Simplified Economical Computer System(SECS) Yigremachew Eshetu

Simplified and Economical Computer System (SECS)

Society of Black Engineers

BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY Institute of Technology

By: Adissu Damena Yigremachew Eshetu Advisors: Instructor Worku Kelemework Instructor Lisanu Tebekew November ,1, 2014 1

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Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1.

Problem statement ................................................................................................................... 4

2.

Goal of the project .................................................................................................................. 4

3.

Target of the product ............................................................................................................... 4

4.

Technical information ............................................................................................................. 4 4.1.

5.

6.

Need assessment ............................................................................................................... 4

4.1.1.

Agricultural information: .......................................................................................... 4

4.1.2.

Market information ................................................................................................... 5

4.1.3.

Health information .................................................................................................... 5

4.1.4.

Environmental information ....................................................................................... 5

4.1.5.

Educational information............................................................................................ 5

4.1.6.

Social and political information ................................................................................ 5

4.2.

Arduino............................................................................................................................. 6

4.3.

Technical design ............................................................................................................... 7

Usability .................................................................................................................................. 8 5.1.

Setup ................................................................................................................................. 8

5.2.

Local usage ....................................................................................................................... 8

5.3.

Communication .............................................................................................................. 10

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 12

Reference ...................................................................................................................................... 13

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Abstract Information communication, in our country, has a measurable limitation. There are many people who are excluded from information network as a result of the current available technology is expensive and complex to use. The fundamental device that is on use currently for information technology is computer. But this device is above the purchasing capacity of most of our population specially the rural population. This limitation holds back many socioeconomic activities such as agriculture, marketing, education, disaster and risk reduction, political participation, health, weather news and security. Currently all these and many more activities are usually dawdling without the support of information technology. In this project we proposed a new computer system using an open-source single-board microcontroller that can be purchased and easily used by almost anyone including the rural population. The new computer is simplified in a way that it can only communicate and process text information without any multimedia and appearance enhancements. It comes without a screen so that the users can use common computer screen or even their television. This fact will make the computer extremely economical that a user that already has a television need not to buy extra screen. These computers communicate in a form of normal computer mixed with the form television communication. There will be data centers that serve to update this computers information using their local language. All data of the computer can be stored in memory card as preferred. The project goes with the motive of delivering the necessary functionality of computer without demand of any payment for even the minimum amount of luxury. Finally, when this computer is implemented it can be used by many users. Farmers can update themselves on local and national information. It can be periodic market status, new agricultural development information, learn health related tips, get alarmed for any upcoming disaster from government or visit weather condition news. Students can use it to obtain extracurricular education from their local data center. Election campaign could use it to deliver their motion for the public. Security related issues can be post for public through it.

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1. Problem statement Now days, information is the base of every activity. It is observed fact that information makes a great difference. In our country, this fact is well accepted. As a result, the government is putting effort to realize well organized and developed information communication technology. But this movement has many considerable obstacles. Out of which the main one is the expensiveness of the technology. Computers are the leading hard ware of information communication technology. Apparently this hardware is too expansive to distribute it for the population with purchasable price. Of course computer provides too much functionality and of course it deserves the current price. The core of the problem that we observe is based on the fact that computer expensive because of the functionalities they have while most of our target population need only few of this functionalities. In short currently existing computers are forcing us to pay for functionalities that we do not use or may even functionalities we do not know such as peripheral component interconnect.

2. Goal of the project This project aims to design a new computer system using an open-source single-board microcontroller that has the most essential components only so that it can be purchased and easily used by almost anyone including the rural population. Through that the population of information communication technology users will be rise up to very high scale.

3. Target of the product This project mainly targets ruler population. Since the economic level of this population is low; their functional demand is and their demand on information communicating technology is high we chose them as main target. Additionally the system can be used by anyone who desires to have a computer system with less functionality and very cheap price. It also can be used for educational purpose in schools.

4. Technical information 4.1. Need assessment The system we are developing is expecting to reach almost every house in every woreda of every city. While it has extremely low pries it still can serve to access information from many sources. Out of many possible types information that can be accessed using this system some of them which we are focused on are the following: 4.1.1. Agricultural information: Farmers or pastorals can use this system to update themselves about any topic related to agriculture. It can be new idea, tip or direction. 4

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4.1.2. Market information The ruler area of our country could make a great deal of market information, especially on agricultural products. Using the new system, one can make information based decision to maintain his\her business activity. 4.1.3. Health information As known, our government is investing a lot of effort to distribute health related information to all citizens. In this movement, this new system can play a big role in serving the information to each and every citizen as possible. 4.1.4. Environmental information In cases of new environmental impact, the system can be used by any governmental on nongovernmental organization to prepare the public for the impact. On this impact the organization can do starting from building awareness to guide how to deal with it. 4.1.5. Educational information Once a family has the system, it is possible that children in the family can use it to get education information. Local schools can supplement their students in additional information using this system. Additionally, it is another way to encourage family members to support educational activity of their children.

