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."
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.
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
Maybe you should look forward to the many options around that feature PC104 connections, which has been an industry standard for a while.
I remember seeing a vendor which used to provide Linux SBCs with this interface, and even accessories for it. I don't remember the site right now, but I think it still was cheaper than the BUG, though it didn't have a good-looking external shell like the BUG.