I am starting to think of how many ways I can use the micro computers in monitoring and control situations. They can be set up to have their own network IP address and webpage, at least on the home network. It’s called the Spinneret Web Server. Not sure that I would want to make my data available to the world, at least not at this time.

There are just so many wonderful options that these controls can be set up to manage. I’m sure there is a business opportunity somewhere in designing and deploying these devices. I certainly will be finding and deploying my own beyond the RoboBoat Project.

I have returned to my first love of working with computer CPU’s (Central Processing Units). Back when I started there was nothing but assembly. I was working in machine language just trying to make LEDs blink in sequence. Much later on I was writing ham radio terminal programs in MS Basic on the Apple MAC computer. Getting the random serial streams to decode and display properly (using BASIC) was a real challenge. Somehow I got it working very well.

I enjoyed writing computer code for the control system (I/Net) that my real job (office building control systems) allowed.  I became involved just as the code writing was evolving from the DOS environment into a higher generation language. Most of the “old boys” didn’t trust the new interpreters. They wanted to stick with DOS. Ha! I had to learn both methods.

I enjoy the process of writing code that works closely with the fundamental CPU process of the computer. I like it more than running a computer application.  However, I can live just fine with the simple BASIC interpreters of these computers.  Some machine level code (assembly) can be written to speed certain operations. Dedicated hackers (good hackers) can write their entire program in assembly if they desired. Not me, I’ll just give it a poke when I have to. Assembly is just TOO much detail.

The higher power Propeller computer uses a language called SPIN. But that system also recommends Assembly when needed for speed. There are lots of options to fit any need. I love it!

Heck, I may never get the boat built. Not true, I am on a mission there. I’d love to have the boat running simply as the reason to experiment with the programming. And also have something truly unique with which almost no one else is experimenting.

Stand back! You may get injured in all the hacking going on.