no clue. The only thing I do know, is that somebody, somewhere had better start doing something real quick, otherwise the world may very well end up without any engineers at all!
Can anybody imagine what that will be like? I don't even want to begin to think along those lines. Catastrophe!
My original comment from a week ago seems to have gone! Here is a shortened version.
This is great introducing micro-computing to schools and stimulating the growth of this area, but is it the right way?
My suggestion would be to have an emulated micro on the PC which drives a USB I/O pod. This will allow great visual displays of what is happening and allow interation with real hardware.
Yes it will be slower than a micro target, but I learned on a 1MHz 6502/6800 and Z80 which was fast enough.
Yes it will be tethered to a PC, but you can still learn about sensors, motor control, solenoid control, stepper motors, temperature control.......
It can also be robust and also cheap to repair a damaged USB I/O module if socketed components are used for the 'at risk' components. Reminds me of the "User Ports" we used to have on Commodore Pets and other early microcomputers.
The emulated micro can also be a special simplified micro to help with this initial learning stage and then be a more complicated version as the student advances, even emulating a 'real' micro. The language can also be assembler, BASIC, C etc., as required for the particular teaching stage.
In summary this would provide a versatile, robust, low cost solution which can lead on to Arduno and mBed.
Interesting, but I have to disagree. Wait until you get your hands on one then reconsider the advantages......
The whole idea of the Pi is to provide Open-Source, completely free of charge software and a variety of break-out boards, all at a cost which is lower or comparable than a cost of replacement PCI USB cards to fit into a Desktop PC!
Add to that the HUGE forum of electronic hobbyists and professionals who are not just willing but biting at the bit to present their ideas, again openly, with no strings attached (or hidden costs / licencing). How can that be the wrong way to open the currently closed door of digital hardware and software development to the youths of today.
A school budget is limited and if PC's are used (irrelevant of age or cost), there is still the issue of cost of software development and licencing (Microsoft or Apple being the two main operating systems taught at UK schools, under the current curriculum. Why start on an 'emulated micro' then advance to Arduino, etc? Why be restricted to USB - simply to minimise risk of damage to expensive hardware, that's the only reason I can envisage if using an emulator?
I only wish PC development had taken the Linux/Unix/Freeware operating system route from the early days as it would have reduced the cost of the average laptop or tablet to under £200, instead of the £350 price tag currently attached. That's before you buy an standard office package to give you a word processor and spreadsheet (if, like most individuals and Companies, you are dedicated to MSoft/Apple software).
I believe the concept to be brilliant. There are SO many people, including myself who are willing to share their ideas and technical knowledge free of charge, with no 'technical authorship' or copyright issues to contend or concern yourself with. This alone will create an avalanche of help and ideas for any pupils who are interested in more than twittering or facebooking!
Add to that the fact it is not a commercial venture - it is a charity. This is a selfless act on the behalf of the hardware designers who have put a lot of their time and effort into releasing what is likely to be the biggest technological leap forward since, like you, the 6502 and Z80 8-bit home-built computer kits were released and DOS became available (as an shareware release) - which helps revolutionise the PC designs and the fast (super-fast) change to 16, the 32 and 64bit CPU's.
It's hard to explain to a youngster that you CAN program 'Space Invaders' into just 12Kbytes of code (8-bit data code at that). If they used a PC to compile any emulation, it would be less exciting, far-less of a learning curve. As the student becomes more advanced in their capabitities, why not simply let them loose on a PC? Why emulate a PC?
Bolt-on's are clumsy, lack security from the world's hacker base - who are taking advantage of the various loopholes provided by the 'professional' software developers and suppliers (no names needed!). Add to that the memory hungry issue of emulaters - lets face it, if you have less than 2-3Gb you can't run Windows 7 without going for a cup of coffee or a pint, while it boots up (or attempts to). Then you have to await the Mb's of updates.
No - I'm am convinced this is the right way forward. No licence issues and a totally open forum of experts and pupils sharing their knowledge and achievments with pride, not greed!
Whilst projects like this are all well and good, one should bear in mind that not all electronics is digital and software! I don't wish to poor scorn on a well intentioned scheme, but in my view it misses the point slightly.
What does the 'raspberry pi' offer in terms of educational value, over and above the Arduino in any case ? Personally I feel that due to its simplicity and its limited nature, the Arduino is more likely to engender the need for some real creative thinking. The ability to solve a problem creatively is surely what differentiates the good engineer ?
Like many on here, as a boy, I spent many a happy hour building projects from those little paperbacks from babani, utilising little more than a soldering iron, some vero board and a handfull of discrete components. Back then, one could build things that you could not buy - nowadays the situation is reversed.
