Since 2015, microcomputers have appeared in the information environment, which are a compact system unit with minimal functionality without peripherals. The article published the results of the analysis of the use of 6 different microcomputers in various fields of activity. The purpose of the study is to determine the limiting factors affecting the efficiency of the targeted use of microcomputers. It has been established that for scientific and educational presentations, office and trading activities, it is cur-rently advisable to use fanless microcomputers with a perforated case and an internal WiFi antenna, at least 4 GB of operational and 64 GB of permanent memory, and a microSD (TF) memory card slot, at least 128 GB, NTFS file system), Intel HD Graphics, USB3.0 and HDMI interfaces. Based on comparative experiments, methodological recommendations were created on optimizing the configuration of the hardware-software environment of microcomputers in stationary and mobile conditions. The problems of major updates to Windows 10, as well as the compatibility of Microsoft Store software and third-party manufacturers, are analyzed. It is recommended to specialize individual microcomputers for working with 32-bit applications; accounting and cryptographic programs; as well as conducting presentations with their video. Options for optimal configuration of the Start menu of the Windows 10 desktop are suggested. It is concluded that specialization in the hardware-software configuration of modern microcomputers allows you to increase the efficiency of using single de-vices and their paired systems in accordance with BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).
1.1
Microcomputers are one of the classes of information processing devices that have been actively evolving since 2015. Unlike other mobile devices (laptops, netbooks, ultrabooks and smartphones), microcomputers, like stationary desktops, easily specialize by varying peripherals and software. Currently, there are microcomputers with operating systems Windows 10, Android and Linux. As a rule, BIOS tinctures provide for the selection of the priority operating system used. Analysis of use cases showed that the widest range of applications is provided by the Windows 10 operating system, and devices on the above platform were chosen for experiments on the specialization of microcomputers for different applications.
Since its release on July 29, 2015, the Windows 10 operating system [
Currently, the development of miniature computers for various fields of application is
in the phase of an active experiment, when updated device models appear in small
batches and include the official Windows 10 license. During the first half of 2019,
two microPC models became unavailable (BBen [
The cost of a microPC is comparable to the purchase price of Windows 10 Home
OS [
For the MASTER-MULTIMEDIA project, it turned out to be relevant to conduct an experiment to replace the traditionally used office and personal computing equipment (desktops, laptops and ultrabooks) with microcomputers, which are a personal computer system unit in a case the size of a pair of matchboxes. This interest was due to historical practice. Over the past 10 years, all laptops have been used exclusively as computer system units, and the interface peripherals (monitors, keyboards, mice, graphic tablets, webcams, microphones, speakers) were in common use and connected to each of the devices as needed. Thus, all the components of the input-output interfaces of laptops, except for the components of the system unit, turned out to be practically unclaimed.
The choice of microPCs for experiments on the modernization of the information
environment of the MASTER-MULTIMEDIA project was due to their mobility
according to the BYOD standard [
The experiments on configuring the information environment were carried out with 6
microPCs of 4 models, which differed in the basic hardware configuration (see Table
1): central processor (Intel CPU), RAM size (RAM LPDDR3) and permanent
memory (eMMC); type of cooling (active / passive); the presence of a CMOS battery,
an external antenna (Ext WiFi), connectors for connecting an Internet cable (LAN
Rj45) and audio peripherals (Audio jack 3.5 mm). It should be noted that in devices
without a CMOS battery, it is necessary to immediately correct the system date and
time immediately after switching on to avoid data synchronization conflicts with
cloud storages that are connected at the final stages of loading the computer's
operating system.
Currently, the minimum size of microPC RAM is 2 GB. The experiments showed that
2 GB of RAM is not enough for comfortable operation: Rombica model [
In 2019, microPC models with 32 GB data storage devices began to give way to devices with 64 GB of permanent memory due to lack of space for regular procedures for updating the Windows 10 operating system, requiring at least 15 GB of free space, while the basic set of operating system modules and the minimum software can be about 25 GB. The cost of permanent memory for microPC (eMMC) at the beginning of 2019 was about $ 2.5 / GB.
