Peripherals

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Also see Product News for product availability.

This is a space for presenting XO peripheral ideas in a concise manner for review by the OLPC core team. Feel free to expand the description of your idea on a linked page but please keep to the formatting on this page.

Alternatively you may talk to me here, but do check my userpage for other ways to contact me.

We now have a mailing list: peripherals@lists.laptop.org


Power

Below is a list of power product concepts for the XO. Please refer to Battery and power for an extensive discussion about many power related options.

Power diagram illustrating problems to be solved

Hand Crank

Desk fixable hand crank power generation device capable of generating 5-8W.

YoYo

A Pull-Cord Generator achieving 20W peak average power. Simply hold the PCG in the palm of one hand, pull the cord with the other hand, and generate instant energy.

Solar Panel

XO Solar (May 2008?) Yamaplos 20:23, 19 April 2008 (EDT)

A 14V 5W 400mm x 280mm flexible solar panel.

Solar Blanket

A 50W 1.65m x 0.45m foldable solar blanket

Freeplay Weza (Foot Pedal)

A foot pedal power generation device capable of generating 40 Watts.

Wind Tower

An array of wind powered alternatives which show hope of generating power.

WindBelt

A technology capable of generating energy from aeroelastic flutter by using a taut, vibrating membrane, coupled with a no-contact, direct-drive electrical generator.

Bicycle Cassette

A bicycle attachment to generate power for the gang charger

Multi Battery Charger

A multi battery charging station to enable wire free use of XOs throughout the day.

XOctoPlug & CentiPower

8 in one anti-electrocution and tangle-free XO power supply to be used in the classroom to improve safety, convenience and battery life.

Modular Power

An electrical generation solution with customisable gearing and electronics that can be used with different locally designed and built mechanical systems.

Energy Storage

Electrical Energy is often unreliable or unavailable in many developing countries. This makes storage of energy when it is available very important. New environmentally friendly, efficient and safe methods need to be developed.

School Server UPS

A UPS designed to work with the school server with 12V and mains inputs, and capable of a 30W output for 24hours at 12V, therefore 720Wh of battery capacity.

Body Fluid Power

Electric power using liquid as a catalyst can be produced with a special mixture of magnesium and carbon. Could liquids including beer, apple juice, cola, saliva and of course urine be used to run the XO?

Zinc-Air Fuel Cells

Zinc-air fuel cells work by extracting oxygen from the atmosphere which reacts with zinc metal fuel and produces electricity. With Zinc being one of the most abundant elements on Earth this could be a great solution for the laptops.

Connectivity

This is an area to describe connectivity related peripherals

Power diagram illustrating problems to be solved

Active Antenna

A device to extend the wireless mesh range of the XO. This is an external USB wireless unit with superior aerial design. It can also work independently of the XO when supplied power.

Solar Repeater

A standalone unit which increases the range of the wireless mesh powered by solar energy.

Optical Data Link

This $100 device has 1.4km range and has a stable 10Mbps full duplex data rate. Ronja is an optoelectronic device you can mount on your house and connect your PC, home or office network with other networks

Satellite Broadcasting

One-way delivery of digital information via satellite

xMax Communication

Capable of extending the range and reducing the transmit power compared to conventional approaches, including cellular technologies and fixed wireless approaches such as WiMAX.

WiMAX Communication

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways.

Wireless Modem

A plug in device that connects the XO to the internet in locations where a wireless access point is not available. This could be achieve by using an existing mobile phone and data cable, or by developing an extremely low cost mobile phone/modem for the XO.

USB Ethernet Adaptors

A USB Ethernet adaptor enabling reliable wired connection of the XO.

AM/FM Radio Transmitter

A low power school/community based radio transition service broadcasting recorded audio blogs of various content posted by XO users.

AM/FM Radio Receiver

A plug in AM/FM radio receiver (MIC IN or USB) would enable children/families in remote areas to continue to receive information from services such as BBC world service when outside of mesh range.

Storage

USB Journal

To enable multiple users on the XO it would be helpful to have a USB key that plugged into the XO which stored all personal data (specifically the Journal). Make the USB dongle a bright XO green to avoid loss. Will also attract kids to journal. Possibly add a LCD to view files on dongle when not plugged into XO or server.

Sensors & Measurement

Sensors for MicIn

A variety of sensors that can plug into the MicIn port on the XO. These sensors can also be used with the MicIn Amplifier USB Amplifier to enhance their sample rate and usable range.

USB ADC

With a range of sensors being created for the MicIn port this USB device would give enhanced sample rate and voltage range enabling higher measurement accuracy.

USB/MicIn Scale

A hard wearing scale that can sit on a desk, hang from a tree or be used to plot force/time graphs on the XO screen.

USB Oscilloscope

A dedicated USB oscilloscope probe for advanced users.

TeleHealth Module

A collection of essential medical diagnostic and treatment tools.

Science Kit

A kit of parts designed to aid the teaching of basic scientific principles. Including magnets, light sources, prisms, conductors, isolators and various circuit components.

USB GPS Receiver

A low cost GPS chip with antenna oriented with the OLPC's design in mind. Perhaps adjustable for use in OLPC's open or closed configuration. For geographical projects and OpenStreetMap contribution.

Input Devices

MIDI Instruments

Complementary to the music software packages on the XO a collection of MIDI instruments could expand both the interest and usability of the programs.

External Tablet

A large external touch, drawing and writing pad enabling easier drawing and mathematical formula input.

Touch Screen Overlay

A screen attachable touch sensitive layer enabling data input through the XO screen when in tablet configuration.

