*This Editor’s Note will appear in the July/August Edition of WDD.
By now, you’ve probably seen my work floating around on Wireless Design & Development. I joined the team in May 2015 as Associate Editor and immediately dove headfirst into the wireless world. (Throwback to my second week of work when I was informed I would be traveling to Phoenix, Arizona for the International Microwave Symposium. My friends thought I was going to a tradeshow on kitchen appliances.)
Fast forward to over one year later and, safe to say, this little industry niche has carved a place in my heart. That being said, I’m excited to continue working with you as WDD’s latest and greatest Managing Editor. (Janine Mooney fans, do not fret; she remains Editor in Chief of our humble publication—a role that has been extended to our sister publication, Electronic Component News.)
In today’s day and age, “wireless” is hard to ignore, and I’ve come to realize its prominence with each new gadget and technology trend that clutters my social media newsfeeds or moseys its way over to Good Morning America. A few recent cases in point:
1. Drones. Unmanned vehicles are the way of the future, infiltrating all aspects of our lives from filming weddings to assisting in tactical military operations. (If you haven’t done so already, check out my running weekly Drone of the Week blog series on WDD. The applications are endless, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cue: Kenny Loggins’ Highway to the Danger Zone.)
2. Virtual and augmented reality. I’m sure by now you’ve heard of (or even play—hey, I won’t judge) “Pokemon Go,” the latest smartphone craze that utilizes this technology, enabling gamers to “catch” virtual monsters that appear in the real world. (My latest goal is to evolve every iteration of Eevee. If you don’t know what this means, consult your twelve-year-old nephew. If you do, let’s talk tricks and tips.)
3. The Smart Home—which takes us to this issue’s feature story. Whether or not you have a full-blown smart house that cooks your breakfast based on the macro-nutritional deficiencies it’s been scanning from your fitness band, the “home of tomorrow” is increasingly becoming a reality of today. Facilitating that process is developing voice automation systems, which (even beyond the home) is what enables our technology to understand us. Remember that the next time you’re pulled over on Route 80, screaming at Siri (whose sassy talk-back game is strong) that a ninety-mile-away Dunkin Donuts isn’t the most convenient of pit stops…
Questions? Story ideas? Pokemon Go tips? (I’m serious.) Drop me a line at [email protected]. In the meantime, I will continue to do my best to bring you the latest and greatest in our wonderful, wireless world.
Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)