Embedded

Kirk Pearson, a composer and educator renowned for his quirky music and hands-on workshops on electronic instruments, shares his journey in sound creation. He discusses the art of sound in film, including iconic effects and the role of technology in music education. Kirk also emphasizes the importance of experimentation in electronic projects and how personal connections foster creativity. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the legacy of electronic music pioneers and the joy of collaborative artistic experiences.

Nikolaus Correll, a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Colorado and robotics expert, shares fascinating insights into the world of robotics. He discusses the critical foundations of robotics education and the role of matrix math in tech. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of learning, comparing Coursera and YouTube as educational tools. Correll also dives into advancements in humanoid robotics and their potential applications, emphasizing adaptability and safety in design, alongside the creative interplay between robotics and art.

The hosts dive into the world of origami, showcasing Elecia's upcoming art show and the intricacies of creativity versus commercialization. They tackle the challenges of code reviews for solo developers and share insights on enhancing debugging techniques with tools like GDB. A heartwarming library story illustrates the joy of sharing art with others. The podcast also unpacks the complexities of hardware and software debugging, exploring breakpoints and the evolution of programming tools, all while adding a whimsical touch with playful narratives.

Adrienne Braganza Tacke spoke with us about her book Looks Good To Me: Constructive Code Reviews. It is about how to make code reviews more useful, effective, and congenial.  Adrienne’s book is available now as an ebook at manning.com or a paper copy later in the year (Amazon link). Check out the example Team Working Agreement from Appendix A. Adrienne’s personal website is adrienne.io. Transcript

The hosts dive into the world of robotics, discussing user-friendly simulation tools like Webots. They explore the technical challenges of capturing comets in astrophotography, sharing tips and software insights. A light-hearted exploration of misconceptions adds humor, while reflections on navigating graduate education highlight career choices and learning paths in tech. Listeners can expect a whimsical story about a transformer robot, weaving together creativity and friendship.

Antoine van Gelder spoke to us about making digital musical instruments, USB, and FPGAs.  Antoine works for Great Scott Gadgets, specifically on the Cynthion USB protocol analysis tool that can be used in conjunction with Python and GSG’s FaceDancer to act as a new USB device.  While bonding over MurderBot Diaries was a given, Antoine also mentioned NAND2Tetris which Elecia countered with The Elements of Computing Systems: Building a Modern Computer from First Principles, the book that covers the NAND2Tetris material. Memfault is a leading embedded device observability platform that empowers teams to build better IoT products, faster. Its off-the-shelf solution is specifically designed for bandwidth-constrained devices, offering device performance and product analytics, debugging, and over-the-air capabilities. Trusted by leading brands such as Bose, Lyft, Logitech, Panasonic, and Augury, Memfault improves the reliability of devices across consumer electronics and mission-critical industries such as access control, point of sale, energy, and healthcare. To learn more, visit memfault.com.

Alan Blackwell, a Professor of Interdisciplinary Design at Cambridge University, shares insights on the intricate interplay between artificial intelligence and creativity. He discusses the moral implications of AI-generated works and the limitations of large language models in producing original content. Blackwell also delves into how AI affects creative professions, touching on job displacement and the essence of artistic expression. The conversation reflects on humanity's relationship with technology, urging caution in our reliance on AI as it shapes our lives.

Chris and Elecia talk to each other about setting aside memory in a linker file, printing using your debugger, looking around a new code base, pointers as optimization, choosing processors, skill trees and merit badges. Elecia’s Creating Chaos and Hard Faults talk and slides. STM32 Application Note AN4989 microcontroller debug toolbox includes semihosting. Memfault’s Interrupt blog has a good Semihosting post. Elecia and Steph’s Embedded Skills Tree. A far more detailed one pointed out by a listener: A comprehensive roadmap for aspiring Embedded Systems Engineers, featuring a curated list of learning resources.  The most influential book Elecia has never read is You Can Do It!: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls.  Transcript  Memfault is a leading embedded device observability platform that empowers teams to build better IoT products, faster. Its off-the-shelf solution is specifically designed for bandwidth-constrained devices, offering device performance and product analytics, debugging, and over-the-air capabilities. Trusted by leading brands such as Bose, Lyft, Logitech, Panasonic, and Augury, Memfault improves the reliability of devices across consumer electronics and mission-critical industries such as access control, point of sale, energy, and healthcare. To learn more, visit memfault.com.

Rick Altherr, an expert in high-speed control and quantum computing systems, discusses the fascinating world of quantum technology. He explains how to build quantum computers and even create a quantum circuit simulator using just 27 lines of Python. The conversation covers the intricacies of trapped ion technology, laser modulation, and the challenges of programming quantum circuits. With a mix of humor and technical insights, Rick also shares tips for career transitions and mentorship, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.

Professor Colleen Lewis joined us to talk teaching pointers with stuffies, explaining inheritance through tigers, and computer science pedagogy. Check out her YouTube channel to view her videos explaining CS concepts with physical models. These are also collected on her website: Physical Models of Java. If you are an instructor (or thinking about teaching CS), check out Colleen’s CS Teaching Tips. You may also be interested in some other research: John Edwards Study on Syntax exercises in CS1 Daniel Willingham on why learning styles aren’t a real thing A Beginner's Guide to Teaching with Algebra Tiles Colleen is an Assistant Professor at University Illinois, Urbana-Champaign’s Siebel School of Computing and Data Science. You can find her papers on Google Scholar (including studies on teaching and learning).  Transcript Memfault is a leading embedded device observability platform that empowers teams to build better IoT products, faster. Its off-the-shelf solution is specifically designed for bandwidth-constrained devices, offering device performance and product analytics, debugging, and over-the-air capabilities. Trusted by leading brands such as Bose, Lyft, Logitech, Panasonic, and Augury, Memfault improves the reliability of devices across consumer electronics and mission-critical industries such as access control, point of sale, energy, and healthcare. To learn more, visit memfault.com.