SoulPad
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SoulPad is a mobile computing project developed by IBM that enables users to transfer their operating system between computers using a USB flash drive, offering a portable and flexible computing experience.
Background
[edit]The SoulPad project was introduced in a 2004 research paper titled Reincarnating PCs with Portable SoulPads.[1] Researchers suggested that SoulPad could allow users to boot their personal operating environments from USB-compatible storage devices, such as cell phones or iPods. The project aimed to separate the user's operating environment (the "soul") from the physical hardware (the "body").
Usage
[edit]SoulPad allows users to carry their operating system on a USB storage device. To use it, the user copies their operating environment onto the device, connects it to another computer, and boots from the USB. This restores the operating system to the state of its last saved backup, enabling the user to resume work as if the environment had not been interrupted.[2]
Implementation
[edit]SoulPad utilizes a layered software stack to implement its functionality. It uses the Live Linux distribution Knoppix as a host operating system. When the computer is powered on, Knoppix recognizes any attached devices and launches a virtual machine using VMware, which resumes the user’s last session in their operating system. This process enables the system to restore the user’s workspace on different hardware while maintaining functionality.
Challenges
[edit]Several challenges were identified during the development of SoulPad. One of the primary issues is the time required to resume the system from a saved state, which can take up to two minutes. This delay is attributed to Knoppix’s need to recognize all connected devices. Security concerns have also been raised regarding access to the local disks of the temporary host computer. To address these issues, the researchers proposed creating system profiles to improve performance and mitigate security risks.
References
[edit]- ^ Ebling, Maria R. (October 2005). "MOBISYS 2005: THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MOBILE SYSTEMS, APPLICATIONS, AND SERVICES". ;login:. 30 (5): 66.
- ^ SoulPad
External links
[edit]- Cáceres, Ramón; Carter, Casey; Narayanaswami, Chandra; Raghunath, Mandayam T. (November 8, 2004). "Reincarnating PCs with Portable SoulPads" (Proceedings of ACM/USENIX MobiSys 2005). IBM Research Division: 65–78. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Cáceres, Ramón; Carter, Casey; Narayanaswami, Chandra; Raghunath, Mandayam T. (June 2005). "SoulPad". IBM Research. Pervasive, Mobile, Wearable Computing. Archived from the original on March 12, 2006. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- Singer, Michael (August 12, 2005). "IBM brains capture a PC's soul". CNET. CNET News. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
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