The capability to operate a mobile operating system, initially designed for smartphones and tablets, on a small single-board computer opens avenues for diverse applications. This convergence brings the accessibility and user-friendliness of a widely adopted mobile platform to a versatile and low-cost hardware environment. For example, it enables the creation of custom media centers, dedicated application kiosks, or even retro gaming consoles.
Implementing a mobile OS on such hardware offers advantages such as leveraging the extensive Android app ecosystem, reducing development costs for specific embedded applications, and providing a familiar interface for users. Historically, this combination has been driven by the need for cost-effective computing solutions in various fields like education, hobbyist projects, and industrial automation. Its evolution reflects a growing trend of adapting general-purpose software to specialized hardware platforms.