e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[cksla]

REPOST: PART TWO- Once I was young and had so much more orientation and could talk with nervous intelligence about everything and with clarity and without as much literary preambling at this; in other words this is the story of anunself-confident man, at the same time of an egomaniac, naturally,facetious won't do-just to start at the beginning and let the truth seepout, that's what I'll do-.

Pervasive Computing Background-IBM style

On June 23, 1999, IBM officially taking the wraps off its latest catchphrase: pervasive computing.
IBM discussed its efforts to extend its e-business umbrella into the world of automobiles, home appliances, smart phones and other handheld devices. IBM's goal: Provide the enabling technology to make these devices more intelligent and more connectable.

IBM's pervasive computing group had been in business for a year and was based on four strategic principles. One, IBM would aggressively offer IBM technology, such as silicon [microprocessors], Java, speech recognition, and Lotus Notes to the growing device business. IBM said that it would not be in the device business. You will not see IBM mobile phones, for example. That's not IBM's business. [Instead], IBM will partner with people in the device business.

IBM's pervasive strategy includes the very rapid development of the infrastructure, modifying the infrastructure products -- that is mainframes, network management etc. -- to be able to handle the pervasive networks. IBM is modifying the classic IBM enterprise products for pervasive networks to offer the scalability, the security and the authentication that have been traditionally been available to PCs or dumb terminals, but to offer that to networks of millions and millions of different devices.

IBM has stated that you are never going to see a dramatic Pervasive Computing announcement. It's going to be a series of partnerships, pilot solutions and rollouts. It won't be like an IT rollout, where you go from 100 to 3000 or 5000. We'll be going from 5000 to a million.

Here is an article summarizing the platforms and devices involved in pervasive computing which can be found at: http://www.softwaremag.com/archive/2000 COLOR="FF0020">apr/DKara.html

Here are two of IBM's pervasive computing webpages: is:
1] http://www.developer.ibm.com/pvc/ and
2] http://www-3.ibm.com/pvc/

IBM example of Pervasive Computing

At this point I think it would be helpful to take a concrete example of IBM's style of Pervasive Computing and (staying within IBM's own webpages) see where it leads us and how I think it might apply to e.digital.

Both of the IBM pervasive computing websites referenced above list as an IBM product solution-
IBM's WebSphere Everyplace Suite. Let's take the "embedded edition" mentioned in the 2nd URL. If you click on that, it takes you to IBM's website for IBM's WebSphere Everyplace Suite embedded edition. It states in part:

Powering the next generation of e-business devices
The worldwide demand for access to information anytime, anywhere is rapidly accelerating the development of networked information appliances and the services they deliver. New markets are quickly emerging around a range of wired devices, such as set-top boxes and service gateways, and wireless devices like Web pads and Web-enabled cell phones. IBM WebSphere™ Everyplace Suite Embedded Edition integrates the essential software needed by developers, device manufacturers and service providers to quickly capitalize on these new markets.

Now click on "Device manufacturers" at the bottom of the page. That page lists several specific target areas for device manufacturers including:
In-vehicle information systems, Internet appliances, The set-top box, and Wireless devices. Click on "In-vehicle information systems".

We have now come to one of my favorite topics: telematics. IBM introduces this subject as follows: "Industry observers project that 50% of all new vehicles will be telematics-enabled by 2006. In-vehicle information systems (IVIS) cover a spectrum of evolving applications including navigation aids, productivity tools such as voice-activated e-mail access, travel information, real-time traffic advisories, entertainment packages and concierge services. The rapid growth of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and voice integration technology are both key enablers."

Notice that the embedded software for this solution includes: "IBM ViaVoice Embedded for Multiplatforms for the smooth development of speech-activated in-vehicle features". On the top of the page click on "Industries" and then click on "Automotive" under the Industrial section. From there click on the highlighted "In-Vehicle Information Systems and Telematics". You should now have arrived at IBM's webpage explaining its
"AutoMobile Network Solutions".

IBM's AutoMobile Network Solutions support automotive manufacturers in leveraging Telematics to deliver highly valued applications and services to their customers. IBM's "off-board" AutoMobile Network Solutions mean that computing and applications reside outside the vehicle.
It reduces the amount of expensive vehicle components onboard computer equipment that may become obsolete before the vehicle does. Thus, vehicle makers can offer in-vehicle information systems on all vehicles, not only on high-end luxury cars. With IBM's off-board concept consumers will easily get newest software upgrades at low cost from the network. IBM's pervasive computing e-business solutions for automotive are end-to-end offerings built with industry partners. IBM collaborates with companies such as Motorola, Qwest, and Intel, QSSL and others, and sopports AMI-C the (Automotive Multimedia Interactive Collaboration) standards. IBM has the unique ability to enable and integrate end to end IVIS solutions and deploy them globally.

Now click on the highlighted: "What is an In-Vehicle Information System (IVIS)?" In-Vehicle Information System (IVIS) offer a never-before possible level of safety and security, traffic congestion and route guidance information, advanced diagnostics capabilities, productivity, personalized information and entertainment in the automobile. Functionality can include:

vehicle location determination via Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities
emergency response upon collision or breakdown
theft avoidance, prevention and detection
traffic and congestion alerts integrated with route guidance information
advanced diagnostics capabilities for automobile performance, updates, and maintenance
access to e-mail and other productivity applications
new levels of entertainment, such as music, games and even one day movies on demand
personalized news, sports and weather information all based on personal preferences
new levels of entertainment, such as music, games and even more one day movies on demand.

With IVIS, motorists use voice recognition and interactive audio technology or a simple touch- screen to get dynamic route guidance with real-time traffic information, remote vehicle diagnostics, and safety and emergency help. IVIS technology also enables drivers and passengers to perform hands-free phone dialing and Web browsing, listen to or compose e-mail, have access to a wider variety of entertainment, and get personalized news and weather reports.

At the bottom of this page, click on the highlighted "Key IBM AutoMobile Network Solution Initiatives". You have now arrived at IBM's webpage outlining its specific projects and partnerships in the telematics area. While there are many interesting topics, note this one: "IBM and Intel Corporation announce they are collaborating on in-vehicle computing productions and solutions. Intel will provide extended temperature Pentium processors. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the In-Vehicle Information Systems."

How does any of this relate to e.digital? I will save the specific details for later, but think about Voicetimes, the embedded PSA discussed on IBM's VoiceTimes webpage. Remember Skip Matthews comment in a July 1999 newspaper article while he was still an Intel employee about the intel/edig project: Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate