Slashdot Mirror
A Hardware Mashup Device Running Linux
jonniee writes "Mike Riley over at Dr. Dobb's takes a look at 'The BUG,' from Bug labs. It's a Linux-based, Java-programmable electronic base with I/O ports for connecting BUGmodules — individual modules that supply additional functionality to the BUGbase. Four BUGmodules currently exist: a color LCD screen, a combined motion detector/accelerometer, GPS, and a 2-megapixel color camera. You can think of it as 'electronic LEGOs' that let you build different devices depending on how you plug the modules together."
The BUG looks pretty slick, but it's $350 just for the base module! Add on modules like an LCD or GPS are about $100 each. Ouch.
For playing around with embedded electronics, try an open-source hardware Arduino board (http://www.arduino.cc), or just build your own using a PIC or AVR microcontroller. It's not as polished as the BUG and doesn't run Java, but it'll cost $40 instead of $400. Arduino has a decent set of software tools, and you can add modular "shields" for GPS, wireless, etc.
It's slashdot.org
Read about this YEARS ago.
Here's one from january, but I'm pretty sure I read about this, right here, long before then.
Im really puzzled by the design and who they are going to sell this to. The connectors limit the number of modules and forces them into fixed positions. The motion sensor module is going to limited when tied the main unit. Real 'Lego' seems to offer a better system under the name NXT.
...of most educational institutions that operate on a restricted public budget (read: K-12 public schools). $600 is rather steep, especially when one considers the limited functionality that's less than equivalent to, say, a Handy Board that costs 1/2 as much, or even the Cricket for a sixth of the cost.
Its a step in the right direction. I saw this dealio on a youtube video a while back. I think it would be better if they figured out how to shrink the modules, and the price, but aside from that, great product. Really, if you think about it, this isnt like a cell phone. You can use this thing as a streaming wireless web camera, you can use it as a high def picture camera that attached GPS tags... you can use it for all sorts of industrial and consumer applications. 350 is not a lot to pay for that.
Nothing to see here. Gumstix has been around for quite a while, and their stuff is cheaper... and more useful.
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
Modular electronics have been around for ages. I recommend the Arudino to anyone interested. The Web 2.0 concept of a mash-up is to bring together data from various places on one site, so I don't see what it has to do with modular electronics.
Sounds like it's just a Slashvertisement with a random buzzword in it...
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
When looking at http://buglabs.net/products it would seem that there are only 4 modules right now and they aren't cheap (at least for what you *can* get then for). I can see where this might be good for a very simple classroom style project, but not much more.
Also, hasn't this already be on Slashdot?
This is the exact architecture described for DIY modular gadgets in Vernor Vinge's http://books.google.com/books?id=SrLwPdBJodMC&dq=Rainbows+End&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0">Rainbows End
This is the exact architecture described for DIY modular gadgets in Vernor Vinge's Rainbows End
in Linux Journal a couple issues ago. It's in the August issue but it is only available online to subscribers currently because it is still new content.
this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
This is just a Slashvertisement. Modular electronics kits are around for a while. For example, VirtualCogs are around for much longer.
Also, there are much cheaper, less modular kits that usually are also much more useful.
I could be wrong, but to me, the Bug is the beginning of what could be true electronic modular assembly.
The ability to hook up various parts and get them to function in a very specific way, is how, I hope things will become over time.
Of course, hooking up the devices will also means a glue language, allowing these devices to interact, and that's where Java kicks ass.
But as I saw it right now, this Bug has a lot of potential, but, it also has a long way to go.
I might buy one of these, when they have more parts that can be hooked up, because right now, from what I saw, it doesn't do all that much, at least, not enough for me to be interested even as a hobby, but still, it's technology worth keeping an eye on, as far as I'm concerned :)
GPS, LCD screen, motion sensor, java programmable. I'd rather wait for an android phone. For the same price, I'd also get a nice phone.
Modular devices are pretty useless when almost everything is available in a USB dongle
You just contradicted yourself!
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
You know, I'm really getting tired of things being referred to as like LEGO. This is nothing like LEGO. Its more like Capsella or something: much more limited, cool nonetheless for what it can do, but nothing remotely close to the raw flexibility of LEGO.
-- Senior Software Engineer, Attorney appearance services, locallawyerapp.com.
You can read all the documentation and code. Open source alternate firmware available for Java http://lejos.sourceforge.net/, C, Lua and many other languages.
Engineering is the art of compromise.
"programmable" but not Open.
See Openmoko for a truly open phone.
Money is the root of all evil?
No. No, it doesn't. It's only Linux-based.
I am not devoid of humor.