Not Your Parents' Appliances: Hot Tools to Design Internet Devices Come To San Jose

Next week in San Jose, the world's leading technology companies will prove that today's hottest appliances are nothing like the ones that your parents were proud to own. The latest chips, boards and software tools for creating the next generation of Internet appliances will be on display at the Embedded Systems Conference, which runs from September 24-28, 2000 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, Calif.

"The Embedded Systems Conference is a favorite venue for technology innovators to unveil the latest new products that enable electronic devices," said Michael Barr, editor-in-chief of EMBEDDED SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING magazine. "An overwhelming trend this year is the introduction of new Single Board Computers. Many of these are information appliance reference designs that provide system developers with the basic functionality needed to connect all types of devices to networks."

The eleventh annual Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) is the country's top educational event for engineers, designers, and managers working with embedded systems. In addition to the three-day product exhibition, the conference includes a comprehensive program of classes and tutorials as well as special events. These include a keynote address by Neil Gershenfeld, author of the book, "When Things Start To Think," a special guest lecture by Microsoft vice president, Bill Veghte, and a panel discussion on the use of Open-Source software for embedded system design.

The show floor at the Embedded Systems Conference is the biggest ever, with 375 exhibiting companies and more than 100 exhibitors that are new to the show. There will be demonstrations of Internet appliances, handheld computing and communications devices, intelligent home control systems, speech controlled equipment, Internet radios, and the tools used to create these leading-edge products.

"Boards with a variety of networking protocol functionality, such as CAN, DeviceNET, USB, IEEE-1394 and, of course, Ethernet hardware and TCP/IP software are all the rage at this year's event," said Barr. "We'll also see some interesting new 8-bit processors and a continuing trend toward Linux-based operating systems on the 32-bit end."

  Among the new products to be shown are:

  -- The WebPad Reference Platform -- A portable wireless Internet appliance
        used to browse the Internet and check e-mail.
  -- Embedded Linux Development or Reference Platform -- A Pentium-based
        reference platform with integrated LCD display and graphics support.
  -- A cross platform text input and display, which accepts text input in
        47 different national languages.
  -- An operating environment that provides a custom interface for smart
        devices, and has the capability to run multiple Java applications
        simultaneously using a single embedded JVM.
  -- A turnkey software package for developers creating Voice Over IP
        devices.

The exhibition is open from 12:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27 and from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 28. Tutorials and classes open on Sunday and Monday, September 24-25 and run through Thursday.

For more information on the Embedded Systems Conference, a complete conference catalog can be obtained by calling 800-789-2223 or by e-mailing esc@cmp.com. Online information for journalists, including automated press registration is available at www.embedded.com/esc/press.

The Embedded Systems Conference is produced by CMP Media, Inc. and is sponsored by EMBEDDED SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING and ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING TIMES magazines. Other conferences produced by CMP's Electronics trade show group include Embedded Systems Conference -- Chicago, Embedded Systems Conference -- Boston, the Embedded Systems Conference Europe, the Embedded Executive Conference, ICSPAT 2000, DSP World Spring Design Conference, and the Analog & Mixed-Signal Applications Online Conference.

About CMP Media Inc.

CMP Media Inc. (http://www.cmpnet.com/) is a leading high-tech media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences, custom publishing, testing and consulting.

  Exhibitor                 Thayer Goodenow
  Contact:                  CMP Media, Inc.
  Phone:                    415-278-5221
  Email:                    tgoodenow@cmp.com

  Press                     FS Communications
  Registration:             650-691-1488
                            miranda@fscomm.com

  Attendee Contact:         CMP Media, Inc.
  Toll free:                800-789-2223
  E-mail:                   esc@cmp.com

SOURCE: CMP Media Inc.

Contact: Wendy Lewis of FS Communications, 650-691-1488, or
wendy@fscomm.com, for CMP Media Inc.

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/124668.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 124668