Mini Makers Faire at Barnes and Noble, Nov. 2016

1. Getting Started with
Raspberry Pi
The Why and What to Buy
Kellyn Pot’Vin-Gorman
http://dbakevlar.com

2. Raspberry Pi History
• Raspberry Pi, (aka Raspi or RPI) is a single board
computer developed in the UK.
• It’s around the size of a credit card, is very low cost
and requires little power.
• The compute power is relative to a Pentium II pc and
the graphics are similar to a 2002 era game console.
• Over 10 million sold at this time.

3. Other Single Board
Computers
 Beagle Bone
 Banana Pi
 Orange Pi
 PCDruino4
 NanoPC, ($65)
 CubieBoards, ($144!)
 MinnowBoard, ($145)
 Odroid, (varying models)

4. How is a MicroController Different?
Yes.
• Arduino
› Arduino “boards” are micro-controllers.
› Excellent for open source projects and at collecting
data.
› They shouldn’t be confused with a single board
computer.
› You can purchase a card, (i.e. hat) that attaches to the
RPI to simulate an arduino.

5. Why Do I Use RPIs?
• Leader of the single board computer industry.
• Tons of online and printed resources.
• Parts are easily attainable, both name brand and off
market.
• Products are available online and in many stores.
• Open architecture leads to myriad of creative and
functional projects.

6. Raspberry Pi Models
http://raspi.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pi-
Family-Photo-29Feb2016_1500.jpg

7. How Can I Tell What I Have?

8. Choosing a RPI
• Version 3 B or Pi Zero are the current models out.

9. RPI 3 Specs
• SoC: Broadcom BCM2837 (roughly 50% faster than the Pi
2)
• CPU: 1.2 GHZ quad-core ARM Cortex A53 (ARMv8
Instruction Set)
• GPU: Broadcom VideoCore IV @ 400 MHz.
• Memory: 1 GB LPDDR2-900 SDRAM.
• USB ports: 4.
• Network: 10/100 MBPS Ethernet, 802.11n Wireless LAN,
Bluetooth 4.0.

10. Pi Zero Specs

11. Accessories Required
• Good Quality Micro SD Card, 32G for Pi 3 recommended.
• Power Adapter, (Smart Phone charger works.)
• HDMI Cable
• USB Mouse and Keyboard
• WiFi USB
• USB to Micro SD Card adapter

12. Handy Software
• SD Formatter
› Used to format Micro SD Cards on your computer via
the USB port and USB to Micro SD Card Adapter.
• Win32 Disk Imager
› Create backup images of your RPI from the Micro SD
Card to your computer and use to load new OS images
on Micro SD Cards after downloading.

14. Secondary Investments
• MagPi Magazine
• Pibrella, ($20) great for physical projects for kids
and adults alike.
• RPI’s 7 inch touchscreen monitor, ($60 with
frame)
• Or a Small, (7-10 inch) HDMI monitor

15. Why an Adruino?
• You want to just do experiments vs. have a
computer to program on and build out other
projects.
• The project at hand would be better suited to a
controller.

16. Now, Without Breaking the Bank…
• The RPI is meant for physical and logical
computing projects.
• This doesn’t mean you have to invest in expensive
projects and yes, it can get expensive…

17. Built In..
• Scratch, an interactive, graphical interface coding
program for kids.
• Minecraft- Build modules, (design “kingdoms”)
• Other games and Idle to learn Python.
• Now that we mention Python….

18. Why Python
• Simple, little syntax
• Taught similar to other object oriented languages,
but programming with an:
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion

20. Hackathon!
• Breadboard and hats simplify physical computing
• 4M projects offer science kits that use LEDs, DC
and servo motors that can be controlled by code
via the Raspberry Pi.
• 4M kits and others, such as Snap Circuits are
inexpensive ways to broaden use of the
Raspberry Pi.

21. Cheap Hacks

22. References
• Raspberry Pi Education Page
• AdaFruit’s DIY Page
• Hackaday Magazine
• My RPI page on DBAKevlar
• MagPi Online