Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Brazilian Devs Launch Tiny $1 STEM-Oriented Microcontroller Board On Indiegogo (hackerboards.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the pocket-change dept.

DeviceGuru writes: A team of Brazilian developers has just launched an open-source microcontroller board called the "One Dollar Board," that's so simple and inexpensive that it can be distributed as standard teaching materials to kids in schools all over the world. The tiny board appears to contain a single 8-pin microcontroller chip, along with a handful of passive components, making it considerably more simple and affordable than the similar STEM-oriented and open-sourced BBC Micro:bit board. More details about the One Dollar Board are on its Indiegogo campaign page, where you can get one for a contribution of $1 (duh!), plus unspecified shipping and import duties.

8 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Re:WTF is open source hardware? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

    So call it open spec hardware. Can we get back on topic now?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Sub-Dollar Boards Already Available by lobiusmoop · · Score: 3, Informative

    Read about this on CNX. A commenter pointed out that there are already lots of Arduino compatible boards available on Ebay.

    --
    "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
  3. Why not just buy arduino clones?? by Racemaniac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The pro mini's are about 1.25$ atm, arduini nanos with usb port are 1.75$, and the cheapest stm32 boards (which also have arduino ported to them) are about 2$ (and far more powerful than an arduino nano).

    What the hell is this project possibly thinking of being able to add to that (except for high shipping costs, since i doubt that unlike the chinese prices i quoted above, i doubt theirs will include shipping).

    1. Re:Why not just buy arduino clones?? by hughbar · · Score: 2

      Yes, as a Brit I have a big problem with the Micro:bit too. These things run out of road very quickly and are a path to fragmentation and divided attention. I just finished a year of volunteering in a primary school in London, 60 minutes each week of which 10 getting clunky laptops to boot etc. etc. It would be much more sensible to concentrate on Arduino + clones and Raspberry Pi + clones, especially as the community is good for both. Bottom line, I'm somewhat 'against' hardware that is STEM-only, much better to use real-life hardware with STEM lessons and projects.

      --
      On y va, qui mal y pense!
  4. Re:"STEM-oriented" hardware by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    STEM = Sales Terminology for Electronics Marketers.

  5. Re:WTF is open source hardware? by gnupun · · Score: 2

    Hardware doesn't have source code.

    Wrong, analog hardware may not have source code, but digital hardware like microcontrollers and CPUs are written in hardware programming languages like Verilog (syntax similar to C) and VHDL (syntax similar to Ada).

  6. Ipad by raymorris · · Score: 2

    > Well, is there any (computer) hardware which is *not* "STEM-oriented".

    The best-known computer hardware in the world isn't science, engineering, or math oriented, it's consumption and marketing oriented. I suppose it's "technology" in a sense.

  7. Re: Arduino? by afidel · · Score: 2

    Not really, but there are a ton of Uno clones in the $3-4 range with free shipping which is effectively the same price range.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.