June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, the American Red Cross’ campaign to recognize donors and educate people about the need for donations. Learn more about World Blood Donor Day.

The first time I ever donated blood, I knew I was going to be helping “somebody”. But it wasn’t until July 29, 2009, when my father-in-law, Ray, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) did I realize that one day the “somebody” could actually be family. After Ray was diagnosed, he spent 57 days in the hospital. He was given two rounds of chemotherapy, 30 units of blood, and countless units of platelets. When he got out of the hospital, he continued to need and receive blood transfusions and platelets.

Ray’s transfusions were a gift from someone who was willing to give an hour of their time to help someone in need. I never realized how great a need blood donations were until someone I love so dearly needed it. It took over 30 people to supply the needs of just one person, and there are many more people in need every day. Ray battled this disease for 9 months, but he lost his battle on April 26, 2010.

To all of those who have donated blood, I would like to thank you as it has touched my family so closely. If you have never donated blood before, I encourage you to check into your local blood bank. To learn more about blood donation opportunities, visit the American Red Cross or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

While at SOFIC 2010, stop by Booth #2139 and see the ACC-188 synchronous serial radio adapter, which is designed to use DISA’s free PDA-184 software to allow many types of tactical radios to communicate with 100% interoperability. The adapter provides improved speed and reliability that works with any radio that has a synchronous communication port using MIL-STD-188-184. Using this solution enables tactical radios to quickly transmit IP-based data such as email, text messages, GPS maps, images and coordinates.

We will also be showcasing our new RISC embedded computing products – the SBC-R9™ and Relio™ R9 – which feature an application-ready platform for your next product design. The R9 delivers RISC computing power using the latest Windows CE 6.0 embedded software environment. The unmatched I/O features of the R9 extend the board’s possible uses beyond traditional RISC applications. Standard I/O includes Ethernet, serial, USB, CAN Bus, digital and analog interface. The R9 is perfect for embedded applications requiring small size, wide operating temperature range, and flexible I/O connectivity.

As always, we will have a range of other products on display, including asynchronous and synchronous products (PCI, low profile PCI, PC-104, Ethernet, PCMCIA, and USB), and Relio™ industrial computers.

Whether you’re looking for off-the-shelf or custom products, your feedback is important to us. I encourage you to stop by the Sealevel booth during the conference to discuss how our products can best support your needs. If you can’t make it to the conference or would like more information, please contact me at marcf@sealevel.com.

The simulator will allow user to experience the training of the NASA Apollo astronauts of the 1960’s and 1970’s. In addition to the primary simulation experience, the project will open the door for more research in the fields of psychology, simulation modeling, technical writing, hardware I/O, and software development. Several space agencies have also expressed an interest in the project. For companies interested in volunteering their time, talents or products, please visit the team’s website for more information.

For the UAH students, this is the experience of a lifetime. They are gaining valuable hands-on experience with new technologies and methodologies. The project provides a perfect opportunity for honing leadership skills and working in a collaborative environment on a long-term project. The students are also able to use these skills as they network with industry leaders participating in the project.

I never thought that software would make me want to purchase a car until I read about Ford’s recent announcement of new Sync™ technology that it is adding to its new line of vehicles. With this new technology, Pandora users will be able seamlessly move from listening to music on their mobile device walking to the car, then switch to listening to the same music in the car through the car’s sound system without missing a beat. Now, this is giving the people what they want!

Ford is focusing this new technology on mobile apps with streaming content. This is all made possible by Ford’s partnership with Microsoft to provide a version of Windows Embedded CE called Windows Embedded Automotive combined with its media hardware, together called Sync. Ford is now opening up the platform to developers with a new software development kit, or SDK, called the Sync API.

The Sync API will allow application developers to “activate text-to-speech, give voice commands, and access vehicle data. They can also use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB-based connectivity using the development language of their mobile device, such as iPhone or BlackBerry,” according to Ford. I am overcome with nerdy bliss to discover that Pandora is one of the earlier adopters of this new SDK.

He was a retired gentleman who was trying to confirm functionality of the Sealevel 2105R, a ruggedized RS-232 serial adapter cable. It was being used as the interface adapter between his boat’s GPS and his laptop. His goal was to source the GPS serial data stream (NMEA 0183) into his software navigation program.

This is a common application among boat customers and provides position data for plotting a route. One end of the 2105R cable is USB, and the other end terminates to a male DB-9 connector that will mate to the serial device – in this case, the customer’s GPS. Many customers use our serial-to-USB adapters because most laptop manufacturers do not include the serial connection on the portables, mainly due to cost savings. Plus, much of today’s peripherals connect via standard USB.

