Mini computers like the Raspberry Pi are enabling new applications by connecting the online and physical worlds through interactive art installations, controlling devices in real-time, and making sensors and cameras cheaper to build. These small, low-cost computers are also allowing people to add internet connectivity to displays without a traditional computer and explore wearable electronics. Recent examples shown include a Twitter-powered gumball machine, a museum that prints tweets on receipts, and a biking jacket that controls turn signals through buttons on the shoulder.

1. MINI
COMPUTERS
A 3-minute look at Mini PCs
and cool ways to use them

4. What’s a Mini Computer?
• A Mini Computer is a small, fully
functional computer.
• This one is Raspberry Pi. It’s what
we’re demoing today.
• Small
• Cheap: 35 dollars
• Portable (battery)
• BOTTOM LINE:
- Cheap Price means A LOT of people are
playing with these
- Agencies are starting to use these to
prototype innovative ideas.
- Starting to see some cool uses.

5. Recent Mini Computers
• Raspberry Pi Model B
– $35
– 800 MHz / 256 MB
• FXI Cotton Candy
– $200
– 1.2 GHz / 1 GB
• MK802 Android Mini PC
– $75
– 1.5 GHz / 512 MB
• Beaglebone
– $90
– 720 MHz
• VIA APC Android
– $49
– 800 MHz / 512 MB
• Pandaboard
– $160
– 1.2 GHz / 1 GB
• Cubox
– $140
– 800 MHz / 1 GB

6. K thx.
Why Do I Care?
Well, Like I said, some cool things are starting to
emerge.

7. #1:
People are Starting to Mix Online and
Real-World Actions

8. Online «» Real Action
A twitter powered
gumball machine.
Made by Toronto
advertising
agency Philter
Communications.

9. Online «» Real Action
• Make an LED Gmail Notifier

10. Online «» Real Action
• Museum in Milwaukee (Walkers Point Center).
• Dumps names of new Twitter followers from the ceiling, like
confetti.

11. Online «» Real Action
• Same Milwaukee museum. Called the “Murmur Study”, by a group, Kitchen
Budapest. 30 receipt printers printing every tweet tagged with the museum’s
name.

12. Online «» Real Action
• Chalkbot. By ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, for Nike. For 2010 Tour de France.
- Users submitted messages by SMS, Twitter, and website
- Chalkbot machine sprayed it onto the Tour de France route
- Machine snapped picture and GPS coordinates, and posted it on Google Maps.

13. Online «» Real Action
Control interior lighting real-time.
- Website Visitor Blinker: Lights flash when someone visits our website.
- Office mood lighting: Customize the lighting from a webpage.
- Night Club: lights change, in beat with the music.

14. Online «» Real Action
Rocker Scale – Giant full-size guitar that shows your Guitar Hero score.
The BBC did this.

15. Online «» Real Action
Glossy Black Word Clock.

16. Online «» Real Action
Etch-a-Sketch clock

17. Online «» Real Action
Wii Fit to control Labyrinth Game

18. Online «» Real Action
• Laser Harp
• Break the laser beams to play notes.
• Costs $600 (most of that cost is the laser)

19. Online «» Real Action
• Getting into the realm of the crazy.
• “Spirit of Berlin”, a Dodge Minivan driven by an iPhone. Student project by Artificial
Intelligence Group, at Freie University of Berlin

20. Online «» Real Action
• This image wasn’t labeled.
• So I don’t know what it does.
• But it looks dangerous.

21. #2:
Mini Computers are making Sensors
and Cameras Cheaper and Smaller.

22. Sensor / Data Gatherer
• Outdoor Sensor

23. Sensor / Data Gatherer
• Photo Booth

24. Sensor / Data Gatherer
• Weather Station

25. Sensor / Data Gatherer
• Pollutant Sensor that someone built for $100.
• Can detect levels of ethanol, methane, and VOCs.
• Most commercial sensors with this capability cost upwards of $1000.

26. Sensor / Data Gatherer
• Botani-Calls.
Sends you a Tweet when your plant gets thirsty.
• Buy the kit today. $99.

27. Sensor / Data Gatherer
• This is actually a Breathalyzer.
• Someone put an Alcohol sensor in the microphone, and an
Arduino in the Cassette Recorder for logging data.

28. #3:
Smart TV
People are Making Internet-
Connected Displays, where you
previously would have needed a
computer.

29. Smart TV
Live Twitter Stream
- Computer is small
enough to fit inside the
TV
- Powered by the TV
- Package it up, send it
to a Client.
- Automatically connects
to Internet and shows
- Live Twitter feed.
- Live Weather.
- Or Snow Report.
- Or whatever we want.

30. Smart TV
• Arcade Cabinet

31. Smart TV
• POV Display (Persistence of Vision)

32. Smart TV
• Streaming Live Music

33. Smart TV
• WiFi Intercom System

34. #4:
Wearable Electronics

35. Wearable Electronics

36. Wearable Electronics
Turn Signal Biking Jacket. Control with buttons on shoulder. Machine washable.

37. Wearable Electronics
• Playable electric piano.

38. Wearable Electronics
• Playable Tic Tac
Toe
• With
Conductive
Velcro

39. Mixing Online & Real-World
Actions
Cameras & Sensors are
Cheaper, Smaller
Internet-Connected Displays,
without a computer.
Wearable Electronics

40. IT’S DEMO TIME
247
Repeat
More than
How many Before!
Likes?
Dance!