[Gumstix-users] New member, New ideas

[Keith O. <kso...@gm...>]

Greetings.  My name is Keith Olson, and, while I am not /currently/ 
developing anything, Don Anderson suggested that I join this list and 
post the ideas that I sent him.  I hope that they are a help to you.  If 
you want any further clarification, or want some input on /your/ 
project, let me know.

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Don Anderson wrote:

>> I am writing to suggest a new product - an A/Vstix (i.e. Audiostix + 
>> port for separate VGA/RF/composite/SVideo/DVI/LCD/etc. controller 
>> board) ..... available. This would allow the easy creation of tiny 
>> /complete/ computers that can use pretty much any kind of display 
>> device you need.
>>
>> Keith Olson
>> K-Soft Consulting
>>   
>
>
> Hi Keith
>
> Good suggestion. Is this something that you are interested in for your 
> own work/company, or just an observation.
>
Thank you.  I was actually thinking about a few specific purposes:

1)  A 'Bluetooth A/V(LCD) pack' + LCD display would make the basis for 
an auto-syncing 'carputer'.(http://www.dashwerks.com/)  (This is 
something I am working on for my brother)
2)  An 'Etherstix A/V(DVI) pack' + LCD monitor would make for a perfect 
LTSP (http://k12ltsp.org/contents.html) terminal.  (This is something I 
am working on for my local schoolboard)
3)  A 'Cfstix A/V(Comp (or RF)) pack' + 
HotRod(http://www.hanaho.com/products/HotRodJoystick/overview.html) 
would make for a perfect MAME2Go. (This is something I am working on for 
me <G>)
4)  Combine with an HMD like 
http://www.microopticalcorp.com/Products/HomePage.html  or 
http://www.icuiti.com/work.html and you have now have a wearable computer.
5)  They could be used to intelligently drive remote displays, with 
/thousands/ of applications in industry, medicine, etc.

The possibilities are endless!  The only hitch is horsepower; as even 
the 400 doesn't have enough to run many applications.  However, the 
cluster at gumstix.org gave me a /great/ idea as to how to get around 
that problem:  Create an software-transparent, auto-clustering, 
/stackable/ CPU module.  (It strikes me that, for optimal flexibility, 
stackable RAM modules would be a good idea, as well - after all, the 
more horsepower you need, the more RAM you will probably need.)  The 
main board contains the first CPU and RAM, with any additional plugging 
in on top of it.  (By offering extenders for the waysmall cases, you can 
easily make them as tall as needed.)  Now anyone can /easily/ build a 
computer with as much power and memory as needed.  And if down the road 
they need to upgrade, they can do it quickly and easily /without/ having 
to alter their software.  (And yes, when I say 'easily', I am referring 
to end-users.  I have a good idea just how much of a nightmare designing 
the actual hardware will be.  Better you than me. <SHUDDER>)

By including 'gumstax' in your product line, you would be eliminating 
the last hurdle to total global domination! (Okay, maybe that's going a 
bit too far, but.....)

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Just in case you didn't catch this before, I think that this would be a 
/perfect/ match for your 'stix.
Western Digital 6 GB 1 inch Hard Drive:
     http://www.motherdigital.info/archives/2005/01/western_digital.html

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http://www.mindspring.com/~rrelect/  (Specifically, the EPICUSB, or, 
working together, EPICstix)

I think that both you and R&R could benefit from a collaboration - an 
EPICstix would make a perfect compliment to your robostix, and the 
gumstix/waysmall would allow R&R to expand their controller line with 
intelligent controllers.

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It occurred to me that if you made a stackable 'PCMCIAstix', you could 
add almost /anything/, from a hard drive (like 
http://www.bixnet.com/5gbpcmcihard.html) to a VGA adaptor (like 
http://sewelldirect.com/vtbookpcmciacard.asp).  It would also mean 
/much/ easier interface programming, as it has been a standard for 15 
years, and every version of Linux already comes with drivers for it.  
You can check it our at http://www.pcmcia.org - the FAQ alone lists 
/dozens/ of different types of devices.

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-- 
Keith Olson
K-Soft Consulting


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