GEEK SPEAK! WHAT IS RASPBERRY PI? HOW DOES IT WORK? BY ZACKARY SPINK
In this edition of Geek Speak, we learn about the rapid popularization of Raspberry Pi. In the last five years, Raspberry Pi has become the third most popular general-purpose computers on the market. Zackary Spink, Computer Science Specialist, and EAST Student Training instructor help us understand a little more about Raspberry Pi and how it works. I am Zackary Spink, a Statewide Computer Science Specialist in Arkansas housed at Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative. Initially, I taught high school science and computer science in Northeast Arkansas. While I was a teacher, I taught myself video compositing, 2D/3D animation, 3D modeling, game development, and programming using various software, including Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, and Unity. In my current position, as a Statewide Computer Science Specialist, I travel throughout the State training/assisting educators and students in all things computer science. The trainings range from incorporating computer science in the classroom to creating virtual reality worlds in the Unity software for the Oculus Rift or creating wearable electronics. I also get to explore new hardware and software related to computer science. I have met and worked with various individuals of the EAST staff through my current job, and I encounter
EAST students often during my student-centered trainings around the state. The Raspberry Pi can is used in similar ways as a desktop PC, such as browsing the internet, watching HD videos, playing games, or word-processing, to name a few. However, what sets the Raspberry Pi computer apart from a desktop, is its physical computing capabilities. Pins on the Pi can be programmed to take in sensor information, send information out to connected devices/hardware, or simply turn on an LED light. The Raspberry Pi can be used to create dancing Christmas light displays reacting to the music, Nerf gun motion tracking turrets utilizing image processing and machine learning, weather stations, hobby robotics, and much more. Also, due to the newer versions of the Raspberry Pi having WIFI built-in, they are becoming more popular with creating IoT (Internet of
WHO WEARS STEAMPUNK GOGGLES? Steampunk Goggles were usually worn by aviators and drivers during the Victorian age. The goggles help to protect the eyes from dirt, oil, steam, and sparks. They are commonly used in various industrial activities including woodworking and welding.
