Novena - a computer that guarantees full control over your security is already available to any user.

“Has the computer become a black box, even for experienced electrical engineers? Will we always rely on large, closed organizations that produce them for us? We say no. And to prove it, we created your own laptop. "

With this statement, the creators of Novena summarized the philosophy upon which their unusual design rests: open source software and open hardware. Their goal is to ensure that the user has complete control over their security.
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This concept computer is primarily aimed at experts, engineers and hackers, but it is also available to any user who wants to fully control their privacy. It became available thanks to a successful kraufandingovaya campaign , which has already surpassed the planned amounts of funds raised in 250,000 US dollars (collected 3 times more).



“We wanted to inspect and understand as many systems and components as possible, so if we are faced with bugs or other oddities in their behavior, we would like to rely on our own mind, and not on self-serving (often empty) promises of the manufacturer’s sales department. As a result, we decided to release a laptop, which would have been deprived of embedded firmware with a closed code, ”said the authors of the initiative.

For this reason, they chose Linux-based Debian as the operating system, and began to choose hardware that would be open to free configuration. This allows the user to download layouts, documents, and know in detail how to build or modify the system.



The idea is that the user community can improve the code and each element of the terminal components at its discretion, or even replace them with others in accordance with their needs. They can also add them without problems, unlike what happens in the case of regular laptops, which cannot be modified, because there is physically no place to place other objects.

“Do you want to add a pulse oximeter to Novena so that you can measure the level of oxygen in the blood passing through the capillaries in your fingers? Or maybe a barometer so you can track the pressure in your room? With the help of a few screws, you can fix your devices inside the Novena case, ”its creators say.



Due to this versatility, the computer is quite seriously different from what we are used to seeing in the market. Firstly, it looks a little different, being a bit big and clumsy, like laptops from the beginning of 2000. Secondly, it does not work as well as products that work under Windows or Mac OS X, despite its higher price.

“Frankly speaking, we will not flatter ourselves that we could create a laptop that will be faster, less or cheaper than Apple, Dell or HP,” says Huang. "However, we set out to build a machine that is powerful enough and comfortable for everyday use."

And this is more than enough for hundreds of people who are primarily puzzled by their security and privacy issues, because they have already made a bid for this innovative product, as evidenced by the success of the kraufanding project. If you look at the world in which we live, after the revelations of Edward Snowden, then such an initiative will always be in demand.

“Such transparency is unprecedented,” say the creators of Novena. “We hope that it will become an example for other engineers who will follow our example and help users regain their technological independence.”