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Wednesday Dec 13, 2006

Bright Ideas Abound with Sun SPOTs

Experimental technology is designed to inspire people to go build the next great thing, whether robotics, consumer devices, or art. Sun SPOTs (Small Programmable Object Technology) are matchbox-sized, battery-operated devices that communicate wirelessly with one another and are Sun's latest example of experimental technology.

Tune in to the newest edition of Innovating@Sun where Roger Meike, research director at Sun Labs, talks with host Hal Stern about the hottest little device that runs without an operating system.

Cool things about Sun SPOTs:

They run Java with no operating system underneath it

Java programmers can program embedded systems and write device drivers without a keyboard, mouse, or screen

Educational institutions including art schools are using them in unique, yet very different, ways

Sun SPOTs talk to each other, opening up opportunities for use in interactive, human environments

Volkswagen is testing them out to have cars and household items talk with one another

Watch for more information on Sun SPOTs which are in the final stages of release now. Soon a development kit selling for around $500 will be available online that will allow for people to start playing with them. Talk about a cool holiday gift.