They’re little stepping stones in the advancement in technology. That little computer is an overkill for home security, vending machines, and front end processors (mini computers that control BIG iron) computers.
At $9 bucks a piece (I’m skeptical), an enterprising young engineer might make something for the military with them.
Put some detectors on ‘em by the 10000’s and drop them from a plane and setup a chaos net and viola, you’ve gridded out your battlefields. Great for passive detection of overhead planes.
Make them float, put sensors and data collections on them, toss em in the ocean and find them someplace else in the world. Great for mapping ocean currents.
Space applications, medical applications.
The only downside is, there are plenty of these types of things available now.
You are so right! There are many uses for disposable computer devices and you just named but a few. Could be a great advancement for so many projects when the cost drops to such a low price. Could well apply to space exploration also...if only they would take advantage of it (Government problems).