After inquiring, he explained that his boat was an American Tug 34. He and his wife live onboard full time and depended on their navigation system for location guidance. I mentioned that I understood his concern as I had been in the Navy and appreciated the importance of uptime for critical communication equipment.

With a spark, he revealed he had been in the Navy, and that in the fleet, he flew the A-4 SkyHawk. This attack jet was produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, which became McDonald Douglas and is now part of the Boeing Company. They first saw service in the Yom Kipper, Vietnam and Falklands Island campaigns. After over fifty years, this aircraft is still in service today by foreign countries. I mentioned I had prior carrier service, and we talked about our service adventures for a moment. I mentioned having an appreciation for the F-14s onboard; he said he thought they were always “easy on the eyes”.  Interestingly, when he discharged from the Navy, he went to work for Grumman as a test pilot on the F-14s. He was testing the Tomcat for years before the Navy squadrons VF-1 and VF-2 had their first jets delivered in 1973. He humbly said he had logged almost a thousand hours in the Tomcat, flying them for eight years. After Grumman, he went to work for Lockheed and joined their Skunk Works program.

He then modestly said that he had over six hundred hours in the F-117 Nighthawk. This is the stealth fighter that for years, many thought was a UFO – until the U. S. government finally divulged its existence. I was amazed to have actually talked to a pilot that had flown the ultra-secret F-117. I thanked him for his service to our country, and he repeated the same for mine.

He retired from Lockheed, and he and his wife purchased a sail boat. For the next seven years, they sailed around the world. For 22 years now, they remain living on boats, tied to the adventures and freedoms of the sea.

In the end, the 2105R proved robust and functional, his system checked out and he was complementary and pleased. I spent some time teaching him some tips on troubleshooting and our software utilities and then sent him files that could help him out of a bind while at sea. He had a much better understanding of our software and hardware interactions. I offered future assistance, said I enjoyed our talk, and then reluctantly said goodbye.

I became more curious of who this customer was as the day went on, and so I stopped for a moment, and googled him. I found articles immediately; I had no idea that I had been talking to an aviation celebrity.

His name is Harold “Hal” Farley, and his call sign is “Bandit 117″.

Not only was Hal a test pilot; he was actually the first test pilot to fly the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter on July 18, 1981. Read more about Hal’s interesting first flight in the F-117.

I wished I could put the buildings and the text of the book in context, but I didn’t have time for a tour.  I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could take a picture of a street scene and instantly be able to identify what I was looking at? Something like what the Bing search does on its home page.”  The page displays an image that is tagged and hyperlinked to information about elements of the image. Now imagine that you could take a picture with your mobile camera, and those buildings in the picture would be automatically tagged using image recognition and actual GPS coordinates of the buildings. The picture would be placed in the context of my location and hyperlinked to information about the objects in the photo. You would have an automated tour guide.

This is not as farfetched as you might think. A new area of study called Attentive User Interfaces promises to make this a reality soon. Attentive user interfaces combine multimodal context awareness, vision-based object recognition and intelligent map technology to enhance perceptive presence. Leading research in this area is being conducted in Europe and has caught the attention of leading industrial heavyweights like Google, Microsoft and Nokia. Stay tuned for an app coming soon to your iPhone.

SBC-R9 ARM9 RISC Single Board Computer
The SBC-R9 is the perfect platform for embedded applications requiring small size, wide operating temperature range, and flexible I/O connectivity. With up to 256MB RAM and 256MB Flash memory, the unmatched I/O features of the SBC-R9 extend the possible uses beyond traditional ARM applications. A Quickstart Development Kit is also available.

Relio R9 ARM9 RISC Embedded Computer
The Relio R9 delivers RISC computing power with unmatched I/O features and uses the latest embedded software environment. Housed in a rugged, small enclosure suitable for mounting almost anywhere, the Relio R9 is rated for a full -40 to +85C operating temperature range. A QuickStart Development Kit is also available.

SeaPAC R9 ARM9 Touchscreen Computer
The SeaPAC R9-8.4 combines a powerful RISC-based Human-Machine Interface (HMI) with a bright 8.4” TFT LCD to create a wide-temperature, ruggedized, flat panel computer perfect for a variety of control and HMI applications. Featuring an industrial, LED backlight that gives the panel extended life over CCFT-backlit panels, the system is available with up to 256MB RAM (128MB standard) and 256MB Flash memory for maximum performance in embedded systems.

Let us know if you plan to attend ESC 2010. If you haven’t registered, we encourage you to take advantage of our free ESC 2010 Registration link. We look forward to seeing you there.

Don’t panic – we’re just trying to entice Google to bring Google Fiber to Greenville.

According to Google, “Our networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We’ll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.”

