Articles – Page 103

July 24, 2019

In the 1980s, a dramatic transformation came over the world of computing. Mainframes and minicomputers had long held the lion’s share of the world’s computing workload. Dumb terminals gave users access to the enormous-for-the-time processing and storage resources housed in massive data centers where most of the existing processing and storage capacity lived.

But, microcomputers finally evolved to the point that tremendous amounts of work could be done locally on desktop machines, without the need for massive mainframes. Tasks moved quickly out of the data center and onto … Read More → "To the Cloud and Back?"

Smart Sensor Sees in 3D

Toposens Creates Ultrasound Sensor for Robots, Cars, and Robot Cars

by Jim Turley

July 23, 2019

“[Motion sensing hand dryers] never work, so I just end up looking like I’m waving hello to a wall robot.” – Jimmy Fallon

In school I was taught that a thermostat is a robot, inasmuch as it responds to its surroundings in real time. Years later, I was the head of engineering for a robot company that made big, scary machines with 500-pound arms. Those seemed like “real” robots to me. Now we can buy robots to vacuum under our furniture, look after our garden sprinklers, patrol grocery aisles, or just to … Read More → "Smart Sensor Sees in 3D"

Security In and On the Application

Thirdwayv, Keyfactor, and Thales Focus on Layer 7

by Bryon Moyer

July 22, 2019

Internet-of-things (IoT) security seems to be passing through various phases as a topic. It started as, “Wait, what? I need security? But why???” Frankly, we probably haven’t moved completely out of that one, but we’ve made progress. Next comes, “What does security mean?” And that continues as well. But a third phase has started, and that’s one of, “OK, I get it, but how the heck do I implement this? Do I have to do the whole thing from scratch??”

Much of the, shall we say, remedial? … Read More → "Security In and On the Application"

Battlestar Galactica vs. the IoT

An 80s-Era Technology Resurfaces as an IoT Data Network

by Jim Turley

July 16, 2019

“Out of the box is where I live.” – Lt. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace

Remember in the opening episode of Battlestar Galactica when a PR minion explains to a group of reporters why the faster-than-light spaceship has antiquated corded telephones, but no computers or networks? It’s a dramatic framing device that neatly clarifies why a futuristic starship looks more like a rusting WWII … Read More → "Battlestar Galactica vs. the IoT"

The Coming Disintegration

Bringing it All Together is No Longer a Thing

by Bryon Moyer

July 15, 2019

It’s an idea rooted in the very identity of the products that the semiconductor industry puts out: the integrated circuit (or IC). For decades, our job has been to take lots of things that used to exist as separate components – transistors, resistors, capacitors, and such – and build them all in close proximity on a single monolithic piece of silicon.

From our initial efforts, we achieved simple logic chips and analog circuits. Gates and op amps.

But then we got better at putting things … Read More → "The Coming Disintegration"

FPGA FAE Redux Paradox

The Best and Worst of Things

by Kevin Morris

July 10, 2019

Recently, a colleague sent me a note on LinkedIn asking about an article I wrote over a decade ago called “Renaissance FAEs” – celebrating field application engineers (FAEs) working for FPGA companies. I went back and read the piece again, and was struck by three things:

First, the article is still just as relevant today as it was over ten years ago.

Second, that is a very good thing because FAEs have been arguably the biggest defense the two big FPGA companies have against startups … Read More → "FPGA FAE Redux Paradox"

Three Radicals Walk Into a Bar…

What Do Engineers, Socialists, and Capitalists Have in Common?

by Jim Turley

July 9, 2019

“The young always inherit the revolution.” – Huey Newton

Karl Marx, Charles Babbage, and Adam Smith walk into a bar.

After ordering drinks, the fathers of modern computing, socialism, and capitalism have a little discussion about the best ways to improve engineers’ productivity and efficiency. Babbage the engineer says that creativity and inspiration are key to innovation; that individual designers and inventors are the foundation of our technological progress.

Smith says that competition improves the breed. When individuals and corporations compete … Read More → "Three Radicals Walk Into a Bar…"

Sensor for Shipping-Container Forensics

Eye-Seal and Telit Monitor and Report More Reliably

by Bryon Moyer

July 8, 2019

Industrial internet-of-things (IoT) applications have a better track record of providing solutions to real problems than consumer IoT applications have. So, today, as part of our occasional series on IoT applications, we talk about one such industrial implementation. To help nail down its relevance, let’s start with the problem.

Enormous quantities of goods are moving across the ocean at any given time. Standardized containers have revolutionized shipping, and so, today, anyone within sight of a major shipping port will be accustomed to ships loaded with containers as well as … Read More → "Sensor for Shipping-Container Forensics"

Interdependence Day

by Kevin Morris

July 4, 2019

The United States celebrates Independence Day today. There will be fireworks, brass bands, barbecues, and all of the customary pageantry, flag waving, and folderol. Americans take the day off work, gather in crowded places, and generally make merry mayhem celebrating the birth of our nation. It’s a grand old time.

But, “Independence” is a bit of an unfortunate word choice. It originally meant self-governance and independence from the oppression of imperialism. The not-yet-United States declared their intent to separate themselves from the British Empire in … Read More → "Interdependence Day"

Can You Copyright Software?

Google, Oracle, Android, and Java Try to Sort Out Copyright

by Jim Turley

July 2, 2019

“People who like eating sausage, and respect the law, should never see either one being made.” – John Godfrey Saxe

The one certainty in law is that it’s unpredictable. Yesterday’s laws didn’t anticipate today’s technical quandaries, so we call upon the courts to apply sober judgment and insightful wisdom. Did the Founding Fathers mean for us to stream recorded music via monthly subscription? Are the engineers making autonomous vehicles liable for their mishaps? And what do we do about APIs? Are they mechanical contraptions, works … Read More → "Can You Copyright Software?"