 | April 1, 2000 |
Rhapsody over blue
STANDARDS: Bluetooth gains development support
The Bluetooth standard has received deafening hype. And by and large, people buy into the vision of electronic gadgets that can simply and effortlessly link up using the short-range wireless protocol. Most folks truly expect Bluetooth to deliver unprecedented convenience to users, not to mention healthy profits for vendors.
But so far, we've only seen a trickle of Bluetooth-capable products (this issue's Gear section contains one example). We're still waiting for the deluge.
We might not have to wait long, judging by the number of companies now hawking development products and services for would-be designers of Bluetooth products.
Ericsson and the Symbionics Group of Cadence Design Systems have teamed up to offer the Ericsson Bluetooth Developer's Kit. The package contains hardware and software designed to help first-time Bluetooth designers crank out prototypes quickly. In addition, Cadence is developing IC cores to help designers slip Bluetooth into new or existing products. The company also provides protocol software that can be implemented on various microcontroller platforms and RTOSs (real-time operating systems).
Eschewing RTOSs in favor of Sun Microsystem's Java, Zucotto Systems proffers the colorfully named combination of Xpresso, SLICE, and Jacknife. Xpresso is a low-power Java chip, concocted with memory-constrained mobile designs in mind. SLICE (Support Layer in Consumer Electronics) is a Java-based software platform that eliminates the need for a full-scale OS. Jacknife incorporates a software development environment, a hardware development board, and a debugging tool.
Embedded-antenna manufacturer RangeStar Wireless has devised the Total Bluetooth Solution. The company promises all-inclusive assistance, which encompasses antenna design and integration, software development, radio module design, testing, and production services.
On a lighter note, here's a Bluetooth application all civilized folks can endorse. A start-up called BlueLinx has patented what it calls Q-zone. The device enables the construction of a quiet zone—an area in which cell phones and other gadgets aren't allowed to ring loudly, beep, or play annoying songs. Think theaters, hospitals, churches, and restaurants. Using Bluetooth, Q-zone automatically changes the settings on any cell phone or electronic thingamajig that enters its domain, forcing the device to use a low ringer volume or a vibrating-alert mode. When the device exits the quiet area, Q-zone returns the setting to its original noisemaking level.
We'll delve more deeply into Bluetooth in a feature article in our May issue.
—Matthew Miller, Managing Editor
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