What’s the Ethereum Computer?

It’s the easiest entry point to the world of Ethereum, without having to struggle setting up a client, buying ether from an exchange (it will come preloaded with enough to get started) or worrying about security updates.

Think of a little box that manages your permissions and identity, with strong encryption and permission control. Inside you’ll find a web3 identity vault, a Slock gateway to your IoT, and even experimental software like an IPFS server to rent your unused hard drive space — automatically.

It’s the easier way to browse Dapps.

It’s a secure gatekeeper between the web & web3 to your home or small office IoT, communicating wirelessly with your smart objects.

And it’s also a brilliant development platform, packaging all the software needed to build Ethereum Dapps as part of a straightforward, optimized image.

Use cases

We want to put the Ethereum Computer into as many hands as possible, and bring decentralized technology to the mainstream.

Home automation, meet e-commerce

Enable your entire home to communicate with the blockchain: rent your flat, or share any Slock.it enabled smart object directly and securely.

Any object that’s using ZigBee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi will likely be able to interact with the Ethereum Computer. When it comes to powering up a ‘dumb’ object, it will be a case of retrofitting it using smart plugs.

Long term, we’d love to see deeper integration of our technology with white goods. If you’re wondering why it could be useful for your washing machine to talk to the Blockchain, have a look at this article. (hint: it’s about your privacy).

Try out new, exciting applications

The Ethereum Computer is a full blown implementation of the Ethereum stack, and therefore can serve any Dapp via HDMI out to your home theater.

If you’d rather use your own machine, you probably noticed current Dapps often require you to trust them with relaying your instructions correctly to the Ethereum network via their web interfaces. This is rather ironic (and dangerous!) considering Ethereum was designed with removing the need for trusted third parties in mind.

You can simply point your browser, mobile phone or tablet to the Ethereum Computer, and the 3rd party web servers will only be used to serve static HTML assets, while your precious keys will safely stay within the confines of your home.

Participate in experimental programs

The Ethereum developer community is by far the most active in the crypto space, and pushing the limits of how we relate with various commercial, financial and scientific entities.

The Ethereum Computer can be used to run an IFPS node, perhaps even receiving rewards for renting your unused hard drive space.

Develop Dapps without headache

Develop applications with Ethereum and never have to worry about installation difficulties.

We’ll sort out updates and compatibility issues between the various components of the Ethereum ‘stack’ (Whisper, EVM, Web3.js, Swarm, etc), and will push updates only when we have tested the framework top to bottom.

Of course, if you want to run your own version of the modules, that’s fine too. It’s your hardware after all.

Host the World’s Computer

Help secure the Ethereum network and get rewarded for it (once Ethereum has switched to PoS), without having to dedicate larger, more expensive and less secure equipment to that task.

Will it be hackable/open?

Absolutely. We’ll not only make the devkit images publicly available, but also all of the detailed code that went into building the ‘stack’ so you can modify/improve on the installation.

One thing we’re aiming to do is use a hardware (board+SoC) combination that is publicly available so that one could completely rebuild the Ethereum Computer from scratch if they wanted to.

Having some GPIO available will also allow anyone to connect wired objects to the Ethereum network. We want you to be able to experiment!

Will it be useful for mining?

The Ethereum Computer is a full Ethereum client and therefore perfectly capable to have its mining function enabled.

That said, it would not be a good platform to mine on while Ethereum is still using proof of work, as its form factor prevents it from having the hashing power GPUs have. The Ethereum Computer will be a perfectly appropriate platform to help secure the network, but only once Ethereum switches to proof of stake.

Availability

Sometime in 2017, although we anticipate devkits much earlier as part of an iterative development process. If you’re interested in our alpha tester program, please indicate your interest on our Slack channels.