Game Controller

As more software is developed for the XO a dedicated games controller may become desirable by some users.

Child Friendly Mouse

A specially designed child friendly mouse which solves dexterity issues some young children face when interacting with touch pads or standard mice.

Scanner

A USB scanner which can be rolled over different mediums and surfaces to acquire the image. See similar consumer model. Possibly wireless charging. Bright XO green to attract kids.

Camera Accessories

A selection of lenses and mirrors which can transform the XO camera into a microscope, telescope and a periscope.

Mini Camera

The XO camera is becoming one of the most used functions of the XO. Possibly a separate slim line camera would be a great addition to the package.

Magic Wand

A pointing instrument that can sense hand movements giving the user the able to control musical tempo and pitch in TamTam, allow painting, drawing or writing characters in air, or facilitate game play.

Output Devices

Printer

Possibly a standard printer which uses paper, but alternatively a printer which can print onto locally available medium. Or possibly a etch-a-sketch/Magna Doodle surface for continuous reuse.

Network Hub

A USB hub that connects wirelessly to the XO mesh network enabling the use of network printers and other devices.

Projector

A wireless projector powered by 2 XO batteries with a 2 hour run time costing $100. Or an add on kit for the XO screen.

USB to VGA / Video

An adapter which can be plugged into the XOs USB port and connect to a projector, display screen or television set.

Classroom Video Receiver

A wireless module that connects to numerous display technologies enabling classroom presentations using the XO.

Speakers

Children have started to use the laptops as musical instruments and want them to be louder.

Miscellaneous Peripherals

This section should be used to describe peripherals that don't fit into any other categories or are unlikely to be appropriate for OLPC for some time.

Bug Labs

Bugs is an innovative new hardware and software platform enabling users to create unique and personalised hardware running customised software to do, well, anything you want.

Protective Case

An entirely water proof protective case for the XO capable of protecting it from even the most severe environmental conditions.

School Server

The school server extends the storage and computation provided by each the XO laptop, as well as providing a local library and a mesh portal to the Internet.

VSAT Van

A two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna mounted onto a van incorporating wireless mesh access points. This could allow extremely rural areas to have periodic internet access at a low cost.

Robots

The idea is to connect simple and small robots to the XO. The little robots could be made from recyclable materials, and should be connected to an activity to manage them.

Manufacturing tools

  • We should design a low-cost, easy to manufacture NC (Numerical Control) tool system. It would consist of a multi-axis robot arm with replaceable inserts (drills, grinders, and others), controlled by NC programs on an XO. This tool could be used to make further tools of considerable complexity.
  • Minilathes aka Industrial Revolution in a Box. Not a directly connected peripheral, but useful for making them. There is a path from here to a full set of machine tools for making production equipment of many kinds, including the NC system described above, along with the full range of hand and machine tools, molds, and dies for small-scale production systems.
  • There are 3D "printers" normally used for creating prototypes. They use inkjet printer technology, but spray drops of fast-setting plastic. Molds can be made from these prototypes for casting plastic, metal, and glass products.

Peripherals People

Below is a list of collaborators working on peripherals concepts.

  • Arjun Sarwal
    • arjun(at)laptop(dot)org
    • arjs on irc
    • Wrote the Measure activity while interning for OLPC last summer
  • Joshua Seal
    • josh(at)laptop(dot)org
    • Currently managing the peripherals page and developing a number of peripherals
  • Zdenek Broz
    • dicts(at)centrum(dot)cz
    • Has group of developers at Brno University of Technology(Czech Republic) working on a USB microcontroller/ADC platform
  • Honza(Jan) Kovar
    • Is lead developer and programmer at Brno University of Technology(Czech Republic)
    • Working on a USB microcontroller/ADC platform based on the SilLabs C8051F321 chip
  • Ian Daniher
    • it.daniher(at)gmail(dot)com
    • Currently focusing on the TeleHealth Module
    • DyDisMe on irc.freenode.net
  • Bernardo Innocenti
    • _bernie or _bernie|home on irc.freenode.net
    • Has experience programming Atmel Chips(ARM/AVR), Motorola, Intel, PPC, Texas Instruments...
  • Rafael Ortiz
    • dirakx or dirak1 on irc.freenode.net
    • wrote most of EKG page
    • has a prototype for the EKG.
    • Interested on developing hardware and software related to peripherals.
  • Mary Lou Jepsen
    • mlj at laptop dot org
    • is working on video microscope, periscope, solar, $100 projector and other things
  • Rowen Remis R. Iral
    • User:Wenmi01 wenmi on irc.freenode.net
    • OLPCPH Project management
  • Steven Burns
    • steveb1492(at)gmail(dot)com
    • TeleHealth Module-Health Library
  • Aaron Kaplan
    • aaron(at)lo-res.org irc: aroscha
    • working on another mesh range extender
  • Duane King
    • dking([at])pimpsoft.com
    • User:Dking
    • Embedded/Security SDET Interested in Power Generation and Blind Accessibility for the OLPC XO.
  • Matt York
    • myork at OMPT.org
    • Working at "One Media Player per Teacher" (www.ompt.org) is researching and testing external speakers and battery charging solutions
  • Mel Chua
    • irc:mchua
    • electrical engineer w/ embedded & USB experience; accessibility peripherals (primarily auditory - Mel is hearing impaired). Beginning to assist Ian with TeleHealth Module, working at full-time OLPC Chicago office this summer which will be doing peripheral development (likely a bicycle charger, among others), documentation.
  • Jono Nevile
    • Biomedical Engineer keen to work on TeleHealth Module
  • Your Name Here
    • email or irc alias
    • skill set or such

See also

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