A Linux Machine For Your Collar

MadSaxon writes "gumstix.org has a brief but titillating description of a very small Linux machine based on the PXA255: 20 x 80 mm, '64MB SDRAM, 4MB Flash, MMC/SD/SDIO slot, and power management. It takes 3.6V - 5.0V power, and has been drawing under 200 mA.' It weighs less than 12g sans battery, and 'can fit in a collar undetected.' Is collar-top computing the Next Big Thing?"

Laundry advice?

[ackthpt]

So, if your collar is wired, do you dry clean?

You've got token ring around the collar!

What Distro ?

[SpanishInquisition]

Red Neck Hat?

my goodness

[Anonymous Coward]

if it's bluetooth capable, it takes new meaning to being a blue collar professional. ;-)

Wearable Linux

[CaptainAlbert]

I'm sure there's a "Slacksware" joke in here somewhere, but I'm not quite awake enough to make it. :)

Management

[petabyte]

I see management giving all their employee's one of these. Well, right after the little shock module is released for it.

"Slashdoting again?!" ... *ZAP*

Re:Laundry advice?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

I think it a poor description. The people who'd be interested in something like this rarely wear anything but T-shirts...

Unless they mean a collar with a buckle and a D-ring...

Re:This

[WIAKywbfatw]

How is this letarded? It seems quiet clever to me... Oh, wait, you meant the other rhyme...

Bugs need to be ironed out.

[Traicovn]

I still have some (pretty straight-forward) bugs to be ironed out but a few other friends are now diving into these.

Best to iron these out without the device still in the shirt collar. Medium starch.

Re:Ohh sexy jewelry :o)

[paranode]

I want this one in silver for my girlfriend

I believe you are referring to Mrs. R. Hand?

Yes we are all quite familiar with her, I don't think she cares for jewelry.

size in imperial units

[Anonymous Coward]

20 x 80 mm = 0.004 x 0.016 rods

Re:What Distro ?

[ackthpt]

Red Neck Hat?

Memo to the PHB: We need to downsize, again. If the fire sprinklers go off in the cube farm, how many staff will be electocuted?

Re:Wearable Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

Excuse me, but is that Linux in your pocket...?

Re:What Distro ?

[ajrs]

Black Tie Linux. Black Tie is an elegant distro based on Debian, but its users tend to be exclusive.

Re:This

[Thud457]

Q:What's the limiting factor for pocket computers?

A:The size of your pockets!

the RIAA scenario

[andih8u]

"yes, we searched his entire apartment and couldn't find anything but a wireless router...but we know he's sharing mp3s somehow. Kept thumbing his collar....weird kid."

Re:What kind of collar?

[sTalking_Goat]

or a big studded leather gothy/BSDM kind of collar?

"Slave you've been bad. Do you know what happens to bad boys?!"

"No Mistress, but wait let me google it..."

Re:Wearable Linux

[hardcode57]

I think you mean 'is that a gnu in your pocket?'

Grey Matter

[pipingguy]

Is collar-top computing the Next Big Thing?

Why not? For many, it'd be the only processing power above the neck.

Re:What about my brain?

[dtl]

You mean it does 'way less' don't you...

Super-office-guy!!!

[JawFunk]

Man, if I link this to a voice recognition program for numbers and math terms, add a display in your sleeve or like a HUD inside your glasses, and I could have a voice activated calculator, and totally impress chicks and others when doing complex equations right infront of them: "Hey M, what's the total liability for the period 1972 through 1989 if we owed $6,998,973.20 calculated at a compounded interest of 6%?" "It's THREE! Wait, oh shit, DragonSpeak failed."

Re:Laundry advice?

[Anonymous Coward]

Linux [uri.edu]

Bash [wackypackages.org] ...should both be compatible.

Re:Ohh sexy jewelry :o)

[Sexy Bern]

Oh, I don't know. I heard she likes a pearl necklace...

Could be Perl necklace in this context though

Re:How do they figure this stuff out?

[stratjakt]

What other places did they stuff it before they decided the collar was the best?

Umm, these are linux zealots. It wouldnt fit up their asses next to the iPod and Zaurus.

Realize also that these are knobs who own nothing but collared shirts. On the beach in a collared T shirt. Socks with sandals. They're that cool.

Re:In other news...

[starm_]

"gumstix.org has a brief but titillating description"

Main Entry: titillate
Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -lated; -lating
1 : to excite pleasurably : arouse by stimulation

what the???

Bondage

[nwf]

Actually, depending on your collar, if you run Windows on it, you can be in double bondage!

wrong OS

[sklib]

Clearly this thing shouldn't run linux, but instead some form of MacOS, just because there's no way I can reliably click one of two buttons with my adam's apple, but I could probably manage it with just the one.

I'm still waiting for nostril-embedded computers

[LazloToth]

I hope the keyboard plug is PS/2 - - not USB! Ouch!

What self-respecting Linux geek...

[gosand]

What self-respecting Linux geek wears a shirt with a collar?

The secret of Dilbert's necktie.

[AJWM]

Hmm, combine that computer with this [slashdot.org] flexible display technology (running a flashy screensaver) and put anyone else's loud tie to shame.

Or just use the tie as your monitor, although it'd have to curl up so you could read it more easily. Now what nerd do we know that wears a curling up necktie...

Re:Well yes actually think about it.

[linuxcoder]

Belt? Even worse in many ways.

Nah, many geeks have plenty of "padding" around the belt area to protect the device.

I don't think the throat is the best spot for it.

[fireboy1919]

I don't know about you, but my company's payroll department is staffed exclusively by ninjas. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've gone to get my paycheck and gotten a throat punch.

They broke my pta (personal throat assistant) right when I got there, and I had to buy something else.

Step #2! Earth Final Conflict GlobalComms

[strredwolf]

OMG that's smaller than my Nokia 3590 "ATT GoPhone" by a factor of six! With the QVGA Fexible display, all we need now is power, display control, WiFi, and battery!!!

Other places for wearable Linux computers

[Mignon]

Collars, you say? Wait 'til they have Linux-powered codpieces. Just be specific when you ask someone about his uptime.

I can finally access the datasphere..... anywhere

[fadethepolice]

Combine this device (with a few upgrades) with Wearable displays [i-glassesstore.com] + This Jacket (maybe an upgrade or two [wired.com] + a computer that speaks sign language [nec.com] + Pervasive wireless broadband [startribune.com] and I am starting to get to my "comfort level" for internet access. No longer will I have to wait during my whole commute of 5 minutes to check for the next Slashdot story. No more shaking internet withdrawl on the bus!!

But what about...

[ScottSpeaks!]

...a CD drive?

.. Next generation of Porn

[thedarkstorm]

THis little guy is going to revolutionize the voyeur porn industry..
- Just think of the shoe-cam
- .....more and more and more

Linux And Collars

[mirio]

Is collar-top computing the Next Big Thing?

Hmm...given that this device is based on Linux and us Linux folks hate to wear collars, I give them poor odds of finding a market! :-)

Re:under the collar?

[Archangel Michael]

"with a one handed keyboard to use it"

Okay, I see where you are going with your idea .....