[Yaaarc] Microsoft plans to enter mobile robotics market

[Neal Probert]

Typical Microsoft vaporware to freeze the market into waiting years for 
their product, instead of going ahead with what works perfectly well in 
embedded systems all over the world: Linux, and other open source or 
proprietary OSes.

Assuming this language and API requires Windows, a robot running Windows 
would be a frighteningly dangerous thing should it get infected or 
simply have one of it's usual brain farts or BSODs.

I remember discussions at Ford about using anything Microsoft (including 
Windows) in various automotive electronic subsystems. I think the 
lawyers were scared enough to shit in their pants. The engineers were 
either rolling their eyes in disgust or laughing at the very idea.

Btw, the Xbox 360 does not use Windows as it's core OS. That might be a 
new direction for embedded software for Microsoft after Windows CE, but 
whether or not that shows up in other Microsoft products remains to be seen.

Btw, Windows CE + Windows ME + Windows NT = Windows CEMENT.

Keith Mc. (Route-To YAR) wrote:
> I just received an email "teaser" for Robo Business 2006, entitled 
> "Microsoft Enters Robotics Market – RoboBusiness 2006 - Latest News"
>
> According to the Robo Business 2006 program, on Tue 6/20/06, at 11:15 AM 
> there will be a General Session at Robo Biz (in PA), where Microsoft
> General Manager Tandy Trower will announce Microsoft is entering 
> the mobile robot biz in some way. (The "Microsoft & Robotics" session).
>
> See:   http://www.robobusiness2006.com/rb2006_program_at_a_glance.htm
>
> Now I don't know whether or not this is the outcome of the "announcement"
> by Microsoft Research dept back at the 9/04 European Innovation Fair. 
> They announced then that Microsoft Research was in the process of 
> developing a "graphical programming language for robotics that is 
> simple to teach, and allows people to control robots with a [Windows 
> based] Smartphone".  
>
> See: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/sep04/09-23MSRBrusselsInnovationFairPR.mspx
>
> IOW, *IF* I'm piecing this together correctly, it sounds like just 
> where Microsoft entered the home game industry with the X-box announcement, 
> we may soon also see them attempting to enter the mobile robotics market.
>
> I'm assuming they will be announcing some sort of a new "Microsoft 
> branded (or spec'd) robot hardware, controlled by a Microsoft 
> graphical robot language, via a Microsoft based Smartphone".
>
> Comments?  Speculations?  Worries?
>
> - Keith Mc.
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