The Sun SPOT features a Java virtual machine running on metal, with developers able to write device drivers and other software. Using NetBeans open source tools or standard development tools, SPOT technology could be applied to devices ranging from toys to MP3 players to traditional sensor applications such as environmental monitoring systems and package-tracking systems. Another possibility is gesture recognition, where interfaces would be interacted with via gestures, for purposes such as transferring data on cell phones.
Simon Ritter specialises in looking at emerging technologies including grid computing, RFID, wireless sensor networks, robotics and wearable computing. Simon has been in the IT business since 1984 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Brunel University in the U.K. Originally working in the area of UNIX development for AT&T UNIX System Labs and then Novell, Simon joined Sun in 1996 and started working with Java technology; he has spent time doing both Java development and consultancy.
JavaPolis QA with James Gosling— JavaPolis organized a 25 minute Q&A keynote session with James Gosling. A nice opportunity for the European Java developers to ask the father of Java about 'where is Swing going', 'what do you feel about Android', 'what is the future of Java in the RIA space' and lots more. Enjoy!
