Amelia's Weekly Fish Fry

Gesturing For Control

In honor of Black Friday, Fish Fry is storming the gates and grabbing all the embedded designs we can get our grubby little hands on. OK, not really. We're going to wait just one more year to buy that new touchscreen embedded design, because by then, touch might have already been taken right out of the equation. Yep, we’re talking about gesture control this week. My guest is Fanie Duvenhage (Director of Human Machine Interface Division at Microchip Technology). Fanie and I are going to explore what this new 3D gesture controller is all about, why this GestIC chip is different (and cooler) than current camera-based gesture recognition interfaces out there, and how you can get your hands on a GestIC development kit so you can start designing with one. Also this week, I give everyone one more chance to win a Spartan-6 LX9 Microboard courtesy of Xilinx.Also this week, I give everyone one more chance to win a Spartan-6 LX9 Microboards courtesy of Xilinx.

MEMS the Word

Did you know that there are now more connected devices than people in the world? One of the biggest motivating factors pushing innovative development in these connected devices is MEMS. This week we're checking out all the nerdy goodness that the 2012 MEMS Executive Congress has to offer. I chat with a couple of the winners of the MEMS Technology Showcase about how their new products are launching an era of "MEMS Inside the Machine". I also talk with Benedetto Vigna (STMicroelectronics) about the trends in MEMS-enabled designs, where STMicroelectronics fits into the MEMS ecosystem, and where in the world you'll find the best skiing. Also this week, I review "Stuff You May Have Missed" (MEMS Executive Congress Edition) and give everyone another chance to win an LX9 Spartan-6 MicroBoard courtesy of Xilinx.

Magic, Mobile, and More

Where in the world will Fish Fry take us this week? First, we’re going to take quick stroll by the most recent Raspberry Pi news, then it’s on over to some “Magic Finger” technology being developed by the Universities of Toronto and Alberta, and then we'll drive into EDA land with Bill Neifert (Carbon Design Systems- CTO). Bill is going to chat with me about Carbon Design Systems's recent collaboration with Samsung, what $4 million dollars in venture capital funding has to do with it, and what exactly Carbon is going to do with all that cashola. I have a brand new nerdy giveaway to throw your way, but you’ll have to listen to find out what it is and how to win.

Scene Changers

The world of electronic design can change in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, things you thought were tried and true have flipped the script. This week we’re checking out why Synopsys decided to acquire of emulation powerhouse Eve, how non-volatile memory companies Kilopass and Sidense are settling their patent skirmishes (or not), and how Microsemi is shaking up the FPGA market with their new SmartFusion2 family of FPGAs.

You Had Me At MEMS

Let’s face it, MEMS is everywhere. Our technological lives (and even some of our careers) would not exist as we know them without MEMS. This week my guest is Karen Lightman (Managing Director of the MEMS Industry Group) and we’re talking about the biggest MEMS show of the year; why you should attend, what you could learn, and how you can break into the kingdom of executives and woo them with your MEMS design Also this week I check out a new yoga class in Portland called “Yoga for Yoda” and explain why I won’t be joining this class anytime soon.

It's All In The Timing (Closure)

How many of you have gotten lost in your own corporate office building? Maybe it was your first week on the job? As hard as it is for us to navigate our own buildings, can you imagine what its like for emergency responders? In this week’s Fish Fry we check out a new real-time 3D mapping prototype being developed by MIT and examine how it could revolutionize the way we navigate the world around us. Also this week, I interview Steve Yang (President and Founder - ICScape). Steve and I chat about how ICScape can help your timing closure problems, what their tool suite looks like, and what’s ahead for this new EDA startup from China.

Inching Along

Sometimes it feels like we’re just inching along toward innovation. Sometimes it feels like we’re flying by the seat of our pants toward the future without a seatbelt in sight. This week we’re talking about Intel’s long-range plans for a 5nm process node, why ESL should be playing a big role in your next low power design, and even why the cool kids aren't using discrete components for power supplies anymore. Also this week, I give away a copy of the book “Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide” courtesy of Cadence Design Systems.

Sending Mixed Signals

This week we’re talking mixed signals. My guest is Mladen Nizic (Cadence) and we’re talking about a brand new book published just a couple weeks ago called “Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide”.  Mladen and I chat about who this book is for, what companies collaborated to make this manual happen, and even where mixed-signal education is headed. Also this week, I check out Altera’s newly released roabmap for 20 nm and a new “magic” carpet that can not only map a person’s individual walking patterns but also predict when they are going to fall. I’ve also got a brand new nerdy giveaway this week, but you’ll have to tune in to find out what it is and how to win.

Priming The Pump

Get your motor runnin’ folks, we’re talking verification this week. In a special Fish Fry interview double-header, I chat with Brett Cline (Forte Design Systems) about what Forte’s SystemC synthesis tools look like, what’s behind their collaboration with High IP, and what his secret ingredient is for the best Bloody Mary. I also talk with Graham Bell (Real Intent) about the struggles of advanced verification, what their tool flow looks like, why Real Intent isn’t just a bug-hunting tool, and why foosball is like accelerated advanced verification signoff. Also this week, I check out the newest advances in vehicular WiFi and investigate why folks in my hometown of Portland, Oregon may need it the most.

Patently Obvious

Patent litigation - can't live with it, can't survive without it.This week we're checking out some recent rumblings in patent litigation. We're even bringing in a council person to help mediate the fight. OK, wait - that would be 'counsel'. My guest is Dontatella Scuito, the current president of the IEEE Council for EDA. Donatella and I chat about what the IEEE Council for EDA is all about, what project the council plans on attacking next, and why Donatella can call herself Sting’s sister.