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Colorado Digital Laboratories Inc. is developing new tools for closing the digital divide between the citizens of our world. We seek partners and collaborators in the NGO, non-profit, and civic sectors for building a new channel to deliver essential information to everyone. The Cabie, as we call it, stands for Computer Augmented Broadcast Information Environment (C.A.B.I.E.). It is a flexible information delivery system providing planet-wide access to the most valuable and locally relevant Internet content.
The Cabie is a conduit for delivering information which is determined by those who receive it. Its mission is to serve as a resource for human services, education, and important biocultural and environmental information. It requires no network connection, imposes no cultural or economic overlay, operates outside of the prevailing information delivery establishment, and is intended to respond to the globally emerging civil society which seeks a sustainable and vibrant world of many cultures.
Anticipating your collaboration, input, and participation, we have created the basic design framework for The Cabie. It utilizes a sophisticated digital wireless receiver and graphic display which allows web content to be viewed anywhere on Earth without any additional infrastructure. This means that the user can view the World Wide Web without a computer, without a telephone, and even without electricity.
The Cabie
What Is It?
Advances in semiconductor technology are now providing system architectures on a single integrated circuit. The effect of this is that advanced information-based products are no longer beyond the reach of most of our planet's inhabitants. This technology, combined with open source software and basic radio frequency circuits, can open new information conduits well beyond the reach of government censorship and multinational corporate manipulation at a very low cost.
At the core of the The Cabie is a highly integrated system-on-a-chip (SOC) microprocessor. It's the same one being used in popular cell phone and personal digital assistant (PDA) products now widely available everywhere. The Cabie is a powerful handheld computer that is configured with a digitally synthesized, wide band receiver sensitive enough to clearly receive streaming digital data from satellite, remote terrestrial, or low power broadcast sources. Since it is based on a popular SOC microprocessor, it has many network connectivity and peripheral resources that can be drawn upon to complete the handheld system at a minimum cost. As these microprocessors have been developed for battery operated products, power consumption has been reduced to levels allowing for operation by not only batteries, but other sources of energy such as hand crank generators and small solar cell packs.
Because The Cabie is based on powerful SOC technology and the LINUX operating system, it provides a platform capable of launching numerous user applications that until recently have been confined to desk/laptop computers. Its hardware configuration allows flexibility such that multiple versions can be implemented from a common development environment (PDF). For the cost of a child's game, The Cabie brings powerful personal computing to everyone. Due to the open nature of the design, countless new applications can emerge well beyond just delivery of the best content on the web. The potential advantages of this flexibility will increase as others join in the design, development, and dissemination of The Cabie.
Easy To Use
Out of the package, it is instantly available to its new owner providing an interactive introduction on how to use it. The initial start up session, which is language specific to the region where it is distributed, guides the user verbally along with visual cues on the display. This allows the product to be operated by users who are unable to read or whose culture does not include a familiarity with any form of electronic device.
Low Cost
The Cabie can be distributed inexpensively by emergency, human service, or sustainable development organizations, or it could be sold like a toy on a magazine rack, initially costing about the same as an inexpensive boom box. Its design anticipates high volume production and distribution by retail, international agencies and NGOs (non governmental organizations). Given the economies of scale, and with help from the agencies who work with us, we can bring The Cabie to those who need it most -- at no cost.
Ecologically Intelligent
Using solar photovoltaic cells, The Cabie maximizes battery life. It is designed to operate on extremely low power yet provide many hours of continuous use. The Cabie is designed to operate on its own. It is designed to be the only thing its owner will ever need to buy to access the World Wide Web. Rebates or rewards are offered so the owner has an incentive to return the unit for recycling if it gets damaged or stops working. Everything used in the construction and packaging of The Cabie will come from recycled materials whenever possible.
How it works
The Cabie receives content using an on board digital wireless receiver. The information stream is received in the form of compressed data packets. Typically, these packets contain content that is retrieved from World Wide Web sources, but they can contain data of any kind including application programs. A content directory is broadcast every few minutes with information on what will be broadcast in the next several days, much like a TV programming guide. This directory is also the menu for “tuning in” to the content. Because of the large amount of information being broadcast, the user “bookmarks” content that he/she wants to capture using this directory. The directory looks and acts like a common web portal home page, but has Cabie-specific functionality.
To maximize the amount of content that can be stored locally in The Cabie, all content is kept in its original compressed state until viewed or played. Memory is the limiting factor on the amount of content that will be available at any given time. Active memory management is utilized and the user will be prompted when bookmarked selections approach memory limits. When captured content has been presented, the user is prompted for saving or deleting the information.
The user interacts with content and directory pages using soft buttons at the sides of the display. These work much like navigation bars and are similar to the selection buttons on ATM cash machines and keep the cost of the unit down. Frames are provided that contain information related to the buttons' operation next to their physical location. Links embedded within the content being displayed are repeated next to the soft buttons for instant access. A scroll compass allows the user to position the viewable portion of the page being displayed.
All software used is GPL open source and the system components are available now. We invite you to "catch The Cabie" and join us in this development process.
Advanced Features
More advanced models of The Cabie can evolve in time. These can include SOC processor upgrades, smart media sockets and a microphone headset jack to provide a flexible learning environment for interactive instruction for everything from family planning and water purification to foreign languages to astrophysics. With more advanced models in urbanized settings, lessons could be delivered via memory cards which could then be returned for assessment after a lesson has been completed. Later models that have smart media sockets and USB ports allow connectivity to peripherals such as printers, keyboards, modems and wireless adapters.
The Cabie Foundation
We are seeking to establish The Cabie Foundation, a nonprofit core of international partners providing the logistics for deployment of this system. We encourage The Cabie Foundation to embark on a clearly defined mission of providing non-biased, essential information in support of a sustainable future for all mankind. We especially invite leaders in the fields of sustainable regional development, alternative media, and grass roots economic development to join us in our efforts.
Free of commercial, political or religious agendas, we are designing The Cabie to provide basic safety, health and community support information. Alternative media and information providers will take precedence over large corporate media companies, encouraging full access to unbiased reporting of world events. Visibility and transparency of this open access format will tend to reveal and discourage governmental and corporate misconduct. Strong emphasis is placed on providing educational content to areas of the world in desperate need of basic essential resources.
Colorado Digital is committed to bring this much needed resource to the 80% of the world's population who have never even placed a phone call. If this is an area of interest to you, please contact us for more information on how you can be a part of this effort.
© 2001, 2003 Colorado Digital Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
