Project 1: Getting Started: What is a Computer?
Description
Introduction to computers – including the concepts of
Materials
RaspberrySTEM™ Base and Raspberry Pi
Screwdriver
Old discarded electronics
Prerequisites
None
What is a computer?
Electronic machine good (fast and reliable) at doing arithmetic
Runs programs - sequence of steps
Essential parts of a computer (with analogy to people)
Processor – Brain's Processing capability
Memory – Brain's memory
Input/Output (I/O) –
Inputs: 5 base senses & more
Outputs: movement, speech
How fast is a computer? How long would it take you to count to 10 billion:
Estimate how long it would take to count to 10 billion, counting 10 hours a day
Compute time to count to 10 billion: (10 billion / Count) / 60 / 10 / 365 = years
Comparison: Desktop PC takes ~ 1 second (assumes multiple cores running at several GHz).
Different types of computers
PCs (Macs, Windows, etc), both desktops and laptops
Embedded computers: processors embedded within other devices that have a dedicated function.
How are they made
Processors are a kind of Integrated Circuit (IC) (chip)
Combined with memory ICs, other ICs, and discrete components
Soldered onto a PCB that connects the components
Comparing the numbers:
Mac: ~ 100 million
Windows PC: ~ 1 billion
Embedded: ~ 100 billion
Sources:
“Gartner Says More than 1 Billion PCs In Use Worldwide and Headed to 2 Billion Units by 2014” (http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/703807)
Apple at 10.6% U.S. market share in 2Q14 (http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2793921)
In 2013, embedded processors shipped ~ 20 billion, compared to ~ 300 million PCs:
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/components/arm-to-take-68-of-embedded-processor-market-2013-02/
http://ir.arm.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=197211&p=irol-reportsannual
http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2647517
Discuss how many Mac & PCs you have at home. How many other devices at home have embedded microprocessors?
Q: What is the Raspberry Pi? A: Single Board Computer, Low Cost, Runs Linux OS
Identify: Processor, Memory, I/Os
Memory chip is on top of the processor in the center of the board
I/Os
What is the RaspberrySTEM™?
Assemble the RaspberrySTEM™
Take care handling your electronics
Assemble RaspberrySTEM™ Base bottom and sides with nuts & bolts
Attach the Raspberry Pi to the RaspberrySTEM™ Base with nuts & bolts and acrylic bushings
Assemble the RaspberrySTEM™ CREATOR Lid including breadboards, Lid Connector, and speaker
What is the RaspberrySTEM™ IDE?
Integrated Development Environment
Editor for writing your programs
Run and see the output of your programs
Documentation and Projects
Boot the RaspberrySTEM™
Plug in all cables (monitor, keyboard, mouse, power) and SD card
Boot to RaspberrySTEM™ IDE, run first one-liner program:
print('hello')