Proximity sensors come in many shaper and forms. HoloTouch has technology for a hands-free holographic switch and Silicon Labs just introduced two infrared proximity sensors.

Not all equipment needs high-speed Internet access. Remote sensor monitors, remote controllers, weather stations, security systems, and similar devices can use standard phone lines to communicate with a distant computer. To simplify this type of connection, Saelig Company now offers developers an embedded "World Modem NET" module that operates at standard modem data rates from 300 to 56K bits/sec. The module includes a direct attachment arrangement (DAA) that lets it connect directly to the standard ring and tip telephone wires. The DAA provides 5 kV of isolation.

Earlier in 2009, Micrium introduced its μC/OS-III real-time kernel, a real-time operating system (RTOS) that use the ARM7/9, Cortex-MX, Nios-II, PowerPC, Coldfire, i.MX, Microblaze, H8, SH, M16C, M32C, or Blackfin processors, among others.

You can find a complete written hands-on review of the Renesas CAN Dev Kit (RCDK8C) on the evalkits.com Web site. I shot the video review last week but it might take another week or so to get edited and appear on the site. Find the review directly at: www.evalkits.com/kit/Renesas-R8C-CAN-LIN-Development-Kit.