Re: FPGA Journal Article

On 12 Jan 2006 12:15:13 -0800, "Kevin Morris"
<kevin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I'm writing a feature article for FPGA Journal (www.fpgajournal.com)
>about FPGAs and the re-birth of the electronics hobbyist. My theory is
>that electronics as a hobby went through a "dark age" period, maybe
>from the early/mid 1970s until recently becuase of the inaccessibility
>and cost of designing with state-of-the-art technology. Radio Shack
>shifted their focus from 50-in-1 project kits and hobbyist parts to
>selling toys, cell-phones, and stereo equipment.
>
>Now, with the emergence of low-cost, high-capability FPGAs, development
>boards, and design software, I see a new age of hobbyist activity
>beginning (as often evidenced in this group).
>
>I'm looking for a few people that would be willing to express views on
>this topic for the article.
>
>I know, Austin will probably post a strong technical argument that
>Xilinx FPGAs are uniquely attractive to the hobbyist, somebody from
>Altera will send me a Cubic Cyclonium prototyping paperweight (they're
>very cool), and Actel and Lattice people will post just to remind us
>that they have low-cost kits too, but I'm primarily interested in some
>info from real, live, "working" hobbyists.
>
>Any takers?

I *used* to be an electronics hobbyist, but now I do it full-time.

The trend here is increasingly towards digital and software,
increasingly away from actual electricity. The tools of choice become
PCs and green eyeshades, same as the gear needed to be an accountant.

This is partly because it's less messy, and because universities can
replace expensive lab benches and test equipment with cheap laptop PCs
that the students have to buy themselves. Hell, you can get an "EE"
degree now without studying electromagnetics!

I walked through the EE department at Cornell and counted screens. PC
screens outnumbered oscilloscope screens by about 6:1.

That's fine by me: I design instrumentation that's analog intense, and
the uPs and FPGAs play supporting roles. But a lot of kids are missing
the luxury boat if the only numbers they know how to count are 0 and
1.

John

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: FPGA Journal Article
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  • FPGA Journal Article
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  • Re: FPGA Journal Article
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    (comp.arch.fpga)
  • Re: FPGA Journal Article
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  • Re: FPGA Journal Article
    ... The "dark age" was probably in the ... > about FPGAs and the re-birth of the electronics hobbyist. ... > that they have low-cost kits too, but I'm primarily interested in some ... > info from real, live, "working" hobbyists. ...
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