We want Google Fiber for Communities to launch their trial run in the Upstate. So, this weekend the city of Greenville is hosting Google on Main, the world’s first and longest people-powered Google chain. Local businesses and individuals are sponsoring the event, and even more are coming downtown for the community-wide event which will take place at Falls Park starting at 7:00 p.m. on March 20.

Click here to see how you can get involved. And remember, if you’re tweeting about the Google on Main event, please use hashtag #GoogleOnMain.

With a strong campaign emphasis on international growth, I am about to embark on a rather lengthy business trip with our director of R&D, Tony Martin. We’ve spent a good few months planning our trip, and we’ll be setting off this Friday – first stop Tel Aviv. Israel is a very rich market for Sealevel due to our experience with military projects and technology. We have a series of interesting customer visits over the course of a week, and we’ll also present Sealevel’s capabilities at a seminar of around 50 engineers.

Our next stop will be Nuremberg, Germany, where we will be exhibiting at the Embedded World 2010 Show from March 2-4. Some figures out this week show a substantial increase in exhibitors, bolstering signs of recovery in the world economy. “The event has once again increased in terms of internationality (+17%) and first-time exhibitors (+10%). For the sector, the fair is the most important platform in the world, enabling its participants to enter into an exchange at the highest level and inform themselves,” explains Alexander Mattausch, Exhibition Director.  Sealevel’s booth is in Hall 9, Stand 374 and we would love to see you if you’re going to be at the show.

We’ll also be holding a get-together for our SeaPartners (Sealevel’s Channel Partners) on the 5th of March; right after the Embedded World show has ended. This will allow us to present our international plans and discuss ways of increasing market share in the European space.

Let’s just hope our presentation material arrives in time.

Land Conservation Champion Dianne Culbertson has not only protected her own properties but also advocated for the protection of additional significant lands in her area. Culbertson and her son Chad conceived of the idea of the “Warrior Mountain Heritage Preserve Corridor” that would connect the 180-acre Timber Creek Farm which she owns with the Burns tract, an 800-acre farm. The latter is protected by a conservation easement held by the Upper Savannah Land Trust, while Upstate Forever holds the easement on Timber Creek Farm. This year she took a huge step toward completing the corridor by acquiring the 297-acre Warrior Mountain, a historic monadnock known locally as the Little Knob. At the end of the year Upstate Forever was honored to sign a conservation easement with Culbertson, ensuring the permanent protection of the Warrior Mountain tract.

Clean Water Champion Larry Dyck has worked tirelessly and effectively in advocating for the restoration of Twelve Mile River and the cleanup of PCB contamination in Lake Hartwell. Dyck, a former professor of biological sciences at Clemson University, is a member of the board of directors of both the Lake Hartwell Association and the Pickens Soil and Water Conservation District.

Mary Black Foundation, the Sustainable Communities Champion, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the design, livability and quality of the built environment. In 2002, recognizing the critical link between lack of physical activity and public health, the MBF became one of the very few foundations in the Southeast to adopt “active living” as one of its funding priorities.

Clear Skies Champion the City of Clemson has shown outstanding leadership on energy and climate change issues. In 2008, City of Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy became one of only seven South Carolina mayors to sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. In so doing, he publicly committed the City to reducing its carbon footprint. Mayor Abernathy appointed a Green Ribbon Committee to generate a plan for sustainability for the City of Clemson, with particular attention to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and to develop civic policy
recommendations for the City related to energy conservation and waste reduction, greenhouse gas reduction, green building, land use and development programs, and education and outreach programs.

Michael Pitts, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing District 14, is Public Servant of the Year for his outstanding leadership on water quality issues in our region and state. Pitts was a strong supporter of Upstate Forever’s Saving Lake Greenwood campaign throughout 2009.

Volunteer of the Year Jennifer Kouyoumjian enthusiastically volunteered her talents in design and layout to assembling a collection of the best writings of Upstate Forever board and staff members. The beautiful finished product, “The Best of Upstate Forever,” was published last year and is available on our website and at The Open Book.

Dr. David Shi, who is retiring as President of Furman University after a 15-year term, is the recipient of Upstate Forever’s Award for Extraordinary Achievement. Shi has been a visionary leader for the sustainability movement in the United States.  In the mid-1990s, before many had heard of sustainability, he began laying the foundation for making Furman a national leader in the field.  His efforts have truly been transformative—today sustainability is fully integrated into every aspect of life on the Furman campus.

Upstate Forever is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes sensible growth and the protection of special places in the nine-county Upstate region. They have three main programs: Land Trust, Clean Air and Water, and Sustainable Communities.  Visit www.upstateforever.org for more information.