Solutions for Industrial Computing News

By boosting computing power to 1.64 petaflops, the U.S. DOE (Department of Energy) has created the "world's first petaflop system dedicated to open research." Located at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Cray XT Jaguar supercomputer can perform a quadrillion calculations/sec.

Undoubtedly most useful for business purposes, a new piece of software has been designed to centralize access to your multiple phone numbers, e-mail accounts, text messages, and even social networks. When you sign up for an account you receive a no-charge phone number, then you configure all accounts into one. Whatever the initial source venue, it pops up like an instant message on screen.

After the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved use of previously used TV megahertz frequencies in November for other electronic wireless devices, speculation has run rampant on the future implications. Still at issue is whether broadband use will interfere with TV. But the promise of extending wireless communications over hundreds of miles is a definite enticement. Another concern is whether a device (not currently in existence) that is operating on a channel can detect interference with a licensed broadcast before it uses the frequency.

Integrating control and measurements seamlessly in real-time is what has been under development by Beckhoff Automation, a concept referred to as "scientific automation" by the company's president. As reported by Design News, real-time fast controls and communications are the solution. Utilizing its PC-based controllers, Ethernet network, and control software, it's currently possible to mark events with nanosecond accuracy. Ultimately, control loops will be updated in real-time thanks to measuring machine conditions even faster.

Describing the embedded Internet in 2028 (i.e., the 4^th generation), Intel CEO Andy Grove looks back to 2008 where he accurately predicted connectivity of 15 billion devices. In his view, "massively simultaneous wireless communication" is taken for granted along with seamless connectivity on an IP-based infrastructure. In the future, always connected communications will be routine. To accomplish this, power requirements may need to drop by orders of magnitude.

Once relegated to maximizing battery life in portable devices and embedded systems, minimizing power consumption is now important to all IC designs. The reason is that at 65 nm and below, semiconductor processes command disproportionately higher device leakage than anticipated. To avoid such worst-case scenarios and over-spec power requirements, it makes sense to utilize statistical analysis to slash estimated power consumption by up to 3x, as this EE Times Europe article describes.

What controls the just over ½ ft tall Tomy's I-Sobot? An SBC of course. In this case, the Linux-ready single board computer utilized is also apropos for unmanned aerial vehicles and mobile robots. Weighing in at 1.6 oz with a 2.8 x 2.0 x 1.0 in. footprint, the board is characterized as weight-optimized. Check out the rest of the specs for this 1-W board.

Featuring an extended operating temperature range from -40° to 158° F, an EPIC format single board computer runs Linux for industrial applications. The board can run fanless with a 1 GHz Intel Celeron-M, or with a 1.8 GHz Pentium processor with a cooling fan. Designed for managing both industrial machines and sensors, it's recommended for COTS military, machine-control, pipeline, robotic, and transportation uses.

In a noble effort to educate non-urbanites and minimize the digital gap between their counterparts in cities, the Tapei, Taiwan government has opted for mobile computer classrooms. The educational plan will deploy chairs, 20 notebook computers, desks, sun umbrellas, and teachers to carry out their mission. Six coaches with two teachers are educating those citizens in outlying areas — if you're 18 or older.

Looking for an unusual holiday gift for that special computer techie? Or, this might be just the thing for people who have cold feet when it comes to computing: heated slippers with a USB interface. You plug them into your USB port to heat them up. They're available in all kinds of varieties for ladies and gentlemen alike — blue, fluffy pink, one big slipper you put both feet into, and more.

When and Why Should You Update Application Software?

In today's economy, updating application software is a tradeoff challenge because it's more costly than ever before. At what point does your company opt for upgrading?