tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post5536174155945257199..comments2024-01-31T09:56:55.642+00:00Comments on One Week Wonder: The FIGnition/Raspberry PI Challenge!Snialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18339375292327879363noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-29173712193471496042012-05-08T11:50:52.277+01:002012-05-08T11:50:52.277+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ken Boakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01168707285621954181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-67425799538924274992012-05-02T19:02:59.113+01:002012-05-02T19:02:59.113+01:00@gareth halfacree
I don't think I am missing...@gareth halfacree <br /><br />I don't think I am missing the point, I wanted to build and programme an 8 bit computer, if I wanted to just programme an 8 bit computer I would get an 8 bit computer and programme it.<br /><br />So the 'DuinoMite' and its virtues will pass me by, I don't feel it teaches anyone anything new, it sounds like its emulating an 8 bit rather than actually being an 8 bit, a subtle difference, but the difference none the less. <br /><br />Of course if you want to emulate an 8 bit and programme BASIC, then you can use the many PCs that are in schools and download 256 Basic for them, its free.<br /><br />I will continue to use my PC for all the wonderful stuff that the FIGnition cant carry off.<br /><br />I shall take delivery of my Pi soon and turn it into an emulator of popular 8 bit systems,this is probably akin to having a Dictionary just to look up rude words.Carl_retrotexthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700262717662813191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-28483269696771766292012-05-02T18:56:06.310+01:002012-05-02T18:56:06.310+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Carl_retrotexthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700262717662813191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-60967287908247619012012-05-02T09:30:57.706+01:002012-05-02T09:30:57.706+01:00The Raspberry Pi is not a treat, people who "...The Raspberry Pi is not a treat, people who "Know" about computing will see that as a tool for kids to learn to program its no better than your current methods and when you add the robustness issues, in the hands of teenagers to the equation, a lot worst.<br /><br />What the Pi has done is raise the awareness of this kind of tech in schools, brought it to the attention of the person who knows nothing about computers but who is looking for a solution so they can teach the 2013 GCSE in Computing (first sitting of the exam).<br /><br />Ive had several conversations with heads of IT in schools recently, all have admitted they don't have the staff in the school system to teach Computing in schools and they are actively looking to outsource the teaching element of computing to private companies as those still within the school system that can do it are due to retire within a decade, which is not long enough to get current software engineers to get passionate about teaching to teenagers.<br /><br />To see FIG's in every school that will support Computing you need lesson plans that address the needs of the teachers and the curriculum they are set to teach.<br /><br />That is a huge job but also so very exciting, anyone up for that challange?Dorine Flieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03520489135152294988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-47613404073674628782012-05-02T09:25:34.295+01:002012-05-02T09:25:34.295+01:00The Raspberry Pi is not a treat, people who "...The Raspberry Pi is not a treat, people who "Know" about computing will see that as a tool for kids to learn to program its no better than your current methods and when you add the robustness issues, in the hands of teenagers to the equation, a lot worst.<br /><br />What the Pi has done is raise the awareness of this kind of tech in schools, brought it to the attention of the person who knows nothing about computers but who is looking for a solution so they can teach the 2013 GCSE in Computing (first sitting of the exam).<br /><br />Ive had several conversations with heads of IT in schools recently, all have admitted they don't have the staff in the school system to teach Computing in schools and they are actively looking to outsource the teaching element of computing to private companies as those still within the school system that can do it are due to retire within a decade, which is not long enough to get current software engineers to get passionate about teaching to teenagers.<br /><br />To see FIG's in every school that will support Computing you need lesson plans that address the needs of the teachers and the curriculum they are set to teach.<br /><br />That is a huge job but also so very exciting, anyone up for that challange?Dorine Flieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03520489135152294988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-27034931412420871872012-05-02T08:46:07.455+01:002012-05-02T08:46:07.455+01:00@carl_retrotext
I think you're missing the poi...@carl_retrotext<br />I think you're missing the point: ignoring the things the DuinoMite does that a Spectrum doesn't do (VGA output, runs through 30,000 lines of code a second, 22 GPIO pins, UART serial, CAN-BUS connectivity, proper audio output, can run from a battery, PC connectivity, micro-SD storage) a second-hand Spectrum is about as much use to an educational establishment as a chocolate teapot.<br /><br />I used to work in education, and at the last school I sysadmined for there were four IT suites packed with 30 machines each for a total of 120 PCs - not counting the machines in the library, the sixth form block, or in other subject's classrooms.<br /><br />So, if that school wanted a dedicated device to teach programming on, it would be looking to buy at least 120 such machines.<br /><br />Currently, there's somewhere in the region of a dozen Spectrums of various types available for purchase on eBay - not all of which work, and not all of which will continue to work for much longer given their age. The aforementioned school couldn't buy 120 Spectrums even if it wanted to!Gareth Halfacreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12890577821821129845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-16263871750998491422012-05-01T15:10:53.404+01:002012-05-01T15:10:53.404+01:00The Points you raise in the blog are very well put...The Points you raise in the blog are very well put and I feel they fit in with the expectation I will have of Both systems ( compliance dependant).<br /><br /><br />DuinoMite seems to miss the point, sure the sales argument in the comment above is a good one, but If that were the only option available to me last year, I would have just bought a Spectrum on Ebay at the same price.Carl_retrotexthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700262717662813191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5362250429212141599.post-82354548911779766512012-05-01T14:12:34.741+01:002012-05-01T14:12:34.741+01:00I would argue that the DuinoMite from Olimex repre...I would argue that the <a href="http://www.DuinoMite.com/" rel="nofollow">DuinoMite</a> from Olimex represents a clearer threat to the Fignition than does the Raspberry Pi. As you point out, the Pi is inherently complex: it's a modern computer system, miles ahead anything the 80s had to offer in complexity and capability. That's both good and bad, for the reasons you've outlined above.<br /><br />The DuinoMite, by contrast, is something closer to the Fignition's goals: it's cheap, small, and provides an eighties-style programming environment (BASIC, by default, although this can be swapped out for other firmwares or the PIC at the DuinoMite's heart programmed directly.)<br /><br />The Fignition has a number of advantages over the DuinoMite: it's marginally cheaper, you actually get to assemble it yourself, and it doesn't require an input device - just a display.<br /><br />The DuinoMite has a number of advantages over the Fignition, however: it has scads of GPIO and is compatible with Arduino shields, its BASIC language is infinitely more approachable for beginners than is Forth, and it has a PS2 port for significantly easier typing. It even has a microSD slot, making getting software on there from a PC incredibly easy.<br /><br />I agree that the Fignition is a more sensible choice for teaching children programming than the Pi - unless you factor in the *other* things that the Pi can do like run general-purpose software and any programming language you like, which come 'free' for the purchase price - but I'd argue that the DuinoMite is even more suitable than is the Fig.<br /><br />Which isn't to say I don't enjoy playing on my Fignition, naturally!Gareth Halfacreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12890577821821129845noreply@blogger.com