Educational single board computer

Introduction

An single board computer (SBC) is “is a complete computer built on a single circuit board, with microprocessor(s), memory, input/output (I/O) and other features required of a functional computer. Single-board computers were made as demonstration or development systems, for educational systems, or for use as embedded computer controllers. Many types of home computer or portable computer integrated all their functions onto a single printed circuit board.” (Wikipedia, March 19, 2015).

Educational single board computers are not different from others, but target education in one way or another. Various small SBCs, such as the Raspberry PI specifically target education: “The Raspberry Pi is a series of credit card-sized single-board computers developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with the intention of promoting the teaching of basic bbcomputer science in schools.”

Today, most SBCs are very small, i.e. about the size of a credit card. Connectors allowto connect the machine to a screen and a keyboard. SBC's cost as little as US$25. In the past, the Spectrum (UK), the Commodore (Amiga) and the Amstrad were popular SBCs. However, they were much bigger (built underneath a keyboard) and more expensive.

Hardware and software

The (probably) first computer of this class was the Raspberry Pi and it was launched in February 2012. By 2015 it sold about 5 million units. As of 2015, small educational SBCs can replace personal computers and most can run a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Android and Windows.

Some hardware

It is difficult to tell what category of computers could actually fit into "educational single board computer". Price and size are certainly factors. I.e. some more expensive devices like cellphones or USB stick size ones do not fit as of 2015.

See also Wikipedia's various articles, e.g.

• Comparison of single board computers
• Small form factor (see ultra-compact form factor)
• PC-on-a-stick

Raspberry PI 2

Processor: Cortex-A7 ARM @ 900MHz

OS: Windows 10

Cost: $35

Optional Modules: PI Camera

Cubie Board

official site

1G ARM processor, 512MB/1GB RAM

Ethernet, 2 USB, 1 Micro SD slot, 1 SATA slot

Links

Raspberry PI

• MagPi, the the official Raspberry Pi magazine.
• Raspberry Pi Foundation