Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] OLPC - next generation with SDR?

[Brian Padalino]

On Dec 25, 2007 6:05 PM, David Hartzell <address@hidden> wrote:
> DRM is pretty cool and has the /potential/ to provide the kids with a
> multimedia experience, even if it takes two laptops "chained" together
> to decode the signals...

If the linking were in fact required, it would at least introduce the
concept of distributed computing at a young age and, possibly, with a
new and different perspective of how to accomplish some of the harder
tasks.

Since there is a pretty serious size, weight and power (SWAP)
restriction when dealing with something like the OLPC, complete
integration is key.  I've been eyeing a Maxim Analog Front End (AFE)
that is dual channel, 10-bits and is extremely low power and cost.

    http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/5163

Although address@hidden is a little steep, it's also the cheapest and most
fully featured low-power AFE I've really seen and at 7mm x 7mm, it's
almost trivial for real estate.

Given this core technology, and Matt's experience in IC design coupled
with the quantities an OLPC will be shipping in, it might be possible
to negotiate with Maxim to throw the current CIC filters +
programmable decimating FIR filter along with this core on some
silicon for not much or any more money - basically a hardened
low-power USRP that can hang off the ARM in a memory mapped area.

The potential is there for sure.

Brian