Smartphone Desktop CPU

Introducing the Smartphone Desktop CPU. This really isn't much of a project because it is plug and play, but the implications are decently profound. I haven't really heard of this technology being used, in education or anywhere else, but it must have been considered by the makers of Android because the interoperability is native. Simply plug the mini USB hub into the phone's mini USB port (OTG) and plug peripherals into standard USB ports of hub. Plug in mini USB power supply and oila! That's it. You have a CPU. This briefing was typed using the Smartphone CPU operating in the messaging app for blog entry. This tech could be ground breaking in education where school's struggle to find funding to go 1:1. For under $10 they have a 1:1 solution that never requires them to upgrade their tech, except that the classic android mini USB drive is going away. Still, that's connection tech, not processing tech. For Apple devices similar adapters can be purchased or school's can have bluetooth keyboard / touchpad solutions. This phone is resting on a $1 phone collapsible phone stand. There is still a need to consider how to enlarge the screens, and I think magnifiers would be the cheapest solution there. Screen sharing, of course, means that you need to have another screen and hardware to pick up the screen sharing signal. Video: Using a Screen Magnifier

You need to have keyboards and mice hanging around for this adapter to work, which most schools do. There would then have to be developed some kind of bay system where students could come and grab their peripherals. One downside to this system is that it functions more like a desktop since you have to be plugged in. A wireless system or a system that had a chargeable keyboard / touchpad in a case could function more like a laptop which would give you the flexibility to move more fluidly in the class with devices.

Note: for Android devices there may be certain settings which need to be modified in order to use the OTG to support expected keyboard / mouse functionality. See the article: https://allaboutmotog.com/moto-g-usb-otg-guide-also-for-moto-x/. Some phones also do not support OTG USB. These cases would require a wireless keyboard / touchpad solution to be CPU operable.

Below are images to give ideas about other options. I saw a GOTD bluetooth wirelles keyboard w/ touchpad on Amazon for $12. Walmart seems to have really cheap solutions. I think that schools would probably want to have a variety of solutions.

The next steps in considerations would be how to manage students on their devices (ie. there's a reason that students are not allowed to use devices during school). My initial thought was to have students solely use an internet browser which can act as a lock browser over which the teacher has complete control. The trouble with this solution is that there are many great apps that you would like to have students use. Of course, when they are in use, then other diversions will also be accessible. A teacher control system could be conceived but there would have to be some serious development that went into it.