Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2017
The NMEA 2012 conference
Who needs Vegas when you can go to the Royal Pacific Resort. You couldn't find a better place to hold the National Marine Electronics Association's 2012 annual conference. This is my second year as judge for the annual NMEA technology awards. I was joined by Tim Queeney, editor of Ocean Navigator magazine who is this year's senior judge. You know this because his robe has the four gold stripes. Glenn Law, editor of Saltwater Sportsman is our new judge who replaced Ben Ellison.
I'll grant you the plane ride is a long one, but you're met at the lagoon by friendly resort staff who wield their machetes to help clear a path to the resort check in area.
The rooms are certainly airy and all feature sunset views. The swinging beds are very comfortable, and form fitting. The gentle rocking of your bed in the tropical breezes gives you a great nights sleep.
The fresh water private swimming lagoon is the perfect place to just loll around in warm volcanic vent heated water. Mix this with beverages served in a coconut shells, and you have a perfect afternoon.
The highlight of the conference is the banquet where the NMEA technology winner is toasted by the crowd. This years winner is Fusion's NMEA certified 700 series marine stereo. There were also honorable mentions for Furuno's new Time Zero MDF, and SI-TEX's VHF/AIS antenna splitter
This was then followed by a Luau style dinner prepared by the local resort staff. The main entree was a delicious native specialty called long pig. Unfortunately the Fusion guy seemed to have disappeared before I could interview him about the award.
This years conference schedule was busy. The normal NMEA conference was overlayed with the RTCM (Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services) conference.
The general boating public doesn't hear much about RTCM, but this group plays a critical role in developing the communication standards for DSC, EPRIB, AIS, GPS and other forms of marine radio communications and IMO electronic charting. There was a multitude of training classes and seminars, most of which were presented twice giving participants fewer scheduling conflicts. The vendor exhibit hall was open half days, allowing easy access.
The general boating public doesn't hear much about RTCM, but this group plays a critical role in developing the communication standards for DSC, EPRIB, AIS, GPS and other forms of marine radio communications and IMO electronic charting. There was a multitude of training classes and seminars, most of which were presented twice giving participants fewer scheduling conflicts. The vendor exhibit hall was open half days, allowing easy access.
The often disparate interests of boat builders, marine electronic manufacturers, and their dealers, big box retailers, Internet discounters, third party developers, certified or just compatible, and so on will make going forward like walking a tightrope in an earthquake.
NMEA has successfully come a long way in a very short time, and the roles of those who have to make the stuff work on a boat have changed also. Its been years since circuit diagrams have been included in manuals, and to be brutally honest, installation of systems today are largely just plug and play. The traditional electronics installer has really become a systems integrator, and sometimes interior designers. Their purview now extends to digital power distribution, audio and video, Bluetooth, WiFi, satellite communications, mobile devices, engine monitoring systems, vessel security, and often we deal with equipment built to other international standards. Then add to this the exponential increase in technology, a lot of which will have a very short lifespan.
So is NMEA worth our support? I would give it a resounding yes. Just think of what it would be like without NMEA. Things would be a mess. Every manufacturer would have differing technologies. Systems wouldn't talk to other systems. Chaos would reign and the Apocalypse would be near at hand. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but NMEA makes my job easier, and more importantly both predictable, and reliable. I choose NMEA certified gear first, if at all possible.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with Bruce Angus who is currently NMEA's executive director. He is an engineer by training, has business experience, terrific people skills, and is a good listener. Take this from a guy who spent decades working for high technology engineering companies, this is a rare and valuable combination. So I think Bruce will do very well at NMEA's helm, and the only practical advice I can proffer to him is to find out what NMEA doesn't do well, and then don't do it. Next year, on to San Diego. Same Installer time, same Installer channel, with four gold stripes on my robe.
The photo of the hammock was posted by by Wikipedia user ArronY
Thursday, February 2, 2017
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
Seasonal Decorating for 2012
Bring the beauty of nature indoors to create simple but stunning living spaces – no matter what the season.
Winter
While many of us spend the warmer months trying to escape the home to enjoy fine weather, cooler days lure us indoors and the house becomes a sanctuary away from the cold and the dark. When the landscape outside is uniformly grey, banish the winter blahs with colour. Enliven the furniture with a few vibrant pillows in persimmon, orange or olive. Conjure warmth with a few matching wool throws or hang a coat tree with brightly patterned cardigans. Stack the rack beside the fire with scented pinecones or use fragrant candles to fill the rooms with warmth and cheer.
Spring
Spring is the sweetest season. As nature returns to life, bring the outside in by removing heavy drapes and replacing them with sheer curtains or scarves. Choose bright tints like chartreuse, fuchsia, periwinkle or lemon to accentuate light on lengthening days. Hang glass or mirrored sun catchers in the windows to distribute prisms of colour. Fill a clear vase with early bloomers like daffodils or bluebells. When entertaining, a bowl of new strawberries or cherries makes a charming and delicious centrepiece that summons the beauty and promise of the season.
Summer
During the sultry days of summer roll up the rugs and replace them with inexpensive and sturdy grass or bamboo mats. Use Roman shades to let in morning light and easily darken rooms during long, lazy afternoons. Dusky versions of primary colours like navy and ochre echo the sea and the sand of the shore and are restful on the eyes after long hours spent outdoors. Bring colour indoors with sprays of cut flowers from the garden or create a tropical feel with a few potted palms. Hang twinkle lights or paper lanterns on balconies or in windows. Replace heavy bed linens with sheer cotton sheets and quilts with lightweight knit throws.
Autumn
The fall of the year brings a transition as the long days of summer slowly merge into winter. Mark this turning point by incorporating elements from both seasons. Combine a vase of late-blooming sