The life of DuckiePi - finding the solution to e-waste and digital illiteracy in a little yellow box
With technology playing such an important role in our lives it’s hard to believe that over 40 percent of the world’s population has no access to the internet (Statista 2021). And with no access to the internet, you can imagine how crippling it can be to entire communities, how it affects opportunities for business and education.
On the other end of the spectrum, over 50 million metric tonnes of electronic waste is being produced each year (Statista, 2019). At CompAsia, our aim is to maximise affordability while minimising e-waste. So when we heard about one student’s initiative to repurpose electronic parts to create low-cost micro computers to empower the less fortunate, our ears perked up. Bernard, a Computer Science student from Taylor’s, tinkered his way to create what he calls the DuckiePi.
No, it’s not the latest Malaysian food trend. The DuckiePi is a cost effective, yet powerful mini computer. The main component of the DuckiePi is a Raspberry Pi computer encased in a small yellow box. It is capable of connecting to the internet, it has bluetooth, 4 USB ports, 2 micro-HDMI ports, and 1 audio input. The device runs on the Chromium Operating System which is optimised for Google, and can run other tasks such as video conferencing, file management, and running programs, to name a few. Operation is surprisingly smooth despite its pocketable size.
How much does it cost to make one?
The total cost for a fully functional DuckiePi is as low as RM400. This is roughly 250% cheaper than computers you will find on the marketplace today. Through much resource hunting and bridge-building, Bernard buys components in bulk, allowing him to further reduce costs. With a cheaper cost per unit, he aims to provide digital accessibility to communities who could greatly benefit from it.
The inspiration behind the project?
Bernard first got interested in computers through gaming. At 17, he discovered coding and began his formal education in computer science. Along the way he discovered the impact tech could have on the greater community. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Elon Musk, he too wanted to help others through innovation.
What’s next for DuckiePi?
The next milestone is to further reduce costs and to provide more DuckiePi computers to needy communities. Bernard is also looking to source components from pre-owned or obsolete devices. Not only will the DuckiePi project be helping needy communities, such efforts will also greatly reduce e-waste.
InstaCash X DuckiePi
Bernard’s enthusiasm and vision for a brighter, more sustainable future has inspired us at CompAsia; as we have also been strong advocates of minimising e-waste. We have partnered with Taylor’s in the DuckiePi project to help raise funds. Trade-in your device with us and we will give you an additional RM30 on top of your device value and contribute RM10 to the DuckiePi project. For more details go to: CompAsia Trade-in.
The future of our planet is in our hands. So join us in making a difference, one device at a time.