The Tungsten Element nanocomputer
September 26th, 2007 by Matt
My original concept for a nanocomptuer was a tiny removable card that integrated everything needed to support a multimedia application. The idea was born from a desire to solve some of the major usage problems that face multimedia players like Apple’s iPod. Tungsten was originally founded to explore this product concept.
What it is: A tiny removable card that contains all of the hardware needed to perform a complete application - processing, data storage, I/O, etc. It is inserted into a compatible product which provides all of the peripheral stuff that the user interacts with.
What it’s good for: It allows a much better user experience than today’s products. The user can load one Element up with 16GB of music and video and buy another one that includes an XP radio. They would then insert whichever one they wanted to use into a compatible product (car stereo, cell phone, portable player, clock radio, whatever). So, there are two major benefits - the user gets to interact with a product that best suits their current usage scenario (interact with a car stereo in the car and with a cell phone when on the go), but always have access to their content regardless of which thing they are touching. And, because the Element exposes a complete applicaiton, the system doesn’t just have to be a flash-based media player. It can be a satellite receiver, Radio, etc.
More after the break…
Matt Henson