Featured Articles
Announcing Pi
Technical Specifications
Raspberry Pi FAQs
Win a Pi
Raspberry Pi Wishlist
Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 22 replies
  • Subscribers 712 subscribers
  • Views 4949 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Raspberry Pi Zero end of the world laptop

cmb271

Okay, hear me out.

 

 

I've always been interested in SHTF or end of the world technology and I have a concept in mind utilizing the Raspberry Pi Zero as a basic laptop for document creation, media storage as well as a controller for things such as a FM receiver/transmitter and communications enclosed in a self sustaining (solar cell embedded) laptop case. It wouldn't need to do much just store data that can be critical for survival if a day that normal infrastructure didn't exist. a small 7-10" screen, a built in thin solar panel mounted on the back of the screen (that's also protected with plexi-glass or some other form of transparent protective covering), a removable rechargeable battery (maybe with the capability to work with AA batteries if the rechargeable ones become faulty) a built in keyboard and track pad.

 

I know this sounds silly but just imagine if society as we know it ceased to exist, it would be nice to have a portable data device that's bigger and more sturdy than an average smart phone that can hold images and videos as well as documentation about how to solve problems that may arise. It would be an interesting concept as well if the rear solar panel could act as a kickstand for the screen so it could charge and you can work at the same time.

  • in reply to gregoryfenton

    Nice  to see people with different interests here on E14!

     

    Good call with the E-ink. If the aim is some information device ..post societal breakdown how about a Kindle with a big SDCard fudged into it ... Job done ..simple low power etc

  • in reply to rew

    Hey everyone I know it's an unorthodox concept and chances are would just collect dust if it was ever built but just for proof of concept sake it's worth looking into.  What if we ignore the fact of it being for the end of the world and focus on a durable low energy off grid device that can be used to inventory food and water,  maintain a log of data such as daily activities, etc. While a normal laptop would be able to get the job done I'm looking for something that can be custom built, something that can run on extremely low energy, can charge itself when doing field work, also a normal laptop doesn't have the out of the box ability to connect with other hardware which would become useful (FM Radio Transmitter/receiver, DIY home security system, and any other system which can use the GPIO pins.

     

     

    I was thinking it'd be mainly the Linux terminal with the occasional use for graphical programs possibly using a Linux distro

    running open box or some other lightweight graphical interface when the desire to view images and videos strikes but mainly keeping to the terminal.

     

    Yes I could use stand alone devices for the FM transmitter and solar system but the idea is a fully enclosed communication and data storage system that's portable and normal desktops and laptops aren't custom built with surviving civil unrest in mind.

  • Well I've determined that I'd like to move this project up abit because I'm actually planning an experiment where I will be living in my car and recording how the experience is, how it effects my overall health and hygiene as well as seeing if I can improve it in some way shape or form. excluding the FM transmitter and receiver would it still be feasible to build a small 7-10 inch laptop using the raspberry pi as the core motherboard, Where should I look first when it comes to sourcing a low energy consumption LCD screen (possibly something as low power as the screen for the OLPC PCs, I'd still like the ability to charge it Via solar panels possibly one that clips to the back and can be placed in my window when I'm parked, using an cord to extend to the back seat, wifi and bluetooth capabilities can come from a USB dongle and storage for media can either be a separate high capacity flash drive or just using a micro-SD card that will boot from the Pi itself.

  • in reply to clem57

    Is that face for attempting to build such a low power durable laptop or experimenting with living out of a car to see how it affects my overall quality of life?

  • You do realise the average smart phone these days is way more powerful that the PI is and can be pluged into numerous power sources already, has video, Text / document editing, Radio (Same streaming tech as your solution or more)

     

    then consider a cheap tablet... same thing

     

    What your proposing is basically already available as a Tablet or larger Modern Smart phone... IMHO. image

     

    Peter

  • in reply to Robert Peter Oakes

    Tablets are very limited in what they can do, I don't use windows , I personally can't stand it and Android had yet to prove to me it's a viable replacement for the desktop,  I'm hoping for something running Linux since that's what I've been using for years and a cell phone isn't the best for typing out long paragraphs of the experience even with a Bluetooth keyboard.

  • in reply to cmb271

    How about a keyboard with built in SBC/sd card/HDMI?