T
Tim Linnell
I realised that I'd misinterpreted Curt's comments, and acknowledged this in a personal e-mail to him (it takes an age to get a comment onto the list and I didn't want to start a delayed action flame war - one day I will actually follow my rule of reading an e-mail three times before assuming I understand what it says!).
Nonetheless the argument about overall architecture stands. Devices using Linux require a great deal of hardware resource just to run the O/S. By centralising function (in this case the I/O is centralised even if distributing overall function) you are concentrating resource physically into one box which leaves you vulnerable to failure, and ties you to a generalised supplier. Smaller smart devices or subsystems using (approriate levels of hardware resource) allow divide and rule approach to problem solving and autonomous segments, using the best device (i.e. coming from those with the highest level of expertise) for the job. Brute force network data transfer is replaced in this model by appropriate data transfer of just what is necessary to co-ordinate the operations, with better use of bandwidth.
As someone working for a company producing smart devices such as these (temp controls and drives), you'd expect me to say this, but I do personally
believe it is way forward. Analogies are everywhere (not least the way PC technology is used), but possibly the best are mammals (be small, find a niche, take over the world)!
Cheers
Tim
Nonetheless the argument about overall architecture stands. Devices using Linux require a great deal of hardware resource just to run the O/S. By centralising function (in this case the I/O is centralised even if distributing overall function) you are concentrating resource physically into one box which leaves you vulnerable to failure, and ties you to a generalised supplier. Smaller smart devices or subsystems using (approriate levels of hardware resource) allow divide and rule approach to problem solving and autonomous segments, using the best device (i.e. coming from those with the highest level of expertise) for the job. Brute force network data transfer is replaced in this model by appropriate data transfer of just what is necessary to co-ordinate the operations, with better use of bandwidth.
As someone working for a company producing smart devices such as these (temp controls and drives), you'd expect me to say this, but I do personally
believe it is way forward. Analogies are everywhere (not least the way PC technology is used), but possibly the best are mammals (be small, find a niche, take over the world)!
Cheers
Tim