Upcoming ARM & Open-Silicon Webinar on Custom SOC’s for IoT

Upcoming ARM & Open-Silicon Webinar on Custom SOC’s for IoT
by Tom Simon on 03-08-2016 at 12:00 pm

IoT products call for a higher level of system integration than ever before. Companies seeking to go to market now have a much higher bar in terms of size, power, reliability and manufacturability. The first IoT devices evolved from embedded development boards, like the groundbreaking Arduino. These were fine for prototypes … Read More


How Makers are changing the world—and why I’m so excited about it

How Makers are changing the world—and why I’m so excited about it
by Sander Arts on 01-21-2016 at 12:00 pm

I’ve spent my entire career in the tech space, being exposed to some of the world’s biggest and most innovative companies. But these days, the thing that excites me a most is how Makers are using technology to make the world a better place.

Consider this: The recent Hackaday prize challenged Makers to build something that matters … Read More


Why ARM Enabling Easy Access to Customized SOC’s Matters

Why ARM Enabling Easy Access to Customized SOC’s Matters
by Tom Simon on 10-14-2015 at 7:00 am

The introduction of the Arduino heralded the huge growth and interest in MCU based designs by people who could never before easily put together the hardware and software system required for implementation of their ideas. I remember the first time I saw the Arduino in use. I was at a talk on how a system for controlling propane jet solenoids… Read More


MQTT not IoT “god protocol”, but getting closer

MQTT not IoT “god protocol”, but getting closer
by Don Dingee on 11-05-2014 at 12:00 pm

One protocol, and its descendants, drove the success of the World Wide Web. IP, or Internet Protocol, is the basis of every browser connection and the backbone of IT data centers. Some assumed that the Internet of Things would follow suit,… Read More


Maker Movement Embraced by Major Semiconductor Companies

Maker Movement Embraced by Major Semiconductor Companies
by Tom Simon on 10-09-2014 at 10:00 pm

How the Arduino Changed Embedded System Development Forever

In 2005 with the development of the Arduino, everything changed for people building things that required a microcontroller. The Arduino brought with it a low price standard, and open, hardware platform and an easy to use open source development environment. It was … Read More


On the Road from Makers to Consumers

On the Road from Makers to Consumers
by Don Dingee on 06-20-2014 at 12:00 am

It’s time to break with conventional thinking. For decades, the measure of success for semiconductors has been OEM design wins. Most consumers haven’t known, or cared, about what is inside their electronic gadgets, as long as they work. That may be about to change, because a new intermediary is finding its voice – and being… Read More


Calling all makers for new #8bitideas

Calling all makers for new #8bitideas
by Don Dingee on 04-27-2014 at 7:00 pm

The maker community and the learn-to-code movement is growing with many ideas built on small, power-efficient, easy-to-use 8-bit microcontrollers. If you want to be one of the next famous makers and maybe win some cash in the process, Atmel has a contest open until September 30, 2014 – here are tips on getting your #8bitideas in … Read More


Maker Faire San Mateo

Maker Faire San Mateo
by Paul McLellan on 04-20-2014 at 9:30 pm

A few years ago my then-girlfriend was an artist and she had some friends who were in the maker movement, one who ran a tool “lending library” and so on. So she wanted to go to the Maker Faire, which is a huge event held in San Mateo exhibit center. In those days it was more like an outgrowth of burning man but there were already… Read More


Sewn open: Arduino and soft electronics

Sewn open: Arduino and soft electronics
by Don Dingee on 03-19-2014 at 3:00 pm

As several other recent threads on SemiWiki have pointed out, the term “wearables” is a bit amorphous right now. The most recognizable wearable endeavors so far are the smartwatch and fitness band, but these are far from the only categories of interest.

There is another area of wearable wonder beginning to get attention: clothing,… Read More