Designers Corner with Prof. Mike Smith
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3. Building a prototype
IB Designing
This column at DACafe explains system design using examples, starting with
the design of an Internet appliance. This Internet appliance is different from a network
PC. The hardware we will design enables the connection of any appliance, device, computer,
or gadget to the Internet. The appliance could be a cell phone, a sprinkler, or a light
bulb. The appliance hardware can be reconfigured or changed over the Internet. This allows
bugs to be fixed, or updates to be made, or even allows an appliance to perform multiple
functions — all controlled using the Internet. Reconfiguring an Internet CD appliance
would allow you to play regular CDs, DVDs, or MP3 CDs, or you could reconfigure your cell
phone to work in different countries that use different standards.
In the first column, “Getting a project started,” we talked
about generating ideas, preparing proposals, seeking support and finding partners. In the
second column, “Starting to work,” we talked about putting the team together, as
well as finding and choosing people. The hardest part of a project is starting the real
work and we discussed that phase in some detail. I described the process I use to gather
information and plan a design. In this month’s column I describe building the first
prototype.
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