RIM CTO: How RIM is steering BlackBerry toward QNX

Yesterday, ZDNet UK interviewed David Yach, RIM's software CTO, about "tablets, smartphones, and key mobile issues." I was particularly interested in David's comments on the QNX OS. Among other things, he offers an example of QNX's support for fine-grained fault isolation and recovery — the same capability that makes QNX technology popular in Internet routers and other high-availability systems. To read the interview, click here.
 

Choosing the right OS for your medical device

I don't envy medical device manufacturers. They have to develop products that are both safe and reliable (read: invest time and money). They have to pass their products through rigorous certification processes (read: invest more time and money). And if that isn’t enough, they now have to develop products that are connected yet secure, sophisticated yet intuitive (read: invest still more time and money).

All this means one thing: When designing and developing a medical device, you have to get it right the first time. The cost of a false start is simply too onerous. Medical device manufacturers get this, which is why many choose their OS in the early phases of any new project. They understand that, as the software foundation for the device, the OS can make it a lot easier (or a lot harder) to implement complex features, achieve high reliability, and address regulatory requirements.

The question is, how do you choose the most appropriate OS? Choices abound: Android, QNX Neutrino, Linux, Windows CE — and let's not forget roll-your-own. All offer a unique feature set and all have their advocates.

Recently, Medical Electronics Design published an article to address this issue. The article, titled “Choosing the right OS for your medical device,” was authored by my estimable colleague Justin Moon. To read it, click here.
 

Solar Impulse aircraft completes first international flight

A few days ago, I told you that the Solar Impulse, a solar-powered airplane that takes advantage of the QNX Neutrino RTOS, was ready to take its first international flight. Well, the Solar Impulse team must be breaking out the champagne, because the flight was a success.

Check out this short clip from AFP:


 

Toward loosely coupled design: Using persistent publish/subscribe messaging in medical devices

A little over a year ago, I published two long yet popular posts (here and here) on persistent publish/subscribe messaging, aka PPS. The posts explored why PPS offers several advantages over other forms of IPC and why it makes automotive instrument clusters, smart energy panels, and other devices easier to develop, maintain, and upgrade.

In a nutshell, PPS lets you create loosely coupled designs based on asynchronous publications and notifications. This “decoupling” offers a great deal of flexibility, allowing you to delay final decisions on module connection points and data flow until runtime. Because such decisions don’t have to be hardcoded, they can be adapted as requirements evolve; they can even change dynamically as the system runs.

Just one thing: My posts failed to discuss how PPS could be applied to medical devices — a glaring omission! Fortunately, my QNX colleagues Justin Moon and Ben VandenBelt have filled the gap. To check out their new paper on PPS in medical devices, click here.
 

Angus Young meets the BlackBerry PlayBook (yes, you should crank up the volume)

QNX. AC/DC. One is an OS, the other is a rock band. No connection, right?

Before you answer that, check out this video from Telus…



Crazy fast guitar… crazy fast multitasking. Works for me!
 

Demos from BlackBerry World: Android app player, Facebook app, SAP sales dashboards, and more

The folks over at the BlackBerry Blog have been busy beavers, posting freshly minted videos from BlackBerry World 2011. I was particularly interested in the demos of the Android App Player, native email app, SAP sales dashboards, Facebook app, and a BlackBerry "super app".

Grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and check them out:

Android app player: Look ma, no buttons!


Native email app: A familiar interface


SAP sales dashboards: Delivering "big data"


Facebook app: Getting social


BlackBerry super app: The power to share


 

Solar Impulse plane poised to take first European flight

It has the wingspan of a Boeing 777, but weighs only as much as a family car. It has four propellers, but doesn’t consume an ounce of fuel. It is, to say the least, unique in the aviation world. And if you’re in Paris this June, you’ll have the unique opportunity to see it take to the skies.

I’m talking about the Solar Impulse HB-SIA, the first plane designed to fly round the clock using solar power. Equipped with four electric motors powered by 12000 solar cells, the HB-SIA has already made several flights, but always within Swiss borders. That’s about to change.

Recently, the HB-SIA received clearance to make its first European flight. The first stop is Brussels, where the plane will be on display from May 23 to 29. From there, the HB-SIA will fly to Paris, where it will make a guest appearance at the International Paris Air Show, from June 20 to 26. Weather permitting, the HB-SIA will fly over the air show every morning, allowing visitors to see a plane powered only by the sun.

As mentioned in previous posts (see here and here), QNX is the realtime operating system provider for the Solar Impulse project. I hope to provide more details in coming posts.

Here's an Associated Press video documenting the completion of the HB-SIA's first 24-hour flight (you may have to wait out a 10-second commercial):



By the way, the Solar Impulse team doesn't have suffer from any delusions that solar-powered planes will someday replace conventional aircraft. Their main goal is promote greater use of renewable energy. To quote Bertrand Piccard, the plane's creator, "Solar Impulse is being developed primarily to change the energy consumption philosophy. We want [everyone] to understand that the renewable energy sources can be used quite effectively."