Talk:ILXO

see http://wiki.laptop.org/go/User:Andreatl/summernotes

research projects

Off-grid power peripherals (Chris Carrick)

This project explores different possibilities for off-the-grid power charging peripherals for the XO. This includes evaluating the performance, lifecycle, human factors issues and feasibility of existing power options for the XO and expanding this list to include other existing peripherals. Chris is also working on the development of new power generating peripherals, particularly focusing on using appropriate technologies to allow users to develop simple power generating systems from scratch with minimal need for imported components. Results from this summer will be compiled into a “power generation” guide to help both XO users and developers learn from these findings and continue to help develop new power systems for the XO or for other applications.

Signal processing on the XO (Nikki Lee)

It should be possible to allow children to do fairly sophisticated signal processing work on the XO by using the camera and microphone as primary inputs and doing image and audio processing. As a first step, Nikki will work on edge detection and edge tracing in order to develop motion detection using the camera. Motion detection can be integrated with a number of existing Activities. Additional signal processing work might include audio processing, such as developing filters for microphone input. Such filters could potentially work in conjunction with introductory circuits educational content in demonstrating high-pass and low-pass filters. Emphasis will be placed on making the interfaces to the signal processing tools adapted/produced as transparent as possible so that children will be able to manipulate them.

Science Lab In A Box (Andrea Lai)

Andrea is designing a science "kit" for use with the XO that includes curriculum designs for various experiments and topics along with software and hardware/sensors to support these. She will be focusing on physics (mechanics, E&M) as well as an introduction to RC circuits and working with local students and teachers to design and field-test experimental apparati, as well as exploring new uses of current Activities (with particular emphasis on Measure).

Green machine: The environmental impact of XOs (Mia Kato)

Language learning through RPGs (Melanie Kim)

Accessibility (Mel Chua)

office space

I'm meeting with Christine Volpe today, the downtown realtor contact, at 2008/05/15 2:30pm cst. User:Shekay

dumping chat for refactoring later

(11:22:37 AM) smiguez@10.222.10.40/Home: I think downtown office space is a bad idea. It is probably going to be too
espensive. we should probably check out places along various metra places
(11:22:38 AM) Lisa Beal: For such a short-term lease, you might sublet
(11:22:59 AM) smiguez@10.222.10.40/Home: I think the Ravenswood stop, for example, might be good due to nearness
to both a metra stop and an el stop
(11:23:06 AM) Lisa Beal: you might be more central and less $$
(11:23:46 AM) Lisa Beal: I seem to remember seeing a map of office space cost vs. zip code someplace online ... worth a look
(11:23:48 AM) smiguez@10.222.10.40/Home: check the talk section of that page if you want to add more dcomments
(11:23:59 AM) smiguez@10.222.10.40/Home: I'll google that. I'll just talk to the person today without making any
 committments
(11:24:12 AM) Lisa Beal: a 3-month (June 1-August 31) rental will be tough

Is this the Chicago summer project?

Mel, is this what you were talking about back around March? If so, count me in. Contact me, info on my user page, or through my talk.

Rmyers 18:03, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Budget draft

A total strawman. Don't hold me to this in any way.

• Boston expenses - $3040
  • Housing, training period - $600/wk x 4 weeks = $2400
  • Food, training period - $100/wk x 4 weeks = $400
  • T passes, $15/week x 4 weeks x 4 people = $240
• Office rent + utilities, 2-3 months - $2500
• Mobile office - $900
  • 20 XOs - $0, developers program (hopefully. will return at end of summer.)
  • School server - $700 for hardware (small form factor) + active antenna
  • Storage bins and padding for all of the above - $100
  • Lots of USB flash drives - $100 (~10 1-gig cheap ones)
• Travel for staffers to/from Chicago - $1200
  • 4 people at ~$300/person (either driving = gas + hotel + food, or flying) = $1200
• Research budget - $5200
  • Chris - mechanical fabrication, needs lots of stock materials, basic tool access. $1500
  • Nikki - image processing, mostly with computers, maybe needs some books. $500
  • Andrea - school kit prototyping, needs sensors, communications equipment, etc. $1200
  • Mia - environmental impact studies, needs books, sensors - $500
  • Melanie - language-learning RPG - needs books, other game-type resources - $500
  • Mel - accessibility, needs electronics prototyping equipment, books, etc - $1000
• Travel within Illinois - $2520
  • Daily commuting - say 40 miles/day driving, IRS estimates cost-per-mile at 50 cents per mile, this is $20/day for ~60 days = $120
  • Teaching classes/bootcamps/workshops outside the metro area w/ mobile office - say avg. is a 400 mile roundtrip (chicago-springfield) and we take 6 such trips - need 2 cars to fit everyone. 400 * 2 * 6 * 0.50 = $2400
• Swag - $1700
  • Shirts - 200 shirts for volunteer thank-yous, at ~$6 each = $600 (could recoup by charging for shirts at-cost)
  • Screwdrivers - 200 XO-repair sized screenprinted screwdrivers for workshop participants and general "take things apart" distribution - $500. Also could recoup by charging for these at-cost.