Raspberry Pi is from a charity in the UK who's main aim is to get it into the hands of children, preferably in schools. Because it's cheap, it's been very popular with other demographics (middle aged tinkerers like myself) and sales have been huge, but that is besides the point; it's cheap to be easily replaceable (if a kid breaks one), hook-up-able to a TV (lots of charities & schools have TVs without HDMI for example, which is why it has composite out) and so on.
I know we have a great mix of posters from around the world so for those non-UK posters, a little background.
In 1998/1999 the UK removed "Computer Science" from the National Curriculum and replaced it with "ICT" Internet Communications Technology. Computers Sciences used to cover programming (in BASIC & LOGO amongst others) and other more technical aspects of computing. ICT is far simpler, covering things like how to use MS Office and more day-to-day computer use; we're no longer teaching more complex skills to our children.
Since this change the number of Computer Science Degree applicants has fallen. Some argue this also is due to so-called "modern" computers and OS's becoming easier to use, removing the technological / learning aspect (to some degree) from users.
The aim of the Pi is to get children interested in learning computing again; I recall in school in the 80's in the UK meant we had 3 BBC Micro networks, each run by a BBC Master, with robots controlled via LOGO commands (Tell Turtle North anyone?). We had classes covering programming, simple BASIC stuff, enough to get me interested in making my own software but more importantly letting me understand my OWN ability and give me the confidence to experiment. My Atari 800XL went from "just for games" to "something I could program" myself - I bought disk drives and subscribed to magazines to learn everything I could; I would never have bought an Amiga 500, then my A1200, never have learned to script AREXX and mess about with AMOS and Blitz Basic and certainly never would have considered a computing degree if it hadn't been for the confidence I gained early on. Simply knowing "it was possible", even if I couldn't do it myself, lead to greater things.
ICT is being removed in the coming years from the curriculum and our Education Secretary in the Government has promised a return to a more technical computer-studies curriculum.
This is the ambition the charity has for the Pi. Some kids will love it, some will look it over and move on and some just won't be interested; but I envy those who get hooked!
I see Steve of Imica fame has been posting videos of AROS running on the Pi already. I can't wait to play with that myself!
More info:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a393596/raspberry-pi-foundation-hopes-for-production-shift-to-uk.htmlAlso a long (17 minutes!) video from Eben Upton about the history of the project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xFzVuxldqs
