Jerry Gipper, Editorial Director
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Securing embedded systems based on Open System Architectures
Many of the standards developed by VITA working groups are for defining modules that are part of Open System Architectures (OSA) - whether they are VME, VPX, PMC, FMC or one of many other standards. These modules are used to build critical embedded systems that are deployed in a variety of application platforms. Today these platforms are typically connected via a network, a network that is often susceptible to cyberattacks. This article introduces you to high level concerns and challenges facing designers using Open System Architecture (OSA) modules.
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Business barometer: 2018 trend predictions
Last fall we were in the middle of a presidential election, not sure of the outcome. Now we know! I was contemplating a move to Australia, but I am still here - with my options open! I was reviewing my past predictions in preparation for this year's forecasts. It was a bit humbling as I realized how slowly technology evolves in many aspects. Watching consumer gadgets roll out every year gives one the impression that our advancements in computing technology are moving quickly but then one realizes that things do not move at the same pace in critical embedded computing.
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VITA Standards Update
The November VITA standards meeting was held in Miramar Beach, Florida. This update is based on the results of that meeting. Contact VITA if you are interested in participating in any of these working groups. Visit the VITA website (http://www.vita.com) for details on upcoming VITA Standards Organization (VSO) meetings.
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Cybersecurity insecurity
I had a chance to attend an IEEE cybersecurity presentation recently and left wanting to ditch all my computers and smartphones to move into the deep woods as far off the grid as possible. The presentation included very high-level demonstrations of several common methods that attackers use to gain access to your PC or smartphone. Readily available hardware and software were used to illustrate how easy it is for someone to gain unauthorized access. Within a matter of seconds, a cyber attacker can monitor your every keystroke during a public hotspot session. To top that, allow them physical access to one of your devices and they can inject a worm in two to three seconds, which gives them complete remote access to your device and anything that it connects to in your personal or business environment.
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Creative uses of FMC
The FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) standard has become the defacto mezzanine standard for anyone wanting a modular solution for platforms using an FPGA [field-programmable gate array]. The convenience of having modular I/O for any FPGA family makes it hard to not use an FMC as the I/O front-end. Consequently, the FMC standard, VITA 57, has gained worldwide acceptance and is endorsed by the major FPGA manufacturers.
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Embedded Tech Trends 2017 wrap-up
In January, Embedded Tech Trends 2017 was held at the wonderful Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter. Bordered by Bourbon Street to the west with Jackson Square and the mighty Mississippi River to the east, the attendees had easy access to the sights and sounds of the true essence of New Orleans (NOLA).
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VITA 47, environmentally sound
The standards developed by the members of the VITA Standards Organization typically fall into one of two categories. The first are hardware standards, which define the hardware parameters for some type of form factor, interconnection, or other mechanical features such as cooling. Hardware supplier companies that have expertise in a specific aspect of that technology typically leads the creation of hardware standards, while the user community provides inputs guided by their real-life design experiences.
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VITA Standards Organization activity updates
The March VITA Standards Organization (VSO) meeting was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. This update is based on the results of that meeting. Contact VITA if you are interested in participating in any of these working groups. Visit the VITA website (http://www.vita.com) for details on upcoming VSO meetings.
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Initiative fever
Embedded Tech Trends 2017 wrapped up in New Orleans at a great venue in the heart of the French Quarter right on the infamous Bourbon Street. The agenda was packed with great presentations centered on the theme of "The Voodoo Behind Critical and Embedd...
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Hall of Fame
Since the announcement of VMEbus in 1981 there have been a great number of people and ideas that have had an impact on the development and advancement of open standards used in critical embedded computing systems. The intention of the VITA Technologies Hall of Fame is to honor and preserve the remembrance of those people and technologies that have had the greatest influence on the VITA open standards industry. Many others are to come - innovators and influencers who have made a significant impact on developing, designing, creating the technology, and ferrying the technical specifications into open standards. These are the people who have overcome the technical and procedural problems, the products that set new expectations. It is our pleasure to honor these primary contributors to this industry.
