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."

Comments

Try Arduino, or build your own

[schamberlin]

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.

Re:Try Arduino, or build your own

[mr_da3m0n]

I second the arduino. It uses a modified version of Wiring, which is a subset of C++ itself. It's actually pretty great to code for and work with, even for a total newbie on the topic like me.

Arduinos are not only cheap, but you can build your own, for added geek points.
http://www.freeduino.org/freeduino_open_designs.html

Re:Try Arduino, or build your own

[wellingj]

And if you need more than what the Arduino has to offer check out the Gumstix

Re:Try Arduino, or build your own

[CAIMLAS]

There are also a handful of different "sets" from Gumstix which are seemingly more similar to this BUGboard than the thing you posted (which has more similarity to a microPIC than anything usable and has a steep learning curve).

Gumstix has been for a while. Their hardware is the basis of many devices out there, noteably the Amazon Kindle, Sony E-ink reader, and the E-ink development board.

The cost puts it well out of range...

[pongo000]

...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.

Been Done

[TheRealMindChild]

Nothing to see here. Gumstix has been around for quite a while, and their stuff is cheaper... and more useful.