Six QNX videos more people ought to see

Looking for examples of how people use QNX? You've come to the right place. From outer space to the automotive space, these six videos demonstrate the sheer flexibility and dynamic range of QNX technology. Better yet, you get to hear five users describe, in their own words, why QNX is important to what they do.

QNX in space
First up is Iain Christie of Neptec, the company responsible for creating the SVS and LCS camera systems on the NASA space shuttle. Highlight: when Ian explains the importance of QNX to the shuttle program (1:46). For more on the QNX-based LCS system, see my previous post.



QNX in the clinic
Next up is Vladimir Derenchuk of the Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center, which uses proton beams to blast difficult-to-treat tumors. Highlight: it's all good, but listen to Vladimir explain why they chose QNX, and how it has helped with FDA approvals (1:34).



QNX in the HVAC
Next up is Hans Symanczik of Kieback & Peter, a German firm that has used QNX in building automation systems for more than 20 years. Highlight: when Hans explains the ultimate benefit of the QNX OS (2:07).



QNX on the air
Next up is Mikael Vest of NTP, a Danish company that supplies QNX-based audio routers to the global television and radio broadcasting industry. Highlight: Mikael himself, who gladly did this interview despite suffering from a flu to end all flus. A real trooper.



QNX on the road
Next up is Rick Kreifeldt of Harman International, a company known in the automotive industry for its ability to push the technology envelope. Highlight: the section where Rick's respect for the QNX team shines through (2:14).



QNX in flight
And last but not least is Thomas Allen from Mechtronix, a company that has developed an innovative, software-based approach to building flight simulators. Highlight: when Allen states that Mechtronix simulators effectively use the same software architecture as the QNX OS (0:45). Years, ago, someone explained to me how the QNX OS isn't simply a well-designed, modular OS; it also encourages well-designed, modular systems. In Mechtronix, we have an example.

Putting faces to names at the UOIT Faculty Summit for Mobile Computing

Jin Xu

A guest post from my colleague Jin Xu, Global Education Program Manager, QNX Software Systems

I always enjoy the experience of putting faces to names. And that’s exactly what happened to me on May 30 at the University of Ontario Technology Institute (UOIT) in Oshawa.

As manager of the QNX in Education program, I had spoken to many of institute’s professors over email or the phone, but never had the chance to meet them in person. So I was thrilled to greet and meet so many of them during a single event.

Fifty-five university faculties from 22 universities across Canada got together on May 30 in OUIT for a two-day mobile computing summit held in partnership with the BlackBerry Academic Program. The universities attending this event included:

      Albert Campbell C.I. — Toronto, ON
      Bucks County Community College— Newton, PA, US
      Centennial College — Toronto, ON
      Conestoga College — Guelph, ON
      Dalhousie University — Halifax, NS
      Georgian College — Barrie, ON
      McMaster University — Hamilton, ON
      Queens University — Kingston, ON
      Ryerson University — Toronto, ON
      Seneca College — Toronto, ON
      Sheridan College — Oakville, ON
      Simon Fraser University — Burnaby, BC
      University of Calgary — Calgary
      University of Guelph — Guelph, ON
      University of New Brunswick — NB
      University of Ottawa — Ottawa, ON
      University of Toronto — Toronto, ON
      University of Waterloo — Waterloo,ON
      UOIT — Oshawa, ON
      Western University — London, ON
      Youth Science Canada

Long story short, the event was very successful. As one professor commented, “I found the summit to be extremely valuable… the first day’s talks were very informative, especially having some of the professors share their experiences… it provided a great opportunity to get an overview of the BlackBerry platform, and the hands-on session demonstrated how quickly we can have students create a mobile application from scratch in BlackBerry 10.”

As you know, QNX has deep experience in the embedded market. That, together with a long history of supporting academic research, makes the QNX in Education program an ideal complement to the BlackBerry Academic Program, which provides free curriculum resources and mobile hardware to qualified professors and instructors.

During the first day of the summit, QNX delivered a presentation on the history of the QNX in Education Program and on the various offerings that QNX makes available to academics, and consequently, to students. A demonstration of QNX-based reference designs was very well received. On day 2 of the event, QNX provided a hands-on training session focused on the reference designs.

