Ralf Quint speaks on "Intel and the Internet of Things" on SCALE 13x Friday at 12:15. Ralf took a few minutes to talk to the SCALE Team about his presentation.
Q: Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background?
A: Programming since 1976, professionally since 1980, having worked in a software house for civil engineering software (1980-1984), multi-user application software on mini-computers (DG Nova 2/3, Unix/Xenix/Oasis, 1984-1986), PC based CAD/CAM software (1987-1996), then one year as sys admin for a auto parts retailer including Siemens mainframe, since 1997 IT service consultant here in Los Angeles, since 6/2011 with my own IT service company, since then also going back into software development (ERP/MRP/MRP2) and embedded hardware/software.
Q: You're giving a talk entitled "Intel and the Internet of Things." Without tipping your hand on the actual talk, can you give us an idea of what we might expect?
A: Presenting in general the history of Intel and embedded computing, including their long hiatus of from developing anything new, until fairly recently. Presenting an overview of both the hardware and software that they have released within the last year to try and getting back into this market and how they compare with other, already established players in what is now termed "The Internet of Things" (Arduino, Rasberry Pi, Beaglebone, etc...)
Q: Is this your first visit to SCALE? If so, what are your expectations? If not, can you give us your impressions of the event?
A: As a presenter, yes. You didn't like my proposed talk about Arduino that I submitted last year... :-( And two years ago, I was asked by Jim Hall from the FreeDOS project, in which I am participating since its inception, if I could fill in on a panel about Open Source projects, but I had to work on short notice on
that weekend.
As a visitor, it's my second time that I will be attending, and liked last year the variety of talks presented and the exhibition on the weekend, though my visits got cut short due to developing a serious cold and heading home on Saturday afternoon and staying in bed on Sunday. I hope to have better luck this year...
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A: Well, I am fully aware that this is an event that is run by volunteers. But I think there is a lot of improvement in terms of communications. Deadlines for submissions and the notification of acceptance is fairly late, leaving people like me, who have to split their time between making time for making a living and prepare presentations for events like this, with fairly little time to prepare. I am still working on getting all the slides together by Thursday night, and no information if I for example would have a table to set up some demo setup, despite asking that question when I got the email from Tom King a month ago that my talk was accepted.
[SCALE Team interview by Dennis Rex]