PDK Development for Nanotech Circuits

If you're interested in PDK development but in a different, revolutionary domain, not CMOS, you might consider contacting Dr. Eric Vogel of UTD and offering to do some work for him. He develops nano-tech components - transistors, etc, but at small dimensions. There, the circuit designer has the job of characterizing and modeling the devices. You can offer to develop a PDK for him that will make the circuit designer's job very easy and make the design process very modular.

Senior Safety

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Basic idea is this :

Extend on the RF2500 demo kit based on the MSP430. This kit has a target board powered by batteries. the host board is connected to a PC through USB. The demo target board has only a temp sensor. When the demo app is run on the PC, it shows the temperatures on the target and the host boards. The target board needs to be within 50 meters of the host.

Application :

Save healthcare costs by preventing injuries from falls. Target market is fall-prone individuals - mostly elderly

Concept :

Have multiple target boards that interface to accelerometers that report an event to the host when the acceleration exceeds a certain value. These can be located on the person of the user. The host processor can decide if a fall is happening. The user will also be tracked by a couple of robots in a Roomba-like form- factor, which are programmed to stay within a prescribed distance from the user. One will be in front and the other behind. These units contain air-bags that can be deployed in a suitable way to prevent injury in the event of a fall. If the host processor detects a fall condition, it can deploy the airbags to prevent an injury.

The idea is basically simple, but it would require a fair bit of programming and system partitioning for practicality.

Innocence by Association

We've heard the more familar phrase. Here's my predicament:

I want to design in TSMC's processes and market the IP. But, how can they trust small fry like me? Answer, I ally with a big name in my location. Of course, I must foot the bill for development. But, say I go with an outfit like Lockheed Martin, and give them the right to inspect me and take responsibility for me, and tell TSMC that I'm clean, would that work? Has something like this been done before? Interesting. I get to design out of my house, or office, LM gets to check me out and report back to TSMC not to worry, we all make life easier and the world a better place. John Lennon would love it.

Universal Locator Code

You're waiting for a shuttle or something like that. But, you have to wait indoors where you can't see it approach. You want a call on your cell telling you to come out - automatically. How? When you've registered at a hotel (say), they give you a code you can use that will be valid during your stay. Then, when you want to be notified, you dial a number on your cellphone and, since the system also knows where the shuttle is, because it's tagged, and it knows where you are - since the cell-company can get your approximate location by triangulation, you can be notified.

Now Hiring - Get the Best

That should be your logo - the word will spread. If your business is thriving in this recession and you actually need people, use that as your motto and, eventually, the best people will take notice and contact you.

flipblog.com - Better Blogger

One button you can press to have your posts displayed in ascending chronological order - oldest first. Makes sense if you want to tell a story. Duh! Any one out there already offering such?

Signature Hardware - Dell's Comeback Bid

Okay, cellphones are getting more power and more powerful and more powerful. But, the screens can't really get much bigger. The answer - on-demand hardware - at a restaurant, on the plane, whereever. The problem - trust. How do you trust the display device and the input device to not steal your information? Answer - Dell. Imagine a keyboard with just a USB port and nothing else - not even screws to open the thing. Same with the monitor - only a USB port - and maybe a power connector - but absolutely no way to tamper with. And of course, the Dell logo. Now, you carry your computer with you and ask for the hardware, and use it.