Happy birthday Raspberry Pi
It is now a year since Raspberry Pi, the low-cost, basic computer that runs entirely on open source software, was launched. The very low-cost basic computer is contained on a single circuit board and has HDMI, USB 2.0, composite video, analog audio, power, internet, SD card ports.
The group behind the computer’s development - the Raspberry Pi Foundation - started the project to make computing fun for students, while also creating interest in how computers work at a basic level. Unlike using an encased computer from a manufacturer, the Raspberry Pi shows the essential guts behind the plastic. Even the software, by virtue of being open source, offers an opportunity for students to explore the underlying code - if they wish.
The Raspberry Pi is believed to be an ideal learning tool in that it is cheap to make, easy to replace and needs only a keyboard and a TV to run. These same strengths also make it an ideal product to jumpstart computing in the developing world.
The success of the Raspberry Pi and the related accessories has been phenomenal. When the Model B board launched in 2012, there were 500,000 hits on the element14 website every 15 minutes with 600 orders, pre-orders or hits on the site every second. These stats and others relating to the ‘Life of a Raspberry Pi’ can be seen below.
As the phenomenon that is Raspberry Pi celebrates its first birthday, its distributor, element14, is launching ‘Raspberry Pi Month’ with a series of initiatives to celebrate the outstanding success of the microcomputer.
As part of Raspberry Pi month, element14 will also be asking people to vote for their favourite project using the microcomputer and accessories. ‘MyPi’ will highlight 10 of the top projects that will be promoted via the community and members will be asked to discuss and select their favourite as well as put forward their own outstanding projects.
Throughout March, various road tests of the PiFace and Gertboard will be taking place on the element14 Community and for those new to the accessories a PiFace and Gertboard webinar will take place on 20 March.
With over 9 million views of the Raspberry Pi group on the element14 Community, the success of the microcomputer is clear for everyone to see. To join the conversation, go to www.element14.com/raspberrypi.
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