Posts Tagged ‘mp3 player’

Japanese toilet uses an ARM processor

Sunday, March 8th, 2009
 

At our lecture on Thursday our lecturer, Paul, was telling us about a company named ARM. ARM make processors like Intel do. However ARM do not do their marketing in the same way Intel do, mostly because they don’t need to. ARM’s goal is to have one of their processors in every device. Quite a huge goal… and just maybe they’ll do it! Many devices already use them and you wouldn’t even know. ARM processors have the advantage of being able to be produced in older factories – whereas Intel chips have to be created in state-of-the-art facilities.

Whilst doing some research for my presentation this week, I came across the weirdest thing. A Japanese toilet manufacturer uses ARM processors in their toilets!

picture from http://www.arm.com/markets/embedded_solutions/armpp/9931.html
picture from http://www.arm.com/markets/embedded_solutions/armpp/9931.html

The toilet includes an MP3 player which can load songs from SD cards.

 
Some of their toilets have built-in air fresheners.
 
How much will you expect to pay? $3,000 – for that I think I’ll take my own MP3 player to the bathroom!… oh that’s right, I don’t have an MP3 player! doh!

mp3 device to help people in developing countries

Monday, March 2nd, 2009
 

This is one of my favourite devices… and the reason it is my favourite is because of its intent. 

picture is form http://literacybridge.org/

picture is from http://literacybridge.org/

Its a low price-point MP3 player that allows users to share information between devices using a USB cable – so no computer is required.

 The developers have designed to be used in healthcare and literacy learning in developing countries. To find out more, check out the podcast at: 

http://sic.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail3786.html

Some examples they give of how they envisage the product could be used include:

  • - getting a doctor or nurse to record medication dosages to help parents give their children the correct dosage of medicine
  • - teaching adults (and children) how to read
  • - share and distribute important information such as health information.

The podcast is a bit dated now… so feel free to check out the project’s website for updates:

http://literacybridge.org/