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By Ricardo February 25, 2008 19:25 CET (see my profile page for links to my other pages)
This page describes the latest version of the BluetoothPhoneIncluder system that I am putting together in the UK and evaluating for use in Africa.
I'm hoping that Andrius can evaluate it in Lithuania and one of our African members could try it in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, etc.
Andrius had the idea of creating a very cheap, low-cost, low-power computer or text editor for use in developing countries. It was called the USB Flash Drive Editor for a start, as it was intended just to read or write files to or from a USB Flash Memory Drive. Later, it was given the name 'Includer' to indicate that it allows more people to be included in virtual communities in the same way as the internet, and the whole world of electronic-communications. This could be for social reasons, commerce, education, hobbies, sports, the arts, journalism, etc.
There are now several different Includer designs. They can all be produced. It isn't an either-or situation. They are :-
1. Trashware Includer built from old parts.
2. A new design, to be mass-produced in an electronics factory at the lowest possible cost.
3. A design that could be hand-assembled from electronic components in the developing countries of Africa.
4. The BluetoothPhoneIncluder or similar systems based on a collection of existing phone and phone-accessories (GPRS Bluetooth Phone + Bluetooth Keyboard).
Some of these Includer designs could make use of a mixture of new and old second-hand or recycled phone or computer parts. For example, an old Bluetooth phone and a new Bluetooth keyboard.
Internet-connectivity is a desirable feature, but the original Includer concept was to be very cheap, to include as many people as possible in the 'connected' world, perhaps only connected to the internet indirectly, via a USB Flash Drive Sneakernet file-transport service.
Uses 
- Peace workers and NGOs in Kenya, for writing articles out in the field, texts, email, internet, etc.
- Starting a MinimalistTelecentre or internet-cafe.
- Individuals, using it like a laptop or desktop PC.
- Schools, using it like a cheaper desktop PC system.
- NGOs, in offices or out in the field.
- Businesses, like a laptop or desktop PC.
- Healthcare workers.
- Local government.
Fig 1 - The iGo Stowaway fold-out Bluetooth Keyboard pack.
Several people sell it for about £20 or $40 on  http://www.ebay.co.uk/
The pack includes the keyboard, leather folder, manual and driver CD for many phones and PDAs. Drivers for more recent phones and PDAs can be downloaded from http://www.igo.com/
Fig 2 - The keyboard being unfolded.
Fig 3 - The keyboard unfolded, like a standard QWERTY Keyboard.
Fig 4 - Accessing Google on a Nokia N73 Bluetooth GPRS phone, supported at an easy viewing angle on the fold-out stand.
The keyboard is linked to the phone by Bluetooth radio-link. There's no cable or electrical connection between the phone and keyboard.
When you're not using the internet, you can use it to create text-messages and emails to send via the mobile-phone network, and for writing articles to be stored in phone-memory or add-on Memory Card.
When connected to the internet by GPRS or WAP, you can use it like a Home PC. You can use the QWERTY keyboard and navigate around web-pages, enter text into web-forms, write emails, write messages for Yahoo Groups, etc, just like a PC.
- iGo Stowaway folding Bluetooth Keyboard for phones and PDAs ($40 in the UK), or a similar folding keyboard. A fixed, non-folding keyboard could also be used, but would be less portable.
- A phone that has GPRS Internet-access and Bluetooth (from $100 in the UK) and is in the list of phone Makes and Models that is compatible with the keyboard (for the iGo Stowaway keyboard, see the http://www.igo.com/ website for a list, where the link says 'Is my phone compatible?').
Note 1 - For Nokia phones, the iGo Stowaway keyboard only works with the more-expensive Smartphones, like the N70, N73, etc, using the Symbian S60 Operating System (a true multi-tasking operating system). Unfortunately, for people on low income in developing countries, it doesn't work on the cheaper phones using other operating systems, such as the Series 40 Operating System. So far, I haven't found any other useful and affordable bluetooth keyboards by other manufacturers. I've only found expensive keyboards that also only work on Smartphones and PDAs (Targus, etc). Ricardo March 16, 2009 13:07 CET
Note 2 - iGo Ltd have now stopped making the iGo Stowaway bluetooth keyboard. There are still a few that computer and phone websites have in stock, if you search with google, and a few on eBay USA and eBay UK, but they are getting more expensive. Ricardo March 16, 2009 13:07 CET
GPRS configuration You need to contact your mobile phone company and ask them to enable GPRS on your phone. This can be at a mobile phone shop, by voice call, by an automated SMS system, or via a form on their website (not all companies).
See InternetAccessByMobilePhone and GprsPhoneComputerSystem
The keyboard runs on 2 AAA batteries (supplied). I need to check whether re-chargeable batteries can be used. For some pieces of equipment, the voltage can be a little too low.
The iGo Stowaway requires a driver program to be installed in the phone. It comes with a CD with drivers for some phones. The latest ones are available for download from http://www.igo.com/. The instruction leaflet and PDF manual (available for download) provides details of how to transfer the driver file to your phone. You can use all the ways that you normally transfer a file, such as 1) via USB Cable, Bluetooth or Infrared from a PC/Laptop, 2) beaming it from another phone by Bluetooth/Infrared, or 3) loading it from flash-card.
I did it by downloading it from the website to a PC, then transferring it via Bluetooth to the phone. I have a USB Bluetooth adapter for my PC to do this.
The phone needs to be 'paired' with the keyboard, so they can communicate. This is a one-time operation.
You have to put the keyboard into 'bluetooth discovery mode' by holding down Ctrl + Left Fn key + Right Fn key until a light flashes, enter a numeric passcode into the phone, then enter the same passcode on the keyboard.
Related Systems Infrared: A similar Infrared system could be built, based on a GPRS phone with Infrared interface and an Infrared QWERTY Keyboard that is designed for phones and PDAs, not PCs. Infrared requires alignment of the phone and keyboard infrared windows. It may be hard to align them when the phone is at a convenient angle.
WAP: You could use a WAP phone, and pay for internet-access by the minute, instead of GPRS, where you pay by the kilobyte of data downloaded/uploaded.
I want to look at other devices that can make the system even more useful, such as a Bluetooth printer. I want to see whether anyone makes an affordable Bluetooth mouse, to make web-page navigation easier.
iGo produce the iGo Stowaway Bluetooth Travel Mouse, but its only compatible with a very limited range of phones, PDAs, etc, and expensive, at about $68.
http://www.expansys.com/igo/p_igo_item.aspx?i=147202
See also, other Bluetooth devices at http://www.bluetooth.com/bluetooth/
Further information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth
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