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_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_ * Wifi / Mobile* _-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_ . . . . If the I-Key touches a cellphone, outgoing or incoming calls have the potential to alter the electronic code inside the key," Nissan spokesman Kyle Bazemore told Reuters. "The car will not start and the I-Key cannot be reprogrammed . . http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2190739/cellphones-slam-brakes-nissan . . T6 Commentary: Situations such as this is why I keep a copy of a wonderful book called ‘ Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences- by Edward Tenner handy in my office bookshelf. The book details numerous case studies such as the rise in resistance to antibiotics from people not finishing taking the drugs because they ‘feel’ better, to how the vision of a paperless office has actually lead to the dramatic increase in paper use far an above numbers any one could even imagine. Trust me on the latter example. I have two brothers’ in-laws who work in publishing - one on the purchase side and one on the supply side. From my conversations with them I have learned that the rise in computer related paper use has directly affected the price for books by increasing demand for raw pulp and mill schedules being dominated by printer paper production. . While I can only find two other news sources that are running this story, finding a mention on the Nissan site is nigh on impossible. I would not be surprised if Nissan was being tight lipped on the issue, as this is a silly, silly miss by the development and testing divisions. Next time a technical support person – and not just Crestron – mentions a possible conflict in technologies remember this article. [We are completely honest when we tell you mounting your 802.11 Wifi access point on plasma is just a bad idea – the EMF \ EMI plasmas produce is just ungodly- especially in the 2.4gHz range]. . You will note the Vnunet headline calls out US mobiles and makes no mention of European systems. For a short primer on the difference between US and European (GSM) phone service see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154970/ . . . _-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_ * Displays* _-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_ . . Microsoft unveils revolutionary device - Link Credit to James Streeter . . “Pretty exciting, eh?” Gates said with a sly smile, when he put his hand down on what looked initially like a low, black coffee table: At the touch of his hand, the hard, plastic tabletop suddenly dissolved into what looked like tiny ripples of water. The ‘water’ responded to each of his fingers and the ripples rushed quickly away in every direction. To do things on Surface’s tabletop screen, you reach down, touch it and push it. To make the image you see on the screen bigger, spread your fingers. To make it smaller, squeeze your fingers together. To move something into the trash, push it into the trash with your hand. And it allows what Microsoft calls “Multi-Touch” and “Multi-User” interaction — namely, more than one person can interact with it at a time. . . http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/18928656 . . T6 Commentary: The descriptions and abilities sound remarkably like the Multi-Touch Interaction Research FTIR (frustrated Total internal reflection) sensing technique touch interfaces developed at NYU. The original NYU website (listed just below) also has a link to company which was spun off the project. It also has a great video see it at http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ . . In T6 Vol 2 Issue 5 Dave Silver provided the link to a great video demonstrating this remarkable interface. The video and a link to a practical explanation of the technology are still located at http://mrl.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/. I urge you to look it over and be blown away. If this is what Microsoft recreated or has purchased the rights then the article author Paul Hochman is correct in stating, “…things could get really interesting” . . ************************************************************************** . . . . Sam's Club, the warehouse-club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is experimenting with a third-party service for helping customers install their high-definition, flat-panel televisions, possibly stemming returns of the pricey sets. Returns for refunds of flat-panel TVs have dogged both Sam's Club and rival Costco Wholesale Corp. as customers encounter difficulty hanging the TVs on their walls. Others get discouraged after discovering they must also buy a high-definition feed from their cable or satellite provider. US mobiles slam brakes on Nissans – Link Credit to Harry Negro
Sam's Club Tests TV-Installation Service- full story requires subscription
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118064903135520578.html?mod=technology_main_whats_news
..T6 Commentary: Even more evidence on how lower margins are cutting into even the cost cutters sales! The cost incurred by any store to process a return, re-stock or ship back is more then the cost of supplying installs labor help at just above cost fees. The article also points out how some investors see this as an opening to expanding box sales into install services for not just AV but all manner appliance sales / support. Could this eventually mean Sam’s Club, Costco and even Wall-Mart will be following the Best Buy’s into the sales/design/install home theater market? Now that would make things a bit interesting.
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* Format Wars *
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Universal's gamble: Will consumers win?
. . …But then there's Graffeo's company. Universal Home Entertainment is the one and only "major" exclusively backing the other combatant in this trial, putting out content only on HD-DVD. I'd argue that this format war is actually beneficial to the consumer. A little over a year ago, the least expensive HD-DVD player was $799. Now, with Toshiba's current rebate promotion (good through June 16), you can get an HD-DVD player for as little as |
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http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/17322682.htm
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T6 Commentary: A very interesting interview with Ken Graffeo with a strong argument in favor of HD-DVD taking the lead. Graffeo is clearly a HD-DVD advocate and is fulfilling his role to show just how HD-DVD is better then Blu-Ray from a technical and interactive feature set. Ken does good job of riding the fine line between advocacy and pleading for a chance against the heavy odds of Blu-Ray. We all know from the Beta lessons that often the better quality format does not always win, and there is little hope of the HD format war loser getting accepted as a “pro” version as beta did.
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Does Sony Have a Blu-ray Surprise?
