A closer look
At first glance, a Raspberry Pi looks like a toy—a little green board that fits in your palm. But this tiny computer quietly powered classrooms, home projects, and even real-world factories. When shortages hit, it wasn’t just tinkerers missing out; schools teaching coding suddenly had no tools, makers couldn’t finish robots, and industries paused clever low-cost setups. Suddenly, something playful revealed itself as critical infrastructure. It’s a reminder that even the smallest gadgets can ripple globally—and that the great chip shortage wasn’t only about smartphones or cars, but creativity itself.
