Articles
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The defense industry has been the bright spot for PC/104 suppliers during the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, say the participants – PC104 Consortium members – in our annual roundtable. The panelists discuss how artificial intelligence/machine learning applications (AI/ML) will be a growth area for PC/104 technology across multiple markets. They also cover how processing technology like Arm and Intel are key to future adaptations of PC/104 and ask if NVIDIA solutions will ever be found on PC/104 designs.
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General-purpose FPGAs: an innovationless decade
Some corners of the electronics universe go years or decades without a significant technology upgrade. Passive electronic components are a good example, as not much more performance or cost can be pulled out of devices like resistors, at least not without a materials revolution. Another is the battery market, where offerings have by and large [...]
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The past, present, and future of PC104 for small-form-factor designs
PC104 has been around for over 30 years. That’s a long time, even for embedded systems. Despite its age, PC104 remains a viable and important architecture for embedded systems.
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Changing at the right time makes all the difference
Jay Conrad Levinson (known for the “Guerrilla Marketing” books) offered this advice on advertising: “Don’t change your ads when you’re tired of them. Don’t change them when your employees are tired of them. Don’t even change them when your friends are tired of them. Change them when your accountant is tired of them.”
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PC/104 trends in the small-form-factor realm
Common wisdom is clear: Don’t fix what isn’t broken. For decades, the PC/104 form factor has spanned many generations of processors and interfaces, always with the goal of making computing solutions as compact, modular, and enduring as possible. PC/104 remains the favored small form factor (SFF) for embedded solutions in markets where vibration, fluctuating power, granular debris, and round-the-clock use can’t be allowed to interrupt critical application uptime.
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Why is long-term availability important?
Megatrends such as the Internet of Things, robotics, and the latest industrial innovations are escalating demand for electronic components. Inadequate raw materials and manufacturer capacity are also adding to the shortfall. As a result, OEMs are looking for ways to extend the life of their existing products by either performing workarounds or making bigger purchases [...]
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PC/104 always a factor at Embedded World
Stephen St. Amant, President of the PC/104 Consortium, leads a discussion for visitors to the OpenSystems Media booth at the 2019 Embedded World Conference & Exhibition. In photo (L to R): Stephen St. Amant; Roy Keeler, ADLINK Technology and VP of Branding for the PC/104 Consortium; Jonathan Miller, President of Diamond Systems Corp.; Dr. Paul [...]
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Predictions: Spring 2020
The thing about predictions, particularly in tech, is that when you’re wrong, you can lose a lot of money, and you can look foolish while you’re at it. In 2007, the then-CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, laughed at Apple’s newly-announced iPhone. “Five hundred dollars?! Fully subsidized with a plan? … That is the most expensive [...]
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PC/104: Who and why?
Admission: PC/104 is not a flashy name.
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Tower in a teacup: How the small-form-factor transition is reshaping embedded and military computing
The adage that “bigger is better” pervades many areas, but in computing, greater size is almost always a liability. Large configurations demand power and create heat, consuming precious space and potentially crowding out other vital systems. Even in a 60-ton armored tank, size, weight, and power (SWaP) remain at a premium. Such environments demand the sort of small-form-factor (SFF) solutions that have dominated embedded computing initiatives for decades.
John McHale, Editorial Director
Brandon Lewis, Technology Editor
Stephen St. Amant, PC/104 Consortium President
PC/104 Staff, OpenSystems Media
Stephen St. Amant, PC/104 Consortium President
Stephen St. Amant, PC/104 Consortium President