The Life Scientific Eben Upton on Raspberry Pi
Jan 16, 2018
Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi Trading and co-founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, shares his journey of creating the groundbreaking Raspberry Pi computer to foster children's interest in computer science. He recounts his humble beginnings building prototypes in his loft, driven by a passion for accessible technology. The discussion highlights the surprising success of the Raspberry Pi, with over 15 million sold, and its pivotal role in education. Eben also reflects on the challenges faced and the transformative impact of affordable computing in inspiring the next generation.
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Fruit Tradition Meets Python
- The name pairs the fruit-themed computer tradition with 'Pi' for Python.
- Upton says Python is central because it's an excellent introductory programming language.
Buying A BBC Micro At Eleven
- Upton bought a secondhand BBC Micro for £220 and spent evenings and nights programming.
- He remembers only one other student seriously interested in programming at his school.
Use Moore's Law To Lower Cost
- Upton explains Moore's Law can be used to make fixed performance progressively cheaper over time.
- He aimed to exploit that to build a computer costing only a few tens of dollars.