For today’s entry I wrote an article for Euro Tech – a new media outlet which has started out on Google+ as a collaborative effort between people from all over Europe.

You can find the interview itself here:

A Slice of Raspberry Pi : An Exclusive Interview!

But the really interesting bit is the way the story went viral on Google+ and how I think the foundation is using an early release to the public (before shipping it off to schools). It was posted in the afternoon and by this evening it had generated 40 shares and more than 50 +1s.

I can understand why it would go viral – because everybody wants to be able to own a fully functional computer for $25. What I’m wondering, however, is whether the people behind the foundation releasing it have really hit onto something big in terms of marketing and ensuring the success of the product here.

Their ultimate aim is to get more kids excited by technology and wanting to get into programming, however, by making it available to the general public before shipping it out to schools (in a more kid-friendly package), they have managed to create a massive hype. This way when an excited 14-year-old gets their hand on one they will run a quick Google search and find thriving communities out there that share their excitement.

There will be communities of people who have tried out using the Pi for every imaginable use, some of which are more exciting than others. I have made contact with someone who shall be using one to control his fish tank, and someone else who would like to try making an array of the little machines to create a more powerful one. The opportunities are out there for whoever wants to get creative, and that is what will generate excitement.

Now I just can’t wait to get my hands on one!

You can read even more about the Raspberry Pi here.

(#52 of 366 X 2012 project)