The 2012 edition of the Embedded World Exhibition & Conference opened this week with a record number of exhibitors (872). After two days at the show we've had a chance to check out some brilliant applications of embedded technology, from smart camera monitoring of train stations to custom built reflow machines and even entire car dashboards rendered in crisp high definition. The inventiveness of the embedded engineering community really shines through at Embedded World, with everyone from giants like Intel to final year project students all demonstrating incredible apps.
From the Farnell/element14 booth (pictured below) you don’t have to look far to see examples of innovation. The technical university stand behind us has been showcasing electromagnet control of small globes suspended a considerable distance from the source, while FGPA giant Altera have been demonstrating fully 3D (no glasses) screens controlled using their programmable logic devices.
However, for all the incredible eye catching applications, it is often the smallest, low power devices that attract the most interest. The word Raspberry Pi has been heard at an increasing volume everywhere I go in the exhibition hall, and now that the secret is out word has spread quickly that the Pi is making an appearance. Nothing has captured the electronic engineering community's attention quite like this for a long time, and most engineers that we've spoken to have been eager to get their hands on the little board. The "hacker" mentality has certainly gained ground over the last few years with boards such as Beaglebone, Snowball and even Arduino Uno attracting an impressive amount of attention beside their powerful relatives who adorn most of the stands here.
