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| Raspberry Pi |
The Raspberry Pi is a very simple, broken down, single-board computer. The purpose of the Raspberry Pi is for teaching the basics of Computer Science, but its uses are extremely vast. The Raspberry Pi was released on February 29, 2012 and costs around $30. This simple device is a great tool for learning basic functions of a computer and how to control them through your code.
Why is it important?
The Raspberry Pi is important to the future of Computer Science more than anything else. The apparatus is great for beginners and can be used to help them get the feel for developing software. Computer Science can be a complex idea for some to initially grasp and this device can help aid in the early learning. The Raspberry Pi truly is one of a kind due to its low costs for its vast functionality. The Computer Scientists of tomorrow are using the Raspberry Pi to learn; it is one of the easiest ways to learn the basics of the complex idea of programming, and it will truly aid in the future of the field.
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| Raspberry Pi in use |
How does it work?
The Raspberry Pi features a CPU, GPU, RAM, USB ports, video input and output, audio output, onboard networking and storage, power source, and its own operating system. You can kind of think of it as a bare bones smart phone with extra functionalists. You can write programs that use any of the Raspberry Pi's hardware, some examples include: voice activated garage door, handheld game emulation, control a remote control car, and even creating a light show. This youtube video briefly shows a Raspberry Pi connected to Christmas lights and a cellphone.
The Raspberry Pi's future
The Raspberry Pi team is continually working on making the device cheaper and more accessible to everyone. Additionally, the Raspberry Pi's hardware will constantly be getting upgraded in newer versions of the product. As more technological breakthroughs come out and as computers become faster and faster, the Raspberry Pi will be keeping up and upgrading. The uses of the Raspberry Pi are immense and the envelope is constantly being pushed as bright people develop unique software; as the Raspberry Pi is upgraded, the possible applications are limitless.
Evaluation
The Raspberry Pi is a must have for anybody who likes to experiment and test with computers. The Raspberry Pi boasts a solid 4.6 our of 5 on Amazon.com with over 554 reviews. Based off some Amazon reviewer comments as well as testimonials from my friends, the Raspberry Pi gives you so much computational power for its price. The one downside to the Pi that I constantly hear and read about is the learning curve. It takes a long time to get used to the Pi and it can be difficult to start working with it without additional help. Overall, the Raspberry Pi is a great purchase and is especially great if you enjoy learning new things.
Summary
The Raspberry Pi is a great tool for Computer Scientists, old and new. It is a cheap device that promotes easy learning as well as advanced functionality. The Raspberry Pi is a must have for anyone in the Computer Science field. The device can be used for educational purposes, personal tinkering, or even within a company or business. The possibilities are seemingly endless for such an inexpensive computer.
I am not a computer science major but I would be interested in this technology. With new technology developing each day it is important to stay up to date and educated. I think it would be beneficial to learn how to write programs.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of raspberry pie is awesome. While I have never used one myself, I have seen so many cool projects that use it as a base. I have seen a lot of kickstarters that use it and build off of it. Arcade machines to security cameras, even small things like adapters for certain projects. It's such a basic device that it can be used for pretty much anything. It's a powerful tool to use for a hands on project.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of neat.
ReplyDelete