Mar 31, 2014

Edison : a Quark-based computer the size of an SD Card

Intel is pushing forward with technology to enable the Internet of Things and wearable technology, by unveiling a tiny computer the same size as an SD card at CES.

Dubbed Edison, it is based on Intel's 22nm Quark processor, which the firm launched at its IDF conference last year, and is intended to be embedded into other devices and objects to make them more intelligent and connected.

Inside Edison, the 400MHz Quark processor is combined with WiFi and Bluetooth low-energy wireless interfaces for connectivity, and also has built-in LPDDR2 memory and flash storage. Because the Quark chip is x86-based, it can support Linux and other operating systems to run sophisticated high-level applications, Intel claimed.

Edison, which is set to be available this summer, will be compatible with developer tools used by the 'maker' community, meaning that it should be relatively quick and simple to build software to run on the device.

Intel intends Edison to enable rapid innovation and product development by a range of inventors, entrepreneurs and product designers, according to chief executive Brian Krzanich.

"Wearables are not everywhere today because they aren't yet solving real problems and they aren't yet integrated with our lifestyles. We're focused on addressing this engineering innovation challenge. Our goal is, if something computes and connects, it does it best with Intel inside," he said.

Autodesk said it was adding support for Edison to its 123D Circuits, an online circuit design and development tool. The move follows Intel's launch of a single-board computer based on Quark technology, called Galileo.

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