All tested microPC models had one slot for microSD memory cards (TF with a maximum capacity of 128 GB), into which separately purchased microSD cards were inserted. At the time of writing, the best microSD cards for use in microcomputers were Kingston Canvas React microSDXC 128Gb UHS-I U3 V30 A1 + ADP (100/80 Mb / s), allowing real-time 4K video recording.
Experiments have shown that the connection between a microPK and a memory card may be lost due to malfunctions of the operating system and exposure to strong electromagnetic fields. The reliability of the microSD card depends on the specific microPC model (there are frequent failures with MeLE device FOKWSM10 and rare failures with other experimental microPCs). To restore the operation of microSD cards, turning off, de-energizing and turning on the microPC is enough. In addition to saving space in the main drive, organizing the storage of programs and user files on the removable microSD-card makes it easy to use them in emergency situations of damage to the unrecoverable main drive. 2.2
All tested microPC models had graphic coprocessors with declared support for 4K
resolution ULTRA HD 60 fps: Intel Gen8 HD Graphics (BBen [
The output of micro-PC audio-visual signals is carried out via the HDMI interface,
the stability of which may depend on the high quality of the cables and adapters used.
If there is an appropriate HDMI connector in the monitor, the microPC can be
connected directly to it using the bundled extension cable (BBen [
For network data exchange, microPCs are equipped with dual-band WiFi modules
(802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) with an internal (BBen [
All microPCs had a Bluetooth 4.0 wireless module, which was often turned off by the system to save power, which made it impossible to use tested mice (SONY VGPBMS15, Logitech MX Master, Logitech MX Master 2S, Logitech MX Anywhere 2S) and keyboards (SONY VGP-BKB1, Logitech K375s, Logitech K480, Logitech K810) with Bluetooth interface due to reaction delays and loss of communication. Changing the Bluetooth settings in the BIOS did not help fix this problem. Connecting Bluetooth dongles via USB ports was also ineffective due to system locks. At the moment, the problem with connecting the Bluetooth peripherals to microcomputers remains unresolved.
A reliable peripheral connection for all tested microPCs was provided by 2 USB
connectors (the Rombica device [
Power supply of all microcomputers was carried out through a specialized microUSB connector (5V / 3A), which was very demanding on the high quality of the switched cable. During the operation, all the power supplies from the microPC supply set had to be replaced by higher-quality network devices (Rock T14 Travel Charger 3xUSB3A), each of which provided simultaneous power to one microPC and a peripheral USB splitter connected to it (see section 2.5) If it is necessary to get rid of acoustic noise during the work with sound (recording from a microphone, playing), it is recommended to power the sound equipment (receivers, transmitters, sound cards, mixers, amplifiers and acoustic systems) from power supplies that are not electrically connected with microcomputers.
The BBen model [
Thus, for scientific, educational, business and entertainment purposes, we recommend using fanless microcomputers with a perforated case and an internal WiFi antenna, at least 4 GB of operational and 64 GB of permanent memory, a Micro SD memory card slot (TF, not less 128 GB), Intel HD Graphics, USB3.0 and HDMI. Since each interface module (Rj45, Audio, Card Readers, etc.) is a source of additional heating, it is advisable to minimize the microPC hardware functionality and to specialize the properties of the information environment with connected peripherals. To prevent the occurrence of acoustic noise, it is recommended to organize power supply to the microcomputer and its associated speaker systems through different power supplies.
In the field, microcomputers and connected peripheral devices (USB splitters and storages, audio devices, screens, etc.) can receive power from batteries (power banks) with USB outputs (5V / 2-3A) and a capacity of at least 10000 mAh. In stationary conditions, the power supply of microPCs and peripherals from USB energy banks, permanently connected to the electric network, can be considered as an alternative to uninterrupted power supplies. Compact power banks are currently available, providing simultaneous power to 3-4 devices. When organizing long-term work in stationary conditions using energy banks as uninterrupted power sources, preference should be given to models that allow their own charging during the power supply of connected devices. 2.5
In accordance with the BYOD standards [
When choosing touch screens for working with microPCs in the field, it is advisable to give preference to models (Kenowa, etc.) that receive power from the microPC via USB port simultaneously with the exchange of multi-point positioning data (support for a 10-finger input method of information) and 1024 gradations of pressure. Experience has shown that for the stable operation of such a monitor with a microcomputer, a single power supply is sufficient.
