Go Embedded!

A very nice course on Pervasive Human-Centric Computing. Its interesting to see where current trend in computing might lead us to. python and bluetooth have been explored in detail alongwith speech, location-aware (LBS) programming and cellphone programming. Extensive information available at following two links:

1. MIT 6.883 Pervasive Human Centic Computing
2. 6.894 – Pervasive Human-Centric Computing – Fall 2004
3. MoDe

RC model helicopter prices have reached a point where all sorts of challenging (i.e. crash-prone) robotics projects become affordable. This document explains how to build a 300 g, 3D-capable helicopter with embedded Linux and Bluetooth datalink for less than 500 EUR.

As a proof of concept has been built which allows the helicopter to be remotely controlled over Bluetooth with a PC joystick. Really nice effort and truely awe inspiring
http://perso.orange.fr/pascal.brisset/chromicro/doc/chromicro.html#id2789228

If you haven’t been paying attention to the amount of e-waste that gets generated – here it is for you. RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. It’s a EU (European Union) directive – not a law. It talks about six important harzardous materials used in various electronic and electrical goods. Most equipment manufactures are complying to this directive voluntarily. So if you want to keep your backyard clean of e-waste, check if the next laptop you buy is RoHS compliant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_of_Hazardous_Substances_Directive

We spoke at NSIT InnoVision 06-07 yesterday afternoon. The event was a mixed bag. We met some good people at NSIT like Dr. M.P.S. Bhatia and Prof. Dhananjay Gadre. Both were quite energetic and enthusiastic about what they were doing. Prof. Gadre was quite blunt in his criticism of Services companies, esp. the leaders in India. In his opinion they are primarily responsible for degradation of science education in this country. There was a gentleman from TCS who countered his views and said that if it wasn’t for these companies there wouldn’t be any jobs for lakhs of young middle class students in this country.

I agree with both these views. In fact the abundance of jobs in present times has definitely led to frivoulous standards of education. However, if it wasn’t for these jobs millions of average students wouldn’t have had high paying jobs that they have today – let alone careers. Although IT revolution of last 15 years have changed the face of the country in short term and brought much needed properity in bigger cities, it’s imperative that unless we raise the standards in our educational institutions – other than just give autonomy, we have serious troubles in medium to long term. Engineers in this country have unfairly smooth roads to tread upon right now. They shouldn’t forget however that unless they raise their standards through lifelong learning the roads will be full of potholes in coming years.

We will be at Innovision event at NSIT (Netaji Subhas Intitute of Technology), Delhi for a lecture on 14th October. More information at:
http://www.innvi.com/

Nice description of Windows CE 5.0 system call mechanics from WinCE Base Team Blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ce_base/archive/2006/02/02/Inside-Windows-CE-API-Calls.aspx