Computer advancements have been the most talked about “thing,” and it is rightly so if we focus on the revenue generated by computing that currently amounts to $291.10 billion U.S. dollars. This exponential and renowned market is expected to grow leaps and bounds at a CAGR of 1.41% from 2022 – 2026.

The unstoppable and rigorous technological advancement and demand gave birth to Turing Pi 2, which is a savior for IT professionals. A 4-node mini ITX cluster board, Turing Pi 2 comprises built-in Ethernet that ensures the user is not disconnected from the work and the world at any point in time. 

It was not surprising to note that Turing Pi 2 created a disruption in the market on its launch on Kickstarter in June 2022. Never witnessed before, this modular, scalable, and energy-efficient product saw more than 7 thousand backers on Kickstarter’s crowdfunding platform servers. The server witnessed the continual demand and was unable to process incoming transactions for twenty minutes. Yes, the community of IT professionals and enthusiasts were ready beforehand to pre-order the Turing Pi 2 cluster computer. Thus, the wave of incoming transactions resulted in the shutting off of the platform altogether.

The Kickstarter platform saw the threshold of $64 thousand being met in less than three minutes. Surpassing its goals, $500k was achieved in sixty minutes, and $1 million in 12 hours. Now, the Kickstarter campaign is changing the entire game with the third stretch goal. The innovative Turing Pi RK1 compute modules are ready to meet the world by the end of 2022. The highly efficient 8-core ARM Rockchip RK3588 processors and 32GB of RAM integrated into every module provide an edge to Turing Pi 2.

Turing Pi 2 and Turing Pi RK1 will together deliver a new solution to fulfill the upcoming demands in effortlessly expandable ARM servers. 

If this isn’t groundbreaking, we wonder what is?

Serving the trustworthy and new users of the Turing Pi 2 cluster computer, the product unites a range of computing modules into a single cluster server. Yes, the functions are parallel to a cloud server; however, it is excessively compact, noiseless, and energy efficient in contrast to its competitors in the marketplace. Focused on delivering a perfect balance between applicability, productivity, and convenience, Turing Pi 2 supports Raspberry Pi CM4, and Turing RK1 compute modules. These modules are designed for general computing and Nvidia Jetson boards for machine learning and GPU-powered applications. 

Surpassing beyond expectations, the Turing Pi 2 provides HDMI, USB, Ethernet, SATA, and mPCIe connectivity to ease the process and augment work progress. The mini ITX form allows the usage of old-school cases with the provision of being charged by any type of desktop power supply. The onboard management controller is instilled with open-source firmware, allowing the setting-up and utilization of the cluster an effortless experience. 

Computing, homeland, cloud apps self-hosting, education and prototyping, home and business automation, software deployment, media streaming, processing, machine learning, and software deployment are a variety of applications supported by Turing Pi 2. 

Currently, the Turing Pi 2 cluster computer is sold for $219 and is the number one choice of users. Turing Pi 2 fanatics can pre-order the product now as the shipping commences in September 2022. 

Growing with continual success, Turing Pi 2 is a winner in the industry. Delivering functionalities similar to cloud servers but with elite services, this cluster computer provides a perfect balance in all segments imperative to the users. Supporting Raspberry Pi CM4, Turing RK1 compute modules, Nvidia Jetson boards, and GPU-powered applications, Turing Pi 2 is changing the game with its incredible features and services.

AM Bank Chairman Marwan Kheireddine acknowledges Lebanon is currently facing challenges. These include addressing how some activists are calling for bankrupting local banks because they are angry that their deposits have been blocked. However, the financial expert doesn’t agree with this idea.

“In Lebanon, like in other developed countries, for example, the United States, there is a deposit guarantee institution that is owned by the state that protects depositors up to 75 million Lebanese pounds, which today is about $3,000,” Marwan Kheireddine says, “So essentially, if you bankrupt the banks, like a lot of activists are saying, out of anger, you actually end up hurting depositors, in that those banks, under liquidation, will never be able to repay the deposits back their fair value.”

In turn, Marwan Kheireddine says each depositor will be guaranteed by the National Deposit Insurance Corporation of Lebanon, an amount that is equal to, or slightly above, $3,000 — and that is a paltry amount compared to the $100 billion currently on deposit with all Lebanese banks, which are owned by all the Lebanese. “So I am totally against bankrupting banks, mainly to ensure that depositors, in the long run, end up getting more of their deposits as opposed to less,” he says.

Food Insecurity Is Also Playing a Role in Lebanon’s Latest Struggles

Lebanon’s burgeoning economic crisis continues to flood headlines across Lebanese news channels. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is also adding fire to Lebanon’s distress, as AP News reports that the country is plagued with food shortages and surging oil and food costs.

Al Jazeera reported last year that nearly 80% of Lebanon is living below the poverty line and many citizens have been surviving on bread and tea. The Arabic media outlet also reports that locals are hoping to fix the broken infrastructure and revive industries again in Lebanon. 

A UNICEF survey states that four in 10 Lebanese youth used funds for education to instead purchase basic food, medicine, and other daily necessities — and three in 10 stopped their education altogether.

Ettie Higgins, a UNICEF Lebanon representative also says in a press release that Lebanon’s youth are especially deprived of support. “Investments are needed to ensure that financial concerns do not prevent them from getting the education and skills they need to eventually find decent work and contribute to the stability and prosperity of Lebanon,” she adds.

As the Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to brew, Marwan Kheireddine says its impact on Lebanon, as well as many other countries, is undeniable. 

“It’s had a tremendous negative impact on the Lebanese economy, mostly because we import about 85% of our consumable goods, and we’ve been hit by two major world crises, one after the other — COVID being No. 1 — which have impacted us,” Marwan Kheireddine says. “The Ukrainian crisis has increased the price of foodstuffs significantly. Energy prices have increased. Food prices have increased and the fact that there are worldwide shortages has made more people go after a limited number of goods, so it has increased their price. Add all of that to the fact that Lebanon consumes about 85% imported products and it gives you a bad scenario.”

Marwan Kheireddine Explains How Cryptocurrency Could Affect Lebanon’s Future

Marwan Kheireddine says he also sees a path for cryptocurrency to take in Lebanon’s move to improve its economic situation — but one major thing would have to happen. “There’s obviously a role that crypto can play in Lebanon, and the Lebanese have been known to be leaders when it comes to embracing new technological advances and new payment methodologies,” Marwan Kheireddine explains. “However, in my mind, there’s little chance for crypto to take a significant control in Lebanon’s economy, unless Lebanon’s economy opens back up to the world.”

Marwan Kheireddine says Lebanon’s economy is closed off and its government is in default. “We are unable to move funds freely through the financial system, so in my mind, although a lot of the Lebanese deal with crypto, they do not deal with crypto in any impactful form on the local economy,” Marwan Kheireddine says. “It’s essentially dealing in crypto outside the economy. Someone might have a portfolio, they might be in for the profit or they might be in to use a crypto as a payment methodology, but it is not directed at the Lebanese economy or the local economy. Mostly the Lebanese and Lebanon has a huge expat community. There are more Lebanese outside Lebanon than in Lebanon. But in my opinion, to see crypto have an impact on the local economy, the local economy needs to open up to the world first.”