The Sirius Handheld Computing Platform

The primary application that motivated us to create Sirius was e-learning. In talking to other people and companies about Sirius it has become clear that there are many other applications in supply chain management, retail, security, warehousing, point of sales and delivery management. These are all applications that we may eventually pursue, however our initial goal is to develop educational applications for this device. The kinds of applications we are talking about initially include:

1. Note taking tools
2. Searchable databases of courseware (syllabus material)
3. Multilingual (Urdu, English, etc.) e-Book reader and associated library of e-Books
4. Automated "Quiz" applications to prepare students for exams such as Matric, O'Levels, A'Levels, etc.
   

The OLPC Sugar laptop is a more powerful machine from a hardware specs point of view. However, for much less money, and with far greater openness and control, we hope the Sirius will be able to carry out all the tasks Sugar can. And more.

The OLPC initiative again relies on Linux. If you search on the web you will find CNet News.com stories reporting that Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the OLPC project has expressed his frustration with the fact that the use of Linux is causing the design to become too "heavy". Once again the same mistake is being made in using a desktop operating sytem for an embedded application. Thus, greater hardware requirements are being necessitated and cost is being driven up.

Architecturally, Sirius is very different from the Simputer, even though the intention behind both projects is similar; to develop a low cost handheld computer. Sirius, though, is not limited to being a handheld computer alone. The way it's being designed and built allows for the design to be customized to almost any form factor, without substantial costs. It's more an effort to develop a complete low-cost DIY computing platform - complete with OS, apps and peripherals - than a handheld.

In 2004, FiveRivers Technologies in Pakistan decided to embark on a project that, at its very least, was an adventurous, risk prone and highly innovative experiment. Our goal was to figure out how we could deliver an Information Technology appliance to the whole world. Yes, the whole world. A long shot for a small company based in Pakistan? Stranger things have happened.

The Sirius project began in early 2004 in Lahore, Pakistan. The goal of the project was to create an ultra low cost, easily manufacturable handheld computer with a low-overhead operating system. Sirius seeks to provide an open platform that anyone could use, customize, develop applications for and fabricate in a cottage industry, easily and cheaply.

FiveRivers Technologies based in Pakistan began development of the Sirius platform. Now that the basic architecture is complete, FiveRivers wants to promote an open community around Sirius, encouraging and inviting participation from all parts of the globe.