In the absence of a touch screen, cursor positioning and text entry are carried out using computer mice and keyboards. As a result of experiments with connecting wireless mice and keyboards to microPCs, it was found that in polymorphic information environments with a different electromagnetic background, Logitech devices with the Unifying receiver connected via USB are most stable. For an information environment of 2–3 microcomputers, it is advisable to use mouse and keyboard models with support for Logitech Flow technology, as a result of which computers equipped with Unifying receivers are controlled by a single set of mouse and keyboard without the use of hardware buttons for switching focus (see section 9).
To control microPC during lecture and presentation activities, it is recommended to
use a special miniature keyboard with its own USB receiver, touch panel, as well as
ergonomic homologue buttons of the left and right mouse buttons [
In conditions of intensive multi-tasking, the operation of the receivers may be
disrupted due to overheating, as a result of which it is advisable to connect
USBreceivers through USB-extension cords or splitters (hub’s). Experiments have shown
that it is most efficient to use USB 3.0 splitters with additional connectors for
connecting a gigabit LAN (Rj45) and external power supply [
When one turns on the computer for the first time with a licensed Windows 10 operating system, the license is activated with its binding to the email address of the Microsoft user account and phone; selection of telemetry parameters of the system; formation in the c: \ Users \ folder of the user's personal directory (automatically named in accordance with the first five letters of the user's registration email address), as well as connecting the OneDrive cloud storage (starting from build 1809) to the folder of the same name inside the user directory. To save space in microPC drives with 32 GB of RAM, it is recommended to turn off advanced telemetry at the stage of basic system installation. It should be emphasized that the policy of using Windows 10 makes updating the system inevitable and can be turned off for a period of not more than a month, after which it is carried out forcibly. Major Windows 10 updates are released twice a year (in March and September). It should be borne in mind that updating of local Enterprise versions of the Windows 10 operating system may occur with an annual lag phase.
Experience has shown that after installing Windows 10 with assemblies from 1507
(Rombica [
An indication of the need for major updates is the User License Agreement, dated
2015-2017. It was found that it is advisable not to upgrade computers with outdated
Windows 10 assemblies, and immediately after the first login to the system, subject it
to the recovery procedure from the section (Settings / Update and security / Recovery
/ Restore the computer to its original state). Experience has shown that as a result of a
process called in this way, the last Windows 10 assembly is installed in the device in a
minimum amount of time, bypassing intermediate updates, which saves about 10 GB
of permanent memory space. The system recovery procedure is impossible on
systems in which, after installing the software environment and downloading user data,
less than 8 GB of free space is left (MeLE [
It was noticed that the background image of the lock screen is replaced with a new one during system updates, and after failures and component recovery, it returns to the old version. This feature can be used as an indicator of the previous state of the system when it boots. One should avoid conditions that interrupt the operation of the microPC (power failure, freezing in multitasking mode, etc.) during a lengthy procedure for cleaning previous installations and unnecessary Windows 10 update files. As a result of abnormal completion of the cleaning procedure, the memory space is removed from the further turn. 4
In the basic configuration options for microcomputers, the Windows 10 operating system is delivered in a request state to automatically install a set of 30-40 software applications from the Microsoft Store online store, which begins after the first login. After the installation is completed (about 1 GB of space in permanent memory), these applications are updated automatically, which causes an increase in the consumption of the space they occupy. Many of these applications are shareware and are used based on regular subscriptions. The set of shareware applications of the Microsoft Store depends on the manufacturer of the microcomputer. Enterprise versions of the operating system may ship without the Microsoft Store application.
From the basic set of free applications, we recommend paying attention to Microsoft Edge (browser); Microsoft OneDrive (cloud storage, the size of which depends on the user subscription); OneNote and Sticky Notes (services for creating multimedia and text notes synchronized on all user devices, respectively); as well as a set of programs inherited from Windows 10 Mobile (Alarms and clocks, Voice recording, Calculator, Camera, Maps, Cinema and TV, People, Groove music, Weather, Mail and Calendar, Skype, and Photos). The databases of some of the listed applications (OneDrive, People, Mail and Calendar, Photos) increase as they are used, which must be taken into account when configuring the microPC information environment with a limited amount of read-only memory. In emergency cases, the Photos application database and OneDrive backup database can be deleted with the release of several GB of space (photos in user folders are saved and the databases will subsequently be automatically restored).
