Game in the Brain

AI Summary: The video provides a detailed overview of the Mecha Comet, a handheld Linux computer (0:26). The speaker, Shib, introduces the device and shares insights into its development journey.

Here’s a breakdown of the video’s content:

• Comet’s Genesis (0:35-2:03): Shib discusses the organic evolution of the Comet’s design, starting from a whim to create a small computer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, it involved jamming two batteries into a single-board computer, but the vision evolved into a modular, handheld device.
• Final Form and Features (2:10-7:26): The video showcases the Comet’s physical attributes, highlighting its portability and solid feel. Key features include:
  • A 4-inch AMOLED touch display with a fingerprint protection layer (2:25).
  • RGB LED and light sensor for automatic screen brightness adjustment (2:37).
  • Speaker and two microphones (2:46).
  • Multiple USB ports, mini HDMI, and a headphone jack (2:51).
  • A Type-C port for power with PD in/out and OTG mode support (3:19).
  • 40 pogo pins for various I/O extensions, including USB 2.0, GPIOs, ADCs, and a reset pin (3:34).
  • Kill switches for Wi-Fi, camera, and microphone (4:34).
  • A boot mode switch for switching between eMMC and SD card (4:55).
  • An M.2 slot supporting various sizes for modems and other modules (5:17).
  • A 4,000 mAh battery with a push connector (6:05).
  • Debug console pins and a J-tag for developers (6:38).
  • An aluminum and plastic frame that acts as a roll cage and heatsink (6:52).
  • A 10-layer PCB design with nearly 900 components (7:20).
• Extensions and Community (7:29-9:21): The video demonstrates how easily extensions snap into place. Two key extensions are showcased:
  • A keyboard with removable RGB-backlit plastic keys and a touchpad (7:41).
  • A gamepad with an ergonomic layout (8:24).
  • An I/O breakout extension with through-holes for prototyping (8:36). All extensions and the Comet itself are open hardware, encouraging community designs.
• Software and Use Cases (9:25-12:56): Shib boots up the Comet, demonstrating its lock screen, home screen, and native apps like Files, Settings, Music, and Notes. He shows how the UI detects extensions automatically and highlights the ability to configure sticky keys via QMK. The video also shows a demonstration of Plasmo running on the Comet. Potential use cases discussed include:
  • Personal portable computer for self-hosting and mobile data (11:10).
  • Networking use cases, such as a handheld security or diagnostics tool (11:31).
  • Decentralized communication with a Laura module and meshtastic (11:42).
  • Educational tool for 3D printing extensions and designing PCBs (11:56).
  • Commercial applications like industrial automation and object detection with an AI accelerator (12:07). The video concludes by emphasizing the Comet’s commitment to user control and ownership over personal computing (12:34).

LINUX HANDHELD – will allows you to circumvent privacy invasion by leaving your device at home and just pulling what you need from it. Sandboxing yoursystem.

OPENSOURCE – it is trying to be the first to capture the platform by offering the Design and the Philosophy for free. When an Open Source project gets funding (through sales of investments or donation) – it rapidly expands and reaches a larger market. The markets are so large now unlike so long ago – a Crowd can fund something into existence – the way “Shares” allowed more risky voyages to be made in the 17C. Open Source allows so many to start up – and people better and better options as they compete for the market.

Open source makes money through the good will of their Market, a market who has more power over it and will leave much more easily. Free Open Source is now a means of communicating Trust and Integrity in a bigger and more complex world. It doesnt work all the time and is very risky inherently – but what makes OPENSOURCE free the better and better option is what ll the non-opensource and paid options are doing. Reducing the level of trust makes Open Source a better option.