The Raspberry Pi Foundation has set out to create the most affordable computer for everyone, the Rasberry Pi for just €6. The Foundation is planning to create a computer that everyone can use and are aiming to provide new opportunities through it. Furthermore, the Foundation undertakes educational programs such as CoderDojo and Code Club. Children will have an introduction with the world of coding using the latest technology.
“The original mission of Raspberry PI was to create a device that would help young people learn programming,” Philip Colligan, the foundation’s CEO, told CNBC.
“But what we have achieved is to create a computer used in industry, by hobbyists and adults, but mostly in education, creating the next generation of programmers and fostering innovation.”
Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi computer is incredibly small and runs the free Linux operating system from an SD card. It also uses power via a USB port connected to your mobile phone. The price starts at $5.85 and can go up to $45 with a few added features. However, the computing device must be wired up to all peripheral devices and monitors, a mouse and keyboard. But once this is done it operates similarly to high-cost options you know so far.
“With this computer you can do everything you do and on the PCs you have known so far. Surf the web, send emails, watch YouTube videos. But you can also create things, i.e. learn how to program, build robots, create weather stations – the opportunities and possibilities are endless,” says Colligan.
“One of the things we wanted to achieve with Rasberry PI is to take out of the education equation the high price deterrent that is a barrier for many people from getting a high-powered, high-quality computer.” “Rasberry PI is expected to transform education, which is, after all, the main goal of the foundation,” adds the CEO. The foundation initially depends on donations and organizes educational workshops and seminars.
Other educational initiatives
The foundation also undertakes other educational initiatives such as the CoderDojo seminar for young people aged 7-17. Children learn to code and make apps using technology. There are now over 1,400 CoderDojos in 75 countries. Raspberry Pi says that 40,000* people have participated in these programs.
“We have created two code learning programs one for after school and the other for the weekend – Code Club and CoderDojo respectively. In total, we have about 13,000 people from around the world who employ about 200,000 kids a week.
“Such initiatives tap into the potential of young people and often with impressive results,” concludes Colligan. “Last year at our big exhibition in Dublin I met a young girl from Romania who had built a robot whose movement was mentally controlled by its owner, all using a Raspberry Pi.”
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Author: PC-GR
The World of Technology
