A business card that runs Linux
Summary
George Hilliard develops an inexpensive business card board that boots Linux and offers a shell, storage and personal information via USB. The card boots a Linux kernel. It appears over USB as a flash drive and a serial interface.
Ideas
- An Allwinner F1C100s cheaply integrates processor and RAM.
- USB powers the card and provides several device classes.
- A small SPI flash stores the boot loader, kernel and root file system.
- Castellated edges allow handy contact surfaces without a connector.
Insights
- Unusual form factors force software and hardware into consistent simplicity.
- Mass-produced parts make personal devices possible at surprisingly low cost.
- A good DIY project combines usefulness with a technical idea that makes a good story.
Facts
- The estimated cost of parts was less than three US dollars.
Recommendations
- Disable unnecessary kernel modules for small flash images.
- Test power consumption and USB behaviour on several hosts.
References
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