Hardware $25 USB PC stick to teach kids computers.

Rydian · May 6, 2011

QUOTE said:
Braben argues that education since we entered the 2000s has turned towards ICT which teaches useful skills such as writing documents in a word processor, how to create presentations, and basic computer use skills. But that has replaced more computer science-like skills such as basic programming and understanding the architecture and hardware contained in a computer.
[...]
His solution is not to create his own course, but instead to manufacture a very low cost PC that can be given to kids for free and courses built up around their use. When we say low cost, we mean so low even the OLPC would be impressed.

Source

I've gotta' say I approve of a plan like this. Almost every day I run into people who know how to do all sorts of stuff on facebook and in word, but can't navigate folders to save their life. I'll go in to give somebody a computer lesson, and while I'm trying to teach them how to navigate around and the basics of what a program is and such, they interrupt me and say they just want to check their e-mail or something. While I could teach them how to open a browser and check their mail, if something goes wrong they'll be lost. It's like they're new to driving and I'm trying to teach them how to use their turn signal and such, and they just want me to tell them exactly how to get to the store. Well, what if a light was green when I showed them, but the next day it was red when they tried? People don't often realize you need to crawl before you can walk. If you don't know the basics then you're lost every time something changes.

I'm sure we all know people like this, they can normally use their computer fine, but god forbid anything change, or they're like a lost little puppy.

Dangy · May 6, 2011

Rydian said:
I'm sure we all know people like this, they can normally use their computer fine, but god forbid anything change, or they're like a lost little puppy.

...And don't forget, everything is a virus.

EDIT: Fixed quote.

Rydian · May 6, 2011

Dangy said:
...And don't forget, everything is a virus.Oh god yes.

QUOTE(Minion4Hire): But as far as SMART messages go in the OS, I've only ever seen a polite little pop-up from the system tray that most people immediately ignore out of the perpetual fear that READING AND COMPREHENDING ANYTHING displayed on their screen will cause their computer to self destruct, flinging every single fan blade across the room at high speed, overwriting their user account, violently implode its power supply causing the chassis to tip over and - with its dying breath - eject the optical drive.

Jamstruth · May 6, 2011

I have a question: Where can I get one?

Seriously, a PC on a USB stick with an SD card for storage? Simple, cheap, media PC anybody? Take anywhere, plug into any HD-Ready TV, watch your videos. AWESOME!

THere is one problem though: If the kids are too poor to have access to a computer how the hell are they gonna have access to an HD Ready TV?

prowler · May 6, 2011

Rydian said:
Dangy said:

...And don't forget, everything is a virus.Oh god yes.

QUOTE(Minion4Hire): But as far as SMART messages go in the OS, I've only ever seen a polite little pop-up from the system tray that most people immediately ignore out of the perpetual fear that READING AND COMPREHENDING ANYTHING displayed on their screen will cause their computer to self destruct, flinging every single fan blade across the room at high speed, overwriting their user account, violently implode its power supply causing the chassis to tip over and - with its dying breath - eject the optical drive.

Click to expand...

My Nanna used to call me EVERYTIME a message popped up from avast, saying it was something major and she can't access Facebook or a number of her Bingo sites.

Turns out avast was saying it updated the virus database.
After a month of telling her nothing is wrong, I put it in permanent gaming mode and heard nothing about it since.

VashTS · May 6, 2011

my neighbor is like that...he can use facebook, but ask to him to save a picture, he will be so lost. i don't think the idea of file storage is that complicated. you have a root, folders, files etc. maybe its because i've been around it for 20 years, but that seems simple to me.

my kid is going to learn pc stuff, like i did, from as young as possible. the pc is a curse sometimes, but it is a major gift that the world will be using for a long time to come.

MelodieOctavia · May 6, 2011

Jamstruth said:
I have a question: Where can I get one?

Seriously, a PC on a USB stick with an SD card for storage? Simple, cheap, media PC anybody? Take anywhere, plug into any HD-Ready TV, watch your videos. AWESOME!

THere is one problem though: If the kids are too poor to have access to a computer how the hell are they gonna have access to an HD Ready TV?

While I like the idea, i'm sure that this particular model is not HD capable.

Rydian · May 6, 2011

TwinRetro said:
While I like the idea, i'm sure that this particular model is not HD capable.

Well it does say 1080P output, but I'm willing to bet that's just screen resolution and not streaming video resolution, unless it's not very highly compressed (so no fancy MKVs with dual-audio and h.264 video).

MelodieOctavia · May 6, 2011

Rydian said:
TwinRetro said:

While I like the idea, i'm sure that this particular model is not HD capable.

Click to expand...

Well it does say 1080P output, but I'm willing to bet that's just screen resolution and not streaming video resolution, unless it's not very highly compressed (so no fancy MKVs with dual-audio and h.264 video).

I would have a hard time believing also that this little beast would have the power to decode and play 1080p DiVX files, much less stream them to another device.

scrtmstr · May 7, 2011

Would be usefull for some old people I tried to teach on the computer once... My grandmother workes with huges schedules drawn out on paper to work on the computer.

Jamstruth · May 7, 2011

TwinRetro said:
Rydian said:

TwinRetro said:

While I like the idea, i'm sure that this particular model is not HD capable.

Click to expand...

Well it does say 1080P output, but I'm willing to bet that's just screen resolution and not streaming video resolution, unless it's not very highly compressed (so no fancy MKVs with dual-audio and h.264 video).

Click to expand...

I would have a hard time believing also that this little beast would have the power to decode and play 1080p DiVX files, much less stream them to another device.

Never said anything about streaming to another device or HD videos. Just saying a PC this small would be a very unobtrusive thing to carry around and just plug into a mate's TV to watch a few videos you had saved.

Also it talked about internet browsing: Would likely require a USB hub and a wireless card as I doubt this has one built in.

Mangofett · May 7, 2011

TwinRetro said:
Rydian said:

TwinRetro said:

While I like the idea, i'm sure that this particular model is not HD capable.

Click to expand...

Well it does say 1080P output, but I'm willing to bet that's just screen resolution and not streaming video resolution, unless it's not very highly compressed (so no fancy MKVs with dual-audio and h.264 video).

Click to expand...

I would have a hard time believing also that this little beast would have the power to decode and play 1080p DiVX files, much less stream them to another device.

You underestimate the power of modern mobile tech... if it can't already, it will be able to for another $5.

In fact, most mobile tech is as cheap to make as this little computer. The high prices though come from company markups to pay for research, advertising, etc. But no mobile tech has been designed to be used as a cheap computer with other parts like this.

If you just need to plug in a monitor and kbm, does this mean we can start shipping off our crt monitors to 3rd world countries? lol

edit: Oh and as an example for the italics: the iPod touch 2nd gen. Historically it cost $200, and apple has over 100% markup on the touches, so 3ish years ago it only at most $100 to make. By now we can assume it costs maybe $40 to make, so that means you would get 8GB of memory, an ~680mhz processor, and 128MB of RAM... and a screen, wifi, and lithium ion battery for $40

What this guy is doing that is revolutionary is that he's making this a charitable organization: I doubt he's going to take many costs for research or advertising.

Deleted_171835 · May 7, 2011

Great idea.
Computer classes at schools should be teaching people the basics of computing and how they work internally. There are computer classes at my school that teach students how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements when they don't even know what a CPU is. They need to get their priorities straight.

If this is available for purchase to the general public, I'll get it. It'll be a decent on-the-go PC.

Also, Linkiboy is completely correct. It doesn't cost much to make this. The only reason most devices with similar processing power cost much more is because the company adds quite a large markup to the manufacturing cost due to R&D, advertising and simply to make a profit. The manufacturing costs of an iPhone 4 without non-essential parts (screen, camera, etc.) is only about $35.

Scorpei · May 7, 2011

SoulSnatcher said:
Great idea.
Computer classes at schools should be teaching people the basics of computing and how they work internally. There are computer classes at my school that teach students how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements when they don't even know what a CPU is. They need to get their priorities straight.

If this is available for purchase to the general public, I'll get it. It'll be a decent on-the-go PC.

Also, Linkiboy is completely correct. It doesn't cost much to make this. The only reason most devices with similar processing power cost much more is because the company adds quite a large markup to the manufacturing cost due to R&D, advertising and simply to make a profit. The manufacturing costs of an iPhone 4 without non-essential parts (screen, camera, etc.) is only about $35.

If I wish to make art, why would I need any knowlidge with regards to a CPU? If I drive a car do I need understanding of the working of a lead-acid battery? Although more knowlidge could increase the use one gets out of a machine (or in the example of a car, the safety) there is no actual need to know such information. You might find it more interesting, but someone else who simply wishes to use the device might not.

On topic: although a nice thought, most public places I know have VGA displays and the assumption of it working on their local network isn't always true. Although a good, cheap addition to a school's loadout (would love to see these in classrooms where instead of the school having 30 laptops only have 30 screens and input devices lying around) to teach those interested. The giant dissadvantage is of course if people kill their system: they kill their system they use for school. Advantage: cheap replacement.

Berthenk · May 7, 2011

SoulSnatcher said:
The manufacturing costs of an iPhone 4 without non-essential parts (screen, camera, etc.) is only about $35.

Wow, I'd love to tell SSD companies where they can find flash memory chips that cheap!

Rydian · May 7, 2011

I don't agree that people need to know how to program and such.

However the average person should know how to navigate the damn folders on their own PC.

Jamstruth · May 7, 2011

Berthenk said:
SoulSnatcher said:

The manufacturing costs of an iPhone 4 without non-essential parts (screen, camera, etc.) is only about $35.

Click to expand...

Wow, I'd love to tell SSD companies where they can find flash memory chips that cheap!

An SSD is a VASTLY different beast to a flash memory chip used in an iPhone. Think about how much it costs for a 16GB USB memory stick. Quite cheap, yes/ And that's with a retail markup. Wholesale the actual chips are cheap. An SSD however is cutting edge. Designed to hold a much higher capacity and work at a much faster I/O speed than a USB stick.

Hardware $25 USB PC stick to teach kids computers.

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