Title: Democratization of battery-less and sustainable computing systems
Date: Wednesday, November 11th, 2026
Time: 10am - 12pm Eastern Time
Where: Coda C1215 Midtown
Online: Link

Christopher Kraemer
PhD Candidate
School of Computer Science
College of Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee
Dr. Josiah Hester(Advisor) - School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Ellen Zegura - School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr.  Umakishore Ramachandran, School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Alex Adams - School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Thomas Ball - Honorary Professor, Lancaster University & Affiliate Faculty, University of Washington

Abstract

Three pillars of democratization are equity, access, and agency. An equitable system lowers the barrier to entry for novice users and programmers. First, I show equity through Battery-free MakeCode, a compiler modification to the popular education tool Microsoft’s MakeCode for micro:bit. This compiler modification analyses, reorganizes, and inserts code into a novice’s program so that even someone who is just learning how to code can make a battery-free device with the BBC micro:bit. Second, access means expanding battery-less computing to hobbyists, makers, and researchers. In my paper User-directed Assembly Code Transformations Enabling Efficient Batteryless Arduino Applications, I developed a low-level binary rewriting tool to enable battery-free computing for Arduino users. This allows Arduino users to make an intermittent device with a wide array of off-the-shelf hardware. Third, education and feedback about how a battery-free device will run in the wild gives programmers agency in their development. The Intermittent Computing Energy Toolkit revisits Microsoft's MakeCode for micro:bit and overhauls its debugging and simulator environment with dynamic and static energy analysis. This analysis allows users to detect battery-free energy bugs and test their programs before deploying their device.