Pocket Pen Computer

Pocket Pen Computer

Finding new and interesting uses for the tiniest of computers was not always a hobby of mine,  merely the capacity to interact with a remote system used to be enough.  But lately I've found that discreet function, low-power, and remote access to be desirable features in a computer.

Mobile smartphones do well to meet both the low-power and remote capabilities of what I want, but their high cost is restrictive.  The Raspberry Pi on the other hand may not be powerful, but can accommodate countless applications.  But even the rPi is still too large for the application I seek.

The sort of device that is defined by the title of this article, a pocket pen computer is most accurate to define the ideal.  The ideal is that of a device that can act as a remote control digital interface with the portability of a pen.   It should have at least one USB interface, preferably type-C and all the other interfaces found in most smartphones, Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, Qi, etc... It should support a few hours of battery power so as to maintain itself when land power is unavailable.

A pocket pen computer could do many things when installed at a remote location.  It could act as remote sensor inputs, like visuals, audibles, or weather statuses.  It could manage small WiFi traffic devices or merely monitor wireless activity.  It could be a disposable signaling device or a tiny thin-client.  The potential that such a tiny thing brings when it is both small and a computer is challenging to quantify without a demonstrable example, but there are likely as of yet unknown applications just waiting for a platform.