Another successful cooperation between the QNX in Education and BlackBerry Academic programs since the BlackBerry student competition in China last year!

Did you know…
… that the QNX in Education program has been active since the 1980s? And that Harvard University has been a program member for 23 years? Find out how in Harvard has been using QNX technology to investigate the ozone hole.

Find out more about the QNX in Education program and BlackBerry Academic Program.

What are the 5 all-time most popular QNX videos?

Geez, I thought you'd never ask. Seriously, the question came to mind earlier this week, so I decided to find out. A quick trip to the QNX YouTube channel provided the answer.

What that trip didn't tell me is why these videos are the most popular. I can think of several reasons, but the most obvious is that the videos all hint at a future in which driving is more connected, more convenient, more enjoyable — and also a little safer. But don't take my word for it. Check out the videos, if you haven't already, and judge for yourself.

Without further ado, here are the top five, along with my favorite scene from each one.

#1
First up, at more than 525,000 views, is Imagined: Your car in the not-so-distant future. Best part: the augmented reality-enhanced stop sign (1:10).



#2
Next, at more than 230,000 views, is QNX seamless connectivity. Best part: John Wall speaking on the real challenge of making a connected car (:50).



#3
Close behind #2, at more than 213,000 views, is The QNX secret to making hands-free noise-free. Best part: The marching band (1:21).



#4
Next, at more than 85,000 views, is QNX HTML5 series - Interview with Pandora's Tom Conrad. Best part: It's all good, but I love the bloopers (3:00).



#5
And last, at more than 34,000 views, is QNX technology concept car - Bentley Continental. Best part: the couches.



One that didn't make it...
And, finally, here's my current favorite. It's not one of the top five... yet. But I think it should be:

What has the QNX auto team been up to?

Well, let's see...

• Scott stays focused on distraction
   
• Tina goes over the moon over OTA
   
• Justin stays up late at Telematics Update
   
• Paul gets juiced over the Jeep
   
• Nancy crashes the QNX concept garage
   
• Paul opines that winning twice is twice as nice
   
• Nancy finds bloopers reel funny
   
• Paul can't decide which side of the fence he sits on
   
• Tina speculates about specs for cars
   
• Andy is nominated as co-chair for a W3C group and gets all musty
   
• Paul discovers an alarming solution for driver distraction
   
• Nancy thinks passwords suck
   
• But Emil insists it's all a matter of context
   
• And Romain (finally) throws away his 8-tracks

What, you haven't read the latest issue of the QNX Source newsletter?

It always pays to get your information straight from the source. I'm speaking, of course, about the Source newsletter, which QNX publishes 10 times a year.

If you want to keep track of the latest QNX videos, webinars, whitepapers, press releases, product updates, and board support packages, subscribing to the Source is the way to go. But if your inbox is already crammed with too many newsletters, meeting requests, and advertisements for fake Rolexes, there is an alternative: you can bookmark your browser to the Source newsletter archive.

Here, for example, is a screen cap of part of the June edition, which is available now on the archive.

Solar Impulse plane completes final leg of cross-America trek

It has the wingspan of a Boeing 777, but weighs only as much as a family car. It has four propellers, but doesn’t sip an ounce of fuel. It's called the Solar Impulse, and it is the first plane designed to fly round the clock using only solar power.

In early May, the Solar Impulse took off from Mountain View, California on the first leg of its journey across America. Last night, it completed the trek, landing at New York's JFK Airport. In between, the plane made stopovers at Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis, and Washington DC, allowing the Solar Impulse team to meet the public, show off the plane, and promote their vision of renewal energy. (In New York next weekend? If so, you're in luck: you can see the plane in person at JFK.)

Along the way, the plane set a new distance record for solar-powered flight: 1541 kilometers. The previous record was 1116 kilometers, set by — you guessed it — the Solar Impulse team.

QNX Software Systems is the official realtime OS partner for the Solar Impulse project, which uses QNX technology for several of the plane's control and data management functions. For more on the project and the people behind it, see the Solar Impulse website.

But before you go, check out this video, which starts off with some inspiring clips of the Solar Impulse in flight — followed by a cameo appearance by Larry Page wearing Google Glass.