element14 Community tracks competitors building projects using Cypress PSoC
Pioneer Kit
CHICAGO – November 6, 2013 – element14 has chosen 15 competitors out of hundreds of entries from around the world who will build forward-thinking technology projects as part of the Smarter Life Competition.
The initiative aims to create renewed excitement and interest in futuristic technology and home automation using the PSoC 4 Pioneer Kit. Design engineers and hobbyists alike are encouraged to develop projects that not only enhance the home environment, but also the automobile or office as well.
“The field of home automation has not significantly progressed in the last 60-plus years,” said Global Head of Community Dianne Kibbey. “For example, a toaster still requires manual programming and can still burn your bread. Washing machines aren’t automated and won’t detect things like color bleeds or fabric type. We have finalists in locations that span the globe, and we’re excited to see how they use single-chip systems to improve their – and potentially others’ – lives.”
John Weil, senior director of PSoC marketing and applications at Cypress, added, “We were extremely pleased with the creativity and excellence of the finalists’ submissions - a testament to the strong engineering community on element14 - and are looking forward to seeing how they incorporate the unique attributes of the PSoC 4 into their projects.”
From now through January 2014, participants will develop their suggested creations and document their progress through blog posts, videos and designs, which will be shared on the element14 Community. In addition to the PSoC 4 Pioneer Kit, each finalist receives a $500 budget to purchase additional components to help reach their goals.
The competition has potentially significant implications for products of the future. The connected home segment of the home automation market, for example, is expected to grow from $300 million in 2013 to $1.5 billion in 2017, demonstrating huge potential for innovation and development.*
The grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Embedded World, the largest trade conference of its kind, held in Germany in February 2014. There, they will have the opportunity to showcase their designs in Cypress’ and element14’s spaces while networking with conference attendees. Other prizes include vouchers for up to $1,500, redeemable at element14’s online retail sites. Winners will be announced January 24, 2014.
The finalists, as well as their location and design proposals, are listed below:
- Alex Behnaz (U.S.) – sensor to detect circadian rhythms and sleep patterns
- Abhijit Bose (India) – home security system
- Monte Chan (Australia) – advanced holiday light display
- Javier Hernandez (Puerto Rico) – multi-functional car sensor device
- Cosmin Iorga (U.S.) – wearable brain wave-driven controller for home appliances
- Anthony Kahl (Australia) – smart bicycle light
- Linas Karpavicius (Lithuania) – touch-screen reflow oven for SMD soldering
- Jianyi Liu (U.S.) – affordable mechanized camera gimbal
- Jim Lynch (U.S.) – touch-sensitive faucet and hot water controllers; in-home light/heat sensors
- Mala Mitra (India) – smart oven control
- Peter Shabino (U.S.) – smart plant caretaker
- Paul Sisneros (U.S.) – auto barista
- Mani Thundiyil (India) – smart wheelchair
- Yuri Tikhonov (Russia) – tricopter with smart diagnostic capabilities
- Steve Turner (U.S.) – smart thermostat
The Cypress PSoC 4 Pioneer Kit can be purchased in the U.S. from Newark.com, in Europe from Farnell.com and in Asia Pacific from element14. Customers who purchase the kits are also invited to participate in the challenge.
element14 offers design engineers a space to share project concepts with 200,000 members in its award-winning element14 Community, the first of its kind. Additionally, the industry’s most comprehensive online knowledge resource for electronic design, the Knode on element14, is a first stop for any engineer undertaking a design project with a development kit.
*According to a report from GigaOm.
Ends
About element14
Launched in June 2009, element14 is the first information portal, collaborative community and electronics store specifically built for electronic design engineers. The community recently unveiled its element14 knode, a unique automated platform that enables engineers to quickly research, design, develop and prototype in a single, intelligent environment. element14 is an innovative offering from Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl), FTSE 250, a leader in multi-channel electronics distribution trading throughout Europe (Farnell), the Americas (Newark) and Asia Pacific (element14). The company had group sales of £952m last year.
For news updates from Premier Farnell visit:
Premier Farnell News Centre – www.premierfarnell.com/media-centre
Twitter - @element14news; @element14
YouTube – element14
Facebook – /element14page
Email: pressoffice@premierfarnell.com
Global Contact:
Ken Leitch
Global Head of PR
Premier Farnell
Tel: +44(0) 207 851 4145
Email: KLeitch@premierfarnell.com
European Contact:
Jen Cooke
PR Manager, Europe and Global
Tel: +44 (0) 113 279 0101
Email: jcooke@premierfarnell.com
EU PR Agency:
Darren Willsher/Andrew Hill
EML Wildfire
Tel: +44 (0) 208 408 8000
Email: element14@emlwildfire.com
APAC Contact:
Christina Loh
Communications, APAC
Tel: + 65 6671 8769
Email: cloh@element14.com
North America Contact:
William Polk
PR and Social Media manager
Tel: +1 773 907 5199
Email: WPolk@newark.com
North American PR Agency:
Allison Dreiband
Walker Sands Communication
Tel: +1 312 648 6010