Bug Labs’ hardware mashup mentality

November 9, 2007 at 2:13 pm · Filed under Industrial Design, Hardware, Programming, Applications

Bug Labs is bringing a mashup mentality to hardware by way of a series of modules which snap together not unlike the way Legos would. The BUGbase and the BUGmodules don’t look like children’s toys, nor do they look like Radio Shack geek tech. They look like something you might pay good money for at BestBuy.

Ease of development is emphasized. Projects begin with a BUGbase which is described on their web site as “…a fully programmable and ‘hackable’ Linux computer…” Examples of modules you can snap to the base include a GPS unit, a Digital Camera/Videocam, a Motion Detector, and a color, touch-sensitive LCD screen.

Bug Labs envisions device building as an experience that can be enjoyed by both the novice and the advanced do-it-yourselfer. Since the hardware clicks together, the next engineering challenge is the underlying software. A description of the software environment from the BUG site is quoted below:

BUG is built entirely with open source software. BMI, the BUG Module Interface, attaches devices to the BUG. Device-based services and applications are dynamically available based on which modules are connected to the BUG. Higher up the stack is Java, which hosts a service-oriented component runtime called OSGi.

As the development community shares their hardware and software creations a programming-free scenario also emerges. In a recent podcast Bug Labs’ CEO Peter Semmelhack describes a future where a builder combines a few bricks together and interfaces with the BUG SDK where (s)he is presented with the top applications currently being used for that hardware configuration. Software can be downloaded onto the device without the need to start from scratch.

The BUGbase, aforementioned modules and SDK are all slated to ship before the end of the year.Interested? You may want to catch BUG Labs speaking at SXSW 2008. For more information including a list of additional modules visit the BUG Labs web site.

Share This

Comments (2)

One Laptop per Child and one for…

November 7, 2007 at 12:12 am · Filed under Industrial Design, Hardware

You may know it as the “$100 laptop.” But, let’s call it by its lesser-known name, the XO as it never made it down to the $100 price point. The computer, aimed at providing laptops for needy kids by way of the One Laptop per Child project, has been the cause of speculation, criticism and praise. MIT professor Nicholas Negroponte, founder and chairman of the non-profit One Laptop per Child foundation, is the driving force behind the XO, which boasts some interesting features for a laptop which cost less than many computers which rightfully find file under the category “toy.”

What’s the XO got going for it? A lot. Again, it’s not going to replace your business productivity laptop anytime soon (nor is that its intention), but it has plenty for its sub $200 price tag (David Pogue sums it up well). A few standouts:

• High-resolution (1200 x 900 200 dpi) reflective, sunlight readable display
• Sealed keyboard, sealed case construction
• WiFi (802.11 b/g) and Mesh (802.11 s)
• Can be charged without an AC outlet (physical process)
• Integrated game pad
• Integrated touch pad
• Speakers
• Integrated 30 fps video and still camera

It’s not running Vista or XP, nor is it running OS X or Linux. The OLPC’s operating system and software is all open source. It’s a laptop for education geared toward countries where technology is inaccessible, and, conditions may be less than hospitable for the device.

Now, a bit for the philanthropists and the geeks. There’s a few ways you can score some good karma with the little laptop that might:

Philanthropists: You can donate an OLPC for a child in need. They’re $200 each (of course, you can donate more than one).

Philanthropist Geeks: You can donate an XO for a child in need, and get an XO for yourself with the “Give 1 Get 1″ program. $399 pays for both laptops (yes, it is a tax write-off). This is a limited time program starting on November 12th.

I’m anticipating some great XO stories next year and sincerely hoping the domestic “look what I did with my XO” stories are the exception, not the rule.

Learn More:

One Laptop per Child
Give 1 Get 1 Program

UPDATE: 8 November 2007
As noted by Dan in a comment below, the gOS is Linux. I was typing a little too rapidly when I said that the XO wasn’t running Linux. It’s been stricken above-thanks for pointing it out, Dan.

UDPATE: 27 November 2007
You haven’t missed out on this yet! Going beyond the initial 2 week Give One Get One promotion, it was announced last week that the XO will remain on sale in North America through the 31st of December.

Share This

Comments (5)