The set of Microsoft Store applications installed in the system should be varied in accordance with the specifics of user work and the use of a computer in a distributed information environment (see section 9). The basic set for the creation of a unified information environment for the microPC of the Infocontinuum of the MASTERMULTIMEDIA project includes four dozen Microsoft Store applications, including the “Microsoft ToDo: List, Task and Reminders Task Manager”, “Snip & Sketch”, “Microsoft Whiteboard”, and graphic application “Microsoft Office Lens”. The latest HEVC video codecs required for playing and editing audio-visual recordings made on modern smartphones are purchased separately ($ 0.99). After installing the codec using the free Video Convertor (V3TApps) application, one can convert the new audio-visual recordings to a format compatible with most software video editors. 5
The functionality of the information environment of microcomputers can be enhanced by installing third-party software applications that can conflict with each other, provoke malfunctions of the operating system or help to overcome them. For example, the installation of a workable vector graphics editor CorelDraw 13 forbidden by the Windows 10 operating system in forced administrative mode is possible, but the result is an irreversible failure of the functioning of all Microsoft Store applications and the Start menu. In an information environment with such defects, Internet access is possible using the classic Internet Explorer application or through browsers of third-party software vendors, among which Google Chrome has the highest performance / resource ratio.
Since 1993, Total Commander [
In Windows 10, the Start menu was updated, which appeared back in Windows 95. In
addition to the buttons for accessing the User Account, Explorer, System Settings and
the Alphabetical Application Menu, so-called “tiles” were also included in the Start
menu – potentially multi-format interactive animated elements for calling selected
applications of the Metro interface [
The Metro interface turned out to be extremely effective in the Windows Phone Mobile OS developed for smartphones, but it is not much needed in the information environment of desktop computers and laptops. Options for configuring the Start menu that are offered in Windows 10 builds for the 2018-2019 release include the “Create”, “Play”, and “Explore” blocks. In distribution assemblies of Windows 10, starting from 1903 (May 2019), the Start menu was reduced from a two-column version to a one-column one, and for updated configurations, the blocks of the second column are automatically moved to the lower region of the first column when changing orientation of the screen from landscape to portrait. Given the emerging convergence of the information environments of mobile devices and other computers, it is advisable to configure the Start menu in a unified style for all computers in the common information space and fill it in accordance with the specifics of each device (see section 9). For example, in the Infocontinuum of the MASTER-MULTIMEDIA project, all devices have common Start menu tiles: Organize, Play, Explore. Depending on the purpose of the computer, the Start menu is supplemented by specialized blocks: “Create”, “Finance”, “Use”. The properties of blocks and tiles, as well as their mutual arrangement, are configured by the user in accordance with their preferences and the specifics of frequent actions, including changing the orientation of the connected screen. Practical experience shows the advisability of including the display mode of the "Frequently used applications" section in the Start menu settings. 7
Control over the use of long-term memory in Windows 10 is carried out in a special section (Settings / System / Device memory), where the information on the use of local storages and media connected to the device (SD-cards, disk spaces, etc.) is concentrated), and also there are adjustments to the memory monitoring functional and its automatic release. To save scarce space on the main memory storage, it is advisable to change the location for saving new content (applications, documents, music, photos and videos, films and TV shows, offline maps). To do this, it is practical to connect to the device a reliable, capacious and fast microSD-card (see section 2.1), previously formatted in NTFS format, and immediately after the first login to indicate this card as a new storage location. As a result, all Microsoft Store applications loaded at the request of the installation script will not occupy space in the main storage, and the user directory will be moved from the c: \ Users \ folder to the root of the microSD card. Theoretically, the Windows operating system has the usual mechanism for translating applications between different carriers for smartphones, but to use it, you need to stop the portable application, which in some cases is impossible.