4.1.6. Social and political information Social and political issues usually need participation of the public. Public activities like cleaning village, reforestation, census, survey and election need the awareness of the mass public. There for the system can be used to make this awareness and motivate the public.

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4.2. Arduino

Figure 1: Arduino Uno microcontroller Arduino is an open-source single-board microcontroller, descendant of the open-source wiring platform, designed to make the process of using electronics in multidisciplinary projects more accessible. The hardware consists of a simple open hardware design for the Arduino board with an Atmel AVR processor and on-board input/output support. The software consists of a standard programming language compiler and the boot loader that runs on the board. Arduino hardware is programmed using a Wiring-based language similar to C++ with some slight simplifications and modifications, and a Processing-based integrated development environment. Current versions can be purchased pre-assembled. Hardware design information is available. The Arduino project received an honorary mention in the Digital Communities category at the 2006 Prix Ars Electronica.

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4.3. Technical design

Figure 2: Internal architecture of Arduino

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Usability

4.4. Setup The final product of this project will looks like as shown in the following figure. Using normal television SECS can be set up as satellite television decoder or DVD player.

Figure 3: SECS final setup.

4.5. Local usage SECS can run three applications as its design is completed. 1.1. Information browser: this application allows its user to access the information stored in the SECS. It is equivalent application to explorer of MS-Windows. To increase its usability, we designed it to be simple and fast. Removing almost all graphical interaction, it left with section menus only.

Figure 4 Market information sample on SECS

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2-Alarm: Beside the main function, SECS can provide additional features. Out of many possible programmable supporting applications, by the end of the project, SECS will have alarm. This application is very supportive for its users.

Figure 5: Alarm on SECS 3-To do list: The other application we found as very important is to do list. This application can help SECS users to be organized, helping reminding and visualizing their tasks. This application also designed to be as simplified as possible

Figure 6: To do list on SECS

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SECS is not a computer with limited application. These applications are only for instance. As the user of this computer rises, it is possible for any programmer to create new applications for it.

4.6. Communication As main goal of this project is to reach the public with information, it is very important to deal with how the information reaches to the SECS. In this case we still depend on the internet. To use the internet for SECS we designed strategies based on the strategy of the government to reach the public. WoredaNet

Figuer 7: Woreda net center.

WoredaNet is a government network connecting more than 611 Woredas, regional and federal government offices across the country .WoredaNet is a terrestrial and satellite-based network designed with the primary objective to provide ICT services such as video conferencing, directory, messaging and Voice Over IP, and Internet connectivity to the Federal, Regional and Woreda level government entities. The goal of WoredaNet is to establish a multi-service IPbased service by the use of Terrestrial Broadband and VSAT infrastructure for the delivery of services to government and the citizens. Using this network connection it is possible to put all information needed to reach the public. After the information reaches the wordaNet centers, we also need another mechanism to put them in every house hold SECSs. To do that we planned two options:

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a. Antena Using readio signal imiter in each woredaNet ceners, it is possible to broadcast the informatin for the woreda. SECS is able to recive radio signa using antena. Considerate SECS needs very small amount of data, it is possible to use this mehode with limited cost.

Figure 8 overall interactions of SECS b. Data center The woredaNet center or other in other dedicated data center, it is possible to serve the public to update information stored in SECS. To facilitate these SECS can use memory cards which the user can take them to these data centers and update the information in them. These memory cards can also allow users to share information in each SECS.

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5. Conclusion SECS is a binging to run our technology in a way that everyone can access and use them. It is very visible that information communication technology is the core of every type of technology advancement. In this environment, SECS is an offer of limited feature of computer with considerable amount of discount and with considerable amount of simplification. In this project we used Arduino as a core part of our design. This is due to our limited access to experiment and familiarize our self with microcontrollers. Having more access and further experiment on microcontrollers, we believe that we will advance this project to building a computer using simple microcontrollers with a dream of building computers with our own technology and resource.

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Reference [1] ©Ardiuno, “ardiuno uno”, http://www.ardiuno.cc/en/main/ardiunobranduno; [accessed: October 2012] [2] ©Ardiuno, “Language Reference”, http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/HomePage; [accessed: October 2012] [3] W. Durfee, “Arduino Microcontroller Guide”,University of Minnesota, 2011, [4] McComb, Gordon (June 5, 2012). Arduino Robot Bonanza (1st ed.). McGraw-Hill. pp. 40. ISBN 978-0-07-178277-7. [5] Olsson, Tony (May 30, 2012). Arduino Wearables (1st ed.). Après. pp. 400. ISBN 978-14302-4359-5. [6] Shiffman, Daniel (November 23, 2012). “Interview with Casey Reas and Ben Fry”. Rhizome.org. http://rhizome.org/editorial/2009/sep/23/intercasey-reas-and-ben-fry/. [7] A S “Project homepage”. arduino.cc. http://arduino.cc. [8] Lahart, Justin (2009-11-27). “Taking an Open-Source Approach to Hardware”. The Wall Street Journal

[9] http://online.wsj .com/article/5B10001424052748703499404574559960271468066.html. Retrieved 2012-03-24.

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