Design contest highlights practical benefits of PC/104 technology
OCTOBER 25--Engineers who are designing innovative products based on PC/104, PC/104-Plus, PCI-104, and EBX technology will be recognized by the PC/104 Embedded Consortium (www.pc104.org) in its third annual PC/104 Embedded Design Contest. Winners in three categories will be flown to San Francisco to receive their awards at the Embedded Systems Conference San Francisco 2005.
The annual PC/104 Design Contest gives engineers and students an opportunity to have their designs reviewed by industry-recognized authorities. A panel of judges comprised of editors from leading technology magazines has agreed to participate. Judges will choose a winner in each of three categories: commercial for industrial/transportation/medical/other, commercial for military/aerospace/COTS, and best research project.
As a new twist for the 2005 PC/104 Embedded Design Contest, the embedded community will have a chance to choose their favorite entry from among the three categories' top finalists. PC/104 Embedded Solutions Magazine will give readers the opportunity to vote online for the entry they feel best utilizes the technology that the Consortium supports. Ballots will be sent via email in February 2005 and will also be available at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco.
Two short essays must be submitted for each entry describing what the product does, how it is innovative, how unique design challenges were solved, and which PC/104 specifications were most critical in solving the problem. The consortium will use this information to create case examples to demonstrate to prospective PC/104 users how this proven technology is pervasive and practical. Each case study example will highlight applications using PC/104 in market segments requiring its unique features--compact size, low cost, and ruggedness.
Entries must be received by December 10, 2004, at 5:00 pm Pacific Time to be eligible. Once all entries are submitted, judges will select three finalists from each category. These finalists will be featured in the spring issue of PC/104 Embedded Solutions Magazine. Winners of each category will receive a paid trip to San Francisco where they will receive their award and recognition at an event sponsored by the PC/104 Embedded Consortium at ESC San Francisco 2005. For more details on how to participate, go to www.pc104.org/contest/contest.html.
The PC/104 Consortium and standard were established in 1992. PC/104, in use since 1987, is a small-form-factor, embedded PC physical and electrical interface standard. It provides embedded system designers with an architecture that is dense, cost-effective, and based on proven, practical technology. PC/104-Plus, an extension that was added to the standard in 1995, incorporates PCI technology.