It is the fundamentals that need to be taught, not how to use the latest highly integrated chips. How many graduates these days could build even a simple audio amplifier, without recourse to an intergrated operational amplifier?
The concepts of digital logic can (and should) be taught at the fundamental gate level, using TTL to build up more complex functions, reinforcing demorgan and the boolean algebra which should be taught in parallel.
I remember seeing a video some time ago about the project and hoped so much it would come to market.
This SUPERB unit will rock the world and become a first choice for projects for millions of creators.
The creator's philosophy behind the project, explained in the video I saw, was an immediate 10+ and I am convinced that he will acheive so much more that he never anticipated with his creation.
The synergy that will be created by millions of users will give it all of its power
Looks to me like in a few years we will all be in the users group.
They are a bit behind schedule due to this manufacturing location issue, but hopefully should be availble very soon! If you want one sooner, A Beta Board went for £3500 on e-bay yesterday!
PETERVENTECH
Not surprising kids don't want to become engineers when you see the rubbish salaries being paid. You get employers bragging how big and marvellous they are, & want a designer to make a product that will produce millions in income and offer £30 000 salary. They can earn that driving a truck with no risk of making a design stuff-up. A current post on offer is asking for a Chief Engineer at a salary of £ 25 000.
By all means play around with electronics as a hobby, but don't expect to earn a decent salary. For that you have to be a plumber or a dentist or even a Health & Safety Manager, or just about anything other than an electronic engineer.
Mafoota
Totally agree with you. This is especially true in South Africa. I'm 61 and a mech. engineer and my hobby s electronics. I had to learn the hard way, by paying my own way to get a qualification; there were no hand-outs for me. Had to study deep into the night, because I also had to work during day-time.
Man! That was really hard, but in the end it was probably worthwile. Or so I thought.
Now, after 40 years of experience in the mech field, I get a salary of the equivalent of approx. GBP 2400 per month. And then I have to even try and teach today's youngsters about engineering, while the only thing they seem to be interested in, is a car and a "sound system" in it. They actually live for Fridays, when they get paid. Why? Because then they can go and spend their money on booze and fuel to race each other down the streets of ZA. Come Monday, they are badly hung-over and you cannot get an hours worth of work out of them. BUT; THEY GET PAID MORE THAN I DO!
Then people wonder why there are revolutions and war going on all around the wotld. It's because of the free world system, for Pete's sake! Please, don't get me wrong. I grant these kids everything they get. It just riles me that I have to literally work a 16 hour day for 7 days a week, just to try and get through all my work, and I don't earn a decent salary, while these kids just run around and do as little as possible. And get paid to do that.
And, yes, you are right. It's all about making the owners/sharholders rich. As quick as possible.
The solution to the problem? I have no idea. As long as capitalism exists, this is the way it will go. And kids will be more interested in money now, than having to study.
Of course, in ZA there is an additional, much more serious problem at the moment. If you are white, and you have 9 distinctions on your matric sertificate, you have less than a 10% chance of being accepted into one of our Universities or Colleges, simply because the openings are reserved for black kids first. It actually happened at the beginning of this year!
So, what the answers are, I really have no clue. The only thing I do know, is that somebody, somewhere had better start doing something real quick, otherwise the world may very well end up without any engineers at all!
Can anybody imagine what that will be like? I don't even want to begin to think along those lines. Catastrophe!
Boss
My original comment from a week ago seems to have gone! Here is a shortened version.
This is great introducing micro-computing to schools and stimulating the growth of this area, but is it the right way?
My suggestion would be to have an emulated micro on the PC which drives a USB I/O pod. This will allow great visual displays of what is happening and allow interation with real hardware.
Yes it will be slower than a micro target, but I learned on a 1MHz 6502/6800 and Z80 which was fast enough.
Yes it will be tethered to a PC, but you can still learn about sensors, motor control, solenoid control, stepper motors, temperature control.......
It can also be robust and also cheap to repair a damaged USB I/O module if socketed components are used for the 'at risk' components. Reminds me of the "User Ports" we used to have on Commodore Pets and other early microcomputers.
The emulated micro can also be a special simplified micro to help with this initial learning stage and then be a more complicated version as the student advances, even emulating a 'real' micro. The language can also be assembler, BASIC, C etc., as required for the particular teaching stage.
In summary this would provide a versatile, robust, low cost solution which can lead on to Arduno and mBed.
Markus Sparkus
Interesting, but I have to disagree. Wait until you get your hands on one then reconsider the advantages......
The whole idea of the Pi is to provide Open-Source, completely free of charge software and a variety of break-out boards, all at a cost which is lower or comparable than a cost of replacement PCI USB cards to fit into a Desktop PC!
