The Intel Edison development board is a game changer for inventors, entrepreneurs and those working hard to get a product to market. Delivering a significantly smaller die size with reduced power needs, the Intel Edison development board empowers the next generation of small devices including wearables, robotics and IoT all on a module the size of a stamp.
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Intel Edison is a product-ready, general purpose compute platform and during an Intel event in NYC recently, I had the opportunity to check out a variety of maker programs that help to inspire creativity, enthusiasm for learning and invention with Intel Galileo platform technology among makers and students. Today’s “maker community” is made up of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, including art, design, performance, music, engineering and technology. From DIY and crafting to programming and prototyping, members of the maker community run the gamut. There were “makers” young and old at the event showing off the latest and greatest of inventions from the Smart Construction Helmet to the Braigo “Braille” Printer and Embosser. But my favorite? Of course it was Jimmy the Robot.
Jimmy is a humanoid robot based on Intel CoreTM i5 technology that walks, talks, makes hand gestures, uses social media channels and more. It is part of the 21st Century Robot Project that provides a forum for makers worldwide to collaborate and build affordable, personalized robots using open-source design files and available apps. Jimmy helps encourage people to think differently about what a computational device could look like in the future and to spark the imagination of inventors of any age to reimagine the ways in which people can design, create, enjoy and use new digital technologies.
Powered by Intel, these types of new computing models, like robotics may become mainstream consumer electronic devices that could act as social companions, organizers, educators and more. Imagine a robot that acts as a caretaker to senior citizens to remind them to take their medicine or is used in the classroom to augment the teacher to provide more individualized attention to students. Combined with the growing maker culture, technologies such as Intel Galileo, Intel Edison, 3-D printing and open-source app development are making it easier for individuals to create inventions such as Jimmy. It is feasible that within the next five years people may be able to build affordable custom robots based on Intel technology for less than $1,000.