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Sony has said publicly that it will launch a second generation Blu-ray this summer for $599.
However, TVPredictions.com has learned that at least one electronics chain in the Washington, D.C. area has been notified that the player (Model: BDP-S300) will be priced at $499.
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T6 Commentary: Sony, rather then touting technical superiority is going for the jugular by cutting costs of players with many of the same features as more expensive models – released only a short while ago. See T6 Issue 13 Volume 3 for a further discussion on the effect of margin loss and market saturation.
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* New Media *
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Net Radio Legislation Crosses the Hundred Member Mark |
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A bill that would save the Internet radio industry from a dramatic increase of fees webcasters pay to play music gained the support of its 100th member of the House of Representatives today. Introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL), the Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060) would vacate the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision that increased the royalty rates by 300-1200 percent over the next five years.
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T6 Commentary: I urge you for the love of all that music you hear no where else, contact your congressmen and tell them you want support of the INTERNET RADIO EQULITY ACT (H.R. 2060). You say you do not know who your Senator or Represatative is ? go to http://www3.capwiz.com/saveinternetradio/issues/alert/?alertid=9738601 to find out and get an easy way to notify them of your feelings. Make democracy work for you!
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* Working Knowledge *
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Frequency Frustrations
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Currently wireless microphone technology mostly exists on VHF frequencies between 174Mhz and 216Mhz and on the UHF band between 470Mhz and 806Mhz. These are considered "white spaces" within the current analog TV spectrum, or in other words, the spaces between channels. If the current legislation passes as it is now written, then these frequencies will be opened up to interference from an array of unlicensed devices. To complicate things further, in an attempt to stop interference between multiple UD's many of these products will be operating on multiple frequencies simultaneously to ensure a constant connection. Wireless microphone signals are low-powered, usually 50mW, and are not continuous, which makes then considerably more difficult to detect by these "hopping UD's."
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http://www.rentalandstaging.com/articles/publish/article_743.shtml
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T6 Commentary: The quoted article centers on wireless microphones systems but the danger of losing frequency space or the specter of increased interference is there for all lower UHF users The trouble makers for the automation industry is not so much the disappearing white spaces -(also to include the soon to be former gaps between the Color, Picture and Sound signals of your standard analog TV transmission)- but anticipated flood of UD’s –(Unlicensed Devices). The FCC is looking to make some serious cash from the sale of what will become ‘unused analog’ frequencies which will cover “…between 54Mhz and 698Mhz…”. The Sale will help generate new markets for all sorts personal and business communications. The hope is that the sale and development of these communication tools will not only generate added revenue but also bring the US to par with European systems and offering.
For Manufacturers and installers this is something to be watched closely. Will devices that once operated consistently according to Itinerant transmission rules become increasingly overwhelmed?
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The FCC appears to be relying heavily on the promise of ‘self discovery and frequency avoidance’ tools that have yet to be proven in real world applications. Having spent a few years testing and operating wireless microphone systems for live events and Broadway whist at Scharff Wiesberg, even when you have a list from surrounding theaters/ events in use frequencies one stray transmitter can throw the whole thing into chaos. No amount of frequency correlation, calculations for inter-modulation interference (interference from unit to unit) can help when some yabbo sets up an RF mic you did not know about.
. For a visual on how the frequencies in the US are broken down, see chart at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf
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. . Building Wireless Network Sensors |
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WSN is a term used to describe an emerging class of embedded communication products that provide redundant, fault-tolerant wireless connections between sensors, actuators and controllers or systems. WSNs provide access to assets or instruments that were previously deemed unreachable due to physical or economic barriers.
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Time Synchronized Mesh Protocol (TSMP) provides a mechanism for WSN intelligence. By defining how a wireless node utilizes radio spectra, joins a network, establishes redundancy and communicates with neighbors, TSMP forms a solid foundation for WSN applications.
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TSMP Overview TSMP is a media access and networking protocol that is designed specifically for low power, low-bandwidth reliable networking. Current TSMP implementations operate in the 2.4 GHz ISM band on IEEE 802.15.4 radios and in the 900 MHz ISM band on proprietary radios.
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http://www.industrialcontroldesignline.com/howto/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=SQIOEQVLOF040QSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleId=199900195&pgno=2.
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T6 Commentary: A very interesting article which covers not only the low level communication needs of WSN systems but practical considerations for network topology and interference issues.
While WSN can have several communication infrastructures the article focuses on IEEE 802.15.4. Can anyone guess what other name this standard is called? Bhuler? Bhuler? It’s the fine mesh-networking standard called ZigBee in some circles. The article has a good deal of insight on the technical goings on within a Zigbee network.
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For more info on WSN the Wikipedia article is a good primer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_sensor_networks
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Check out T6’s ‘Culture Corner’ with links to bands you should know and Inspired technical links from those who inspire me.
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Does anyone actually read the liner notes? Let me know, the comments section of T6 is now open. At the end of every issue find the Comments link.
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All quoted material is the copyright of the respective sites and \ or authors- except were noted or comments are clearly mine.
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All T6 commentary opinions expressed are mine alone and are not necessarily those of Crestron Electronics, its employees, associates or even their families. Just my big mouth