Add to that the HUGE forum of electronic hobbyists and professionals who are not just willing but biting at the bit to present their ideas, again openly, with no strings attached (or hidden costs / licencing). How can that be the wrong way to open the currently closed door of digital hardware and software development to the youths of today.
A school budget is limited and if PC's are used (irrelevant of age or cost), there is still the issue of cost of software development and licencing (Microsoft or Apple being the two main operating systems taught at UK schools, under the current curriculum. Why start on an 'emulated micro' then advance to Arduino, etc? Why be restricted to USB - simply to minimise risk of damage to expensive hardware, that's the only reason I can envisage if using an emulator?
I only wish PC development had taken the Linux/Unix/Freeware operating system route from the early days as it would have reduced the cost of the average laptop or tablet to under £200, instead of the £350 price tag currently attached. That's before you buy an standard office package to give you a word processor and spreadsheet (if, like most individuals and Companies, you are dedicated to MSoft/Apple software).
I believe the concept to be brilliant. There are SO many people, including myself who are willing to share their ideas and technical knowledge free of charge, with no 'technical authorship' or copyright issues to contend or concern yourself with. This alone will create an avalanche of help and ideas for any pupils who are interested in more than twittering or facebooking!
Add to that the fact it is not a commercial venture - it is a charity. This is a selfless act on the behalf of the hardware designers who have put a lot of their time and effort into releasing what is likely to be the biggest technological leap forward since, like you, the 6502 and Z80 8-bit home-built computer kits were released and DOS became available (as an shareware release) - which helps revolutionise the PC designs and the fast (super-fast) change to 16, the 32 and 64bit CPU's.
It's hard to explain to a youngster that you CAN program 'Space Invaders' into just 12Kbytes of code (8-bit data code at that). If they used a PC to compile any emulation, it would be less exciting, far-less of a learning curve. As the student becomes more advanced in their capabitities, why not simply let them loose on a PC? Why emulate a PC?
Bolt-on's are clumsy, lack security from the world's hacker base - who are taking advantage of the various loopholes provided by the 'professional' software developers and suppliers (no names needed!). Add to that the memory hungry issue of emulaters - lets face it, if you have less than 2-3Gb you can't run Windows 7 without going for a cup of coffee or a pint, while it boots up (or attempts to). Then you have to await the Mb's of updates.
No - I'm am convinced this is the right way forward. No licence issues and a totally open forum of experts and pupils sharing their knowledge and achievments with pride, not greed!
That's my tuppence worth anyway.
Michael Lee_01
Whilst projects like this are all well and good, one should bear in mind that not all electronics is digital and software! I don't wish to poor scorn on a well intentioned scheme, but in my view it misses the point slightly.
What does the 'raspberry pi' offer in terms of educational value, over and above the Arduino in any case ? Personally I feel that due to its simplicity and its limited nature, the Arduino is more likely to engender the need for some real creative thinking. The ability to solve a problem creatively is surely what differentiates the good engineer ?
Like many on here, as a boy, I spent many a happy hour building projects from those little paperbacks from babani, utilising little more than a soldering iron, some vero board and a handfull of discrete components. Back then, one could build things that you could not buy - nowadays the situation is reversed.
It is the fundamentals that need to be taught, not how to use the latest highly integrated chips. How many graduates these days could build even a simple audio amplifier, without recourse to an intergrated operational amplifier?
The concepts of digital logic can (and should) be taught at the fundamental gate level, using TTL to build up more complex functions, reinforcing demorgan and the boolean algebra which should be taught in parallel.
Anyway, that's my two penn'th
rpardamean
It would be complete with RTC and battery backup or super cap.
At that price, 700MHz processor, HDMI and ethernet, it is going to be next big thing.
Robert St-L ...
B R A V O !
I remember seeing a video some time ago about the project and hoped so much it would come to market.
This SUPERB unit will rock the world and become a first choice for projects for millions of creators.
The creator's philosophy behind the project, explained in the video I saw, was an immediate 10+ and I am convinced that he will acheive so much more that he never anticipated with his creation.
The synergy that will be created by millions of users will give it all of its power
Looks to me like in a few years we will all be in the users group.
*<]:^)
banjohat
That is SO cool! If only it sported a LVDS display connector so I could use the LCDs I have lying around...
MikeBK
Wow!! that is a great idea, so.... who is going to get one of those for their kids? I don't have kids yet but many of you are certainly blessed!
When is a first release date, anyone knows?
Pete Wood
They are a bit behind schedule due to this manufacturing location issue, but hopefully should be availble very soon! If you want one sooner, A Beta Board went for £3500 on e-bay yesterday!
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/12/01/2012/52700/raspberry-pi-...