In Windows 10, starting with build 1809, OneDrive cloud storage is associated
with a user account in a state of accessibility of all files on demand, which allows you
to connect data volumes exceeding its capacity to a local drive. For example, in a
multi-user computer configuration (see section 12), up to 6 cloud storages with a total
capacity of 6 TB can be connected to its 32 GB drive. Prior to requesting access to
OneDrive storage files, only database data that control the synchronization state are
stored on the computer. The size of the local database is about 1 GB / 1 TB of data in
the cloud. After downloading files from the cloud and their modifications, the updated
versions automatically replace the predecessors in the cloud and are deleted from the
local medium in accordance with the schedule of the Memory Control settings: daily,
weekly, monthly, etc. However, if you need to work with large files at the same time,
there is a chance of running out of space in the system drive, where the OneDrive
folders are located by default (see section 2.1). For this reason, during basic system
configuration, it is advisable to move the OneDrive folder from the user directory in
the c: \ Users \ folder to the microSD card (only NTFS format is acceptable, whereas
the original microSD card format is ExtFAT). To ensure the possibility of changing
the location, you should agree to the OneDrive default setting, after which
immediately delete the formed connection with the user's cloud storage and create a new
connection with the directory on the microSD-card. For single-user computer
configuration, it is advisable to place the OneDrive folder in the root directory of the microSD
card, and in the case of multi-user configuration, inside the user directories of the
microSD card. The internal folders of the OneDrive directory are created in
accordance with the recommendations for creating a distributed storage system and media
content [
It should be borne in mind that in a paused state of OneDrive synchronization (no
connection to the Network or connection with limited traffic), the creation and
modification of descript.ion file comments is blocked in the local file storage. For this
reason, files with comments (archives with verification protocols, distributions with
annotations, etc.) in an unsynchronized state should be accumulated in the
OneDrive.new buffer directory [
Starting in 2019, it became possible to create multi-user computer configurations without significantly consuming storage space for each new user. This is due to the features of connecting devices to OneDrive.com cloud storage and the new Microsoft application sharing policy. For third-party applications, permission for their use for each user may be required, as occurs during the process of restoring the functions of Microsoft Office with the adoption of a usage policy for users whose configurations did not carry out its initial installation.
One should keep in mind that the configuration of connection to OneDrive repositories for each user is independent and users do not have access to view each other’s directories. The directories of all users can be located on a microSD-card, which reduces the likelihood of irreversible data loss in emergency situations (see section 2.1). The configuration of the Start menu for each user and the modification of the contents of the Desktops is carried out individually. Experience has shown that the “OnDemand Access” mode for user data allows organizing and using multiuser configurations stably, even on microcomputers with a minimum size of the system disk’s permanent memory. 9
In the course of performing scientific, educational and office tasks, situations often arise when simultaneous work on several computers with different configurations is required in order to avoid software conflicts and a lack of system resources. For example, the efficiency of working with databases of the 1C-Enterprise platform is higher in a 64-bit environment, but many forms of reports with two-dimensional barcodes can be printed out only from 32-bit versions. It turned out that the presence of crypto providers in the information environment negatively affects the possibility of multitasking with databases, associative cards and graphic applications in the demo mode of the desktop and audio-visual recording of its contents during Skype video conferences. For this reason, it is advisable to use specialized computers for activities in the areas of distance learning and accounting and management accounting, in which it is necessary to ensure that cryptographic service providers work with qualified electronic signatures, USB hardware HASP keys, etc. A special configuration of computers is required to process massive audio-visual data and simultaneously monitor the kinetics of many processes (tools for technical analysis of the state of financial markets, etc.). When conducting videoconferences (consultations, scientific and educational activities), it is convenient to use one computer to demonstrate the desktop, and use another for reference and organizational purposes.
Several computers with different hardware and software configurations (up to
3 pcs.) Can be combined into a single environment using Logitech Flow technology
[
The information environment of each computer can be individualized by creating multiple desktops, the timeline that preserves the history of working with all files helps to control the change in the contents of which. To facilitate on-screen identification of shared computers, it is recommended to assign the names of the corresponding computers to microSD cards, and place a shortcut with the name of the computer and a link to the root directory of the microSD card in the upper left corner of each desktop. 10
The hardware-software configuration of modern microcomputers allows you to use
them individually in accordance with BYOD standards [
At the level of philosophical generalizations, specialized computers of a single
information environment can be likened to cells whose combined action takes the
system to a qualitatively new level of functioning of a single multicellular organism in
accordance with the paradigm of infocentrism [