Raspberry Pi
An Introduction
Eric Andresen
SSAB Infrastructure & Engineering Manager
December 2012
Introduction
• The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized
computer that plugs into your TV and a
keyboard, which can be used for many
of the things that your average desktop
does - spreadsheets, word-processing,
games and it also plays high-definition
video.
• The Raspberry Pi charitable foundation
wants to see the device being used by
kids all over the world to learn
programming and electronics.
Background
• 6+ years
• Pi Foundation
• Cambridge University
• Programmers
• Education
• Industry support
Why
What made computers accessible and fun
What are the barriers that exist today
Computing in Schools
The Raspberry Pi charitable foundation is working with
partners to get software materials developed, as
well as with the open source community.
The foundation is also working with partners to use it as
a teaching platform for other subjects, including design,
art, languages and maths.
USP ?
• Model A - $ 25
• Model B - $ 35
• Why so cheap ?
• SoC - System on a chip, a computer on a
single low voltage chip
• Linux OS
A Naked Pi
What can it do
Media Streamer, print server, network
attached storage/file server, Lego Robots,
iPhone activated Garage Door Opener,Car
Computer, Solar Powered Wireless Widgets,
General Purpose Productivity PC,
Environmental monitor, Photo Frame,
Quake III Gaming appliance, Apple ]
[ Emulation, Arcade Emulation, dedicated
RDP/VNC/Thin client, Pi in SPACE. …You
decide
Operating System
• Linux on a bootable SD card
• Fedora
• Debian
• ArchLinux
Other pre-rolled projects exist like XMBC Media Center
Programming
• By default, supporting Python as
the educational language.
• Any language which will compile
for ARMv6 can be used with the
Raspberry Pi, though; so you’re not
limited to using Python.
• For primary age SCRATCH game
maker is bundled
Scratch
scratch is free from MIT .. thanks MIT !
Scratch
Your own pocket
laboratory
Tinkering
• GPIO pins if you’re after an
interesting electronics project.
• Gertboard - A GPIO expansion board from
the foundation for electronics projects
• USB Devices / Ethernet / Hubs / AV out
• Can be powered by 4 x AA batteries ...
Examples
What will you do with
Raspberry Pi?
Questions