Raspberry Pi as a mobile device?

[Fazar]

Hey, I'm not the most tech savy guy, and I also don't know that much, but has anyone else heard of the Raspberry Pi?

Would anyone also know if it were possible if you were to build some portable power source with it to say.. carry around in a backpack or something, would that work?

[spuug]

The Raspberry Pi is a pretty incredible little system.  Yes, it's very portable.  Good luck finding a place with any in stock, though... and if you do, please let me know!

[Fazar]

This'll probably be a very long term project unfortunately.

[Sasha]

Edit: A little slow on understanding today.. sorry if I get it wrong.. meow.

A power source is very simple for these kind of things... you can purchase a larger lithium polymer battery and regulate it down to the voltages your Raspberry Pi expects (or replace the Pi if you mean you just want a portable power source to charge your mobile devices)

Most lithium polymer batteries are safe to use in those situations, some have integrated chargers for added safety and should hold quite a charge for something small not too fancy...

The Raspberry Pi can be thought of as an open learning tool for students who wish to learn hands on computer hardware (it runs a Linux!) and you will have trouble making anything major portable, a keyboard is the standard interface for example, and the screen has to be HDMI (or maybe VGA) if you want one but it is portable if it runs without any of that.

A microcontroller solution such as the Arduino (maybe <$30) is likely a better choice... designed to work with lower powered LCD screens, push buttons and whatnot on battery. you'd have to tell us more, mrrr.

[Acco]

As TigerKindred said, it really depends on what the aim of it will be... arduino may be better for more lightweight computing, the pi would be better for more demanding stuff.

[Fazar]

I have this idea that I want to run some sort of real time voice modulation(mic, computing unit, speaker) for a costume/fursuit.  I've been looking around for options as actual voice transformers/voice changers seem to not do what Im aiming for(cant customize them and usually only do robotic voices).  So it basically has to run one function only.

[kayfox]

Build your own filter chain?

(I suspect even if you find software that would work for what you want, its not gonna be easy running it on a 700MHz ARM)

[Zen]

A 700 mHz ARM could easily run real-time filtering. However, it would be a lot of work to get that running. I think an Arduino might be able to do it, but it might struggle to process it.

[Fazar]

Think a smartphone might be able to handle it?

[Zen]

Well iPhones do have the "I Am T-Pain"/AutoTune app. That's on-the-fly voice modulation.  ;)

[Fazar]

I was mentioned they could be jailbroke, and you could have your own app written for it.  Guess it has the processing power, and input/output already.  Just not sure how that'd work with a suit.

[Zen]

Well yuo could jailbreak it if you want a non-app-store application or you don't want to pay $100 to get developer permission.

Or you could find a cheap android device and use that.

You would need to fit it somewhere where the speaker could be hear and the mic only near you. Or you setup a blue tooth mic and put the speaker and device in the muzzle. they are fairly heavy and will offset the head. Or you could put in small speakers, all of this would require some jury rigging of a head to make it fit. But it could be done, just need a large enough head and some decent wiring.

[Sasha]

A portable computer and software solution has a lot of overhead, however doable. If Pi running at 600mA, an inexpensive Lipo battery may be able to run 2100mAh/600mA = 3.5 hours.

A commercial solution voice filtering may be inexpensive (time is expensive too)

Anything with a microphone and speaker port is doable, portable speakers (bare not plastic encased) may not be highest of quality, but can be light and threaded in for support.

Can use many simple voice modulation integrated circuits (HT8950 maybe?) for DIY in place of those maybe with Arduino, nothing needed fancy, 16 bits and a few tens kilohertz analogue bandwidth will go farther than a computer by leaps and bounds if it works.

Arduino should be able to do it on its own too. Or you can distort your voice by manipulating the air path with something :-)

[Fazar]

A portable computer and software solution has a lot of overhead, however doable. If Pi running at 600mA, an inexpensive Lipo battery may be able to run 2100mAh/600mA = 3.5 hours.

A commercial solution voice filtering may be inexpensive (time is expensive too)

Anything with a microphone and speaker port is doable, portable speakers (bare not plastic encased) may not be highest of quality, but can be light and threaded in for support.

Can use many simple voice modulation integrated circuits (HT8950 maybe?) for DIY in place of those maybe with Arduino, nothing needed fancy, 16 bits and a few tens kilohertz analogue bandwidth will go farther than a computer by leaps and bounds if it works.

Arduino should be able to do it on its own too. Or you can distort your voice by manipulating the air path with something :-)

Particular effect Im aiming for has some reverb, and Phasing I think going on which you can only really emulate with a computers help. 

I'm running into a bit of speaker issue now actually as I'm not sure what would be a good fit in the head.  Friend is working on an application for Ipod.  Not sure if wired or blue tooth would be a good option either.  I don't think wiring in a fursuit head would be too difficult.  Bulky speaker for mouth would be.

[kayfox]

Suddenly, I am wondering:

Why not build an analog solution.

I donno, maybe its the lack of sleep talking.