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Linux-Powered Lego-Like Devices Target Developers

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the plug-and-play dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A six-person startup is readying a product resembling nothing so much as a set of electronic Legos for device designers. The idea is to provide a set of snap-together components from which engineers can build 'anything,' the company claims, without having to learn solid state electronics. Both hardware and software (Linux/Java phoneME/OSGi) are open source, so that over time, the Lego box will grow, the company hopes. Initially, there's an ARM11-powered base with built-in wifi, and modules for camera, GPS, motion detector, LCD display, keyboard, touchscreen, and stereo speakers. Ooh, and a mysterious 'teleporter,' too."

6 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. The plural of Lego by lobiusmoop · · Score: 4, Informative

    is Lego. (or Lego Bricks to be _really_ picky)

    --
    "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
    1. Re:The plural of Lego by noidentity · · Score: 2, Informative

      And it's LEGO, not Lego.

  2. Re:Without Learning? by MythMoth · · Score: 2, Informative

    Good programmers are good programmers on any platform. Even ones you think are crappy.

    Bad programmers think they're good programmers, think pretty much everyone else is a bad programmer, and thinks that platforms matter more than they do.

    --
    --- These are not words: wierd, genious, rediculous
  3. Re:So.. by Tetsujin · · Score: 2, Informative

    and as long as you remembered that you didn't have any floating point... (i.e., 5/2*2 would be 4 not 5...) That's actually true whether you have floating point or not... Not a policy I really love but it makes sense from an efficiency standpoint...
    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  4. Tagged: by beav007 · · Score: 2, Informative

    itsnotlegosdammit

  5. Re:Some assembly required by spinkham · · Score: 2, Informative
    I'd recommend letting Olimex do it for you.
    Spark fun sells nice programmer/dev boards for PICs.

    This one has a built in programmer for $27.95, or
    This one for $15.95 does not.

    Of course, you only need one programmer for multiple projects.
    Both the above have serial port and power supply built in, and space for putting your own components in. If you don't need a serial port, and are comfortable with voltage regulators or have a good bench supply, you need basically nothing in support hardware (besides a programmer), just a proto-board.

    --
    Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups.