Intel's Compute Card is modular hardware for Internet of Things devices

[Shawn Knight]

Modular hardware hasn’t exactly resonated with consumers. PC-on-a-stick devices like Intel’s Compute Stick and the sea of me-too devices that followed seemingly vanished overnight. Similarly, modular smartphone concepts like Project Ara never made it off the ground while companies like LG that did make it to market with modular products no doubt regret the decision.

Nevertheless, the industry isn’t willing to give up on the idea just yet as Intel has demonstrated at CES with a new modular compute platform calling the Intel Compute Card.

The idea is pretty straightforward. Intel’s Compute Card is essentially a full-blown computer with an Intel SoC, memory, storage and wireless connectivity that fits on a card roughly as thick as a few credit cards. Said card then gets plugged into the Compute Card slot of devices like interactive refrigerators, security cameras or IoT gateways.

The lure here is the ability to easily upgrade the performance of a connected device without having to replace it entirely. Intel said it is already working with several large partners on the endeavor including HP, Dell, Lenovo and Sharp as well as multiple regional partners.

The Compute Card seems like a great idea in theory although I’m not certain it’ll take off. Samsung tried essentially this exact same thing – albeit on a much smaller scale – with its HDTVs a few years back through a product called the Smart Evolution upgrade kit. Samsung seemingly discontinued that product line in early 2016.

Intel says its Compute Card will be available by mid-2017 in a range of processor options including seventh-gen Intel Core chips.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/67689-intel-compute-card-modular-hardware-internet-things-devices.html

 

[psycros]

There are two problems with this concept. First off, unless its an open standard it will never be widely adopted. If Intel would license this socket and bus to anyone - and dirt cheap - it might go somewhere. Who wouldn't love to be able to upgrade their Smart TV with newer wireless standards and the like? But the industry has no intention of letting you get more life out your technology - they want you upgrading as frequently as possible, so that's the *second* reason this idea won't work. Intel, Samsung and Foxconn will go right on selling minimally customized SoCs to second tier hardware makers that don't have their own factories while the dream of easily upgradable "brains" for our electronics remains a pipe dream.

 

[Evernessince]

That's just the problem with "upgrading" the computing power of refrigerators and security cameras. These devices, if they come with a SoC at all, usually come with enough power to do what they need to do. What exactly is the benefit to being able to add more CPU power to your fridge? If it gets to the point where the real-time operating system built into your appliances needs to be upgraded manufacturers need to re-evaluate their inefficiency in programming incredibly simple software.

Companies need to give people a good reason they need to buy these.