Raspberry Pi: The $25 Computer

A new computer is the size of a human thumb, and will retail for $25.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on May 09 2011

How would you like to buy a brand new computer for the cost of a DVD? Thanks to British game developer David Braben, that could be a reality before you know it: He’s created a working prototype of a tiny computer the size of your thumb that will retail for $25.

True, it’s a bit tough to operate such a small computer, but it’s not a stand-alone machine: The computer will plug into a TV monitor or work with a touch screen, and would need a keyboard for typing. Though you wouldn’t use the computer to play arcade games, it’s ideal for sending emails, creating documents, watching videos, and browsing websites: just the kind of task that low-income students need it for.

The computers will be sold by a nonprofit group called Raspberry Pi, and may be commercially available as early as next year. Braben would like to see the tiny computers distributed to children who cannot afford their home computers all around the world, particularly in developing countries. It’s likely that donor groups will purchase the computers and distribute them for free to students in need.

It’s often said that education is the best way to help children rise above poverty—and if all it takes is a $25 machine to help them build a connection to the world, it could get a whole lot easier to help children reach their true potential.

Filed under: Non-Profits,