Technische Universität München ICT in Agriculture ...aew.wzw.tum.de/fileadmin/Website/Dokumente/Events/Afrikatag_2013... · Technische Universität München Afrikatag 2013 Nov

Technische Universität München

Afrikatag 2013Nov. 26, 2013

Dipl.-Kfm. Oliver Etzel,

cd. M.Sc.(TUM) Information Systems


Fakultät Mathematik und Informatik

[email protected]

08161 71-2774

Online: http://go.tum.de/660139

ICT in Agriculture

AgriLinux on RISCA low price workstation for developing countries

RISC : Reduced Instruction Set Computer, Rechner mit reduziertem Befehlssatz – Entwurfsmuster für Computerprozessoren

mailto:[email protected]

http://go.tum.de/660139



ICT in Agriculture


RISC : Reduced Instruction Set Computer , Rechner mit reduziertem Befehlssatz – design strategy for computer processors




ICT in Agriculture


RISC : Reduced Instruction Set Computer , Rechner mit reduziertem Befehlssatz – design strategy for computer processors

Abstract

In developing countries only a small percentage of rural families or smallholder farmers own a computer.

Although a high rate of adoption of mobile phones the families are unable to afford expensive workstations

or personal computers.

Trying to bridge this gap, a own Linux distribution AgriLinux*1 is compiled on a low price RISC class

mainboard based on ARM *2 architecture - presented on the Afrikatag 2013.

Taking the diffusion of mobile phones in developing countries into consideration, this computer is able to run

with mobiles periphery. Thus the harddisk is simulated by a SD smartcard. To power the machine a micro-

USB plug known from a conventional cellphone charger can be used. This Computer run as a full personal

computer, able to browse the internet though a WLAN device and performing all operating tasks that are

used with high end products.

*1 the name "AgriLinux" is preliminary and scheduled to get checked by the Patent and Licensing Office of

the Technische Universität München.

*2 ARM - Advanced RISC Machine -

family of instruction set architectures for computer processors



ICT in Agriculture


1. Introducion

2. Mobile Phones Rate of Adoption in Africa

3. ARM Architecture – Smartphone Mainboard

4. AgriLinux Workstation

5. Future Concepts


ICT in Agriculture


The proliferation of mobile phones in combination with the power of

ICT / Open Source GNU Software enables low price devices.

Photo: http://agricbiz.com/investment/africa_/the-power-of-mobile-technology-for-african-agriculture/ last Access: Nov, 26, 2013

Open Source Software


Mobile Phones 2012

Source: ITU Statistics, http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/ITU_Key_2005-2013_ICT_data.xls, last accessed: Nov.. 24, 2013

2012 (millions) Per 100 inhabitants

Africa 501 59,8

Arab States 374 101,6

Asia & Pacific 3.290 83,1

CIS 444 158,9

Europe 768 123,3

The Americas 998 105,3

Active mobile-broadband subscriptions

Africa 60 7,1

Arab States 53 14,3

Asia & Pacific 625 15,8

CIS 101 36,0

Europe 314 50,5

The Americas 377 39,8

Mobile-cellular subscriptions

ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database.

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/ITU_Key_2005-2013_ICT_data.xls


Households with a computer 2012

Source: ITU Statistics, http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/ITU_Key_2005-2013_ICT_data.xls, last accessed: Nov.. 24, 2013

Household with Internet / PC

ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database.

2012* 2012*

Africa N/A 7,8

Arab States N/A 34,0

Asia & Pacific N/A 31,0

CIS N/A 50,4

Europe N/A 76,2

The Americas N/A 58,4

Africa N/A 5,3

Arab States N/A 29,6

Asia & Pacific N/A 28,6

CIS N/A 42,1

Europe N/A 74,0

The Americas N/A 56,0

Households with a computer

(millions) (%)

Households with Internet access at home

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/ITU_Key_2005-2013_ICT_data.xls


Digital Literacy - ICT as an Enabler

The african housholds have mobile phones but no home

computers.

Home computers are the base of digital literacy and can

sparc a lot of future business.

Source: Krcmar, H., Informationsmanagement , Springer Ltd. London, 2005, S.316


Digital Literacy - ICT as an Enabler

The african famers have lot of opportunies with using ITC.

Source: The ICT in Agriculture Sourcebook, World Bank, 2012, URL: http://www.ictinagriculture.org/content/ict-agriculture-sourcebook, last Access: Nov, 26, 2013

http://www.ictinagriculture.org/content/ict-agriculture-sourcebook


ARM Architecture - RISC mainboards

ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) is a family of instruction

set architectures for computer processors based on a

reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture

developed by British company ARM Holdings.

Useful for light, portable, battery-powered devices—

including smartphones, laptops, tablet and notepad

computers), and other embedded systems.

Source: Wikipedia, ARM Architecture, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture last Access: Nov, 26, 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture


ARM – Smartphone “like” Mainboards

There are many supliers for smartphone “like”

mainboards, e.g.

Andulino ™,

Trim-Slice ™,

Cubieboard ™

(1G ARM Cortex-A8

processor, NEON)

and many more ..

.. and smartphones

.. even ARM Development Kits, like Mouser™

Source: Cubieboard, http://cubieboard.org , last accessed: Nov, 26, 2013

http://cubieboard.org/


ARM – Smartphone like Mainboard

+ Open Source Operating System

+

Source: Cubieboard, http://cubieboard.org , last accessed: Nov, 26, 2013

http://cubieboard.org/


A low price workstation for developing

countries

Source: Eigene Darstellung meiner Versuchsanordnung: Nov, 26, 2013

=


Presentation

… Reminder:

Internet where from:

Google Loon, WLAN for Africa

Balloon-Powered Internet For Everyone

Source: Google’s Project Loon : Offers Internet via Balloons, http://news.thewindowsclub.com/ last accessed: Nov, 26, 2013

http://news.thewindowsclub.com/


Opportunities

- eLearning,

- Farm organization

- Farm productivity

- Sparcing new industries . .. Providing eLiteracy.

Source: The ICT in Agriculture Sourcebook, World Bank, 2012, URL: http://www.ictinagriculture.org/content/ict-agriculture-sourcebook, last accessed: Nov, 26, 2013

http://www.ictinagriculture.org/content/ict-agriculture-sourcebook


Thank you for your attention

1. Cooperation with Google ?

2. TUM Patentbüro: Asking if :

„AgriLinux“

Is a good name choice?


Thank you for your attention


Afrikatag 2013Nov. 26, 2013

Dipl.-Kfm. Oliver Etzel,

cd. M.Sc. (TUM) Information Systems


Fakultät Mathematik und Informatik

[email protected]

08161 71-2774


ICT in Agriculture


RISC : Reduced Instruction Set Computer, Rechner mit reduziertem Befehlssatz – Entwurfsmuster für Computerprozessoren

mailto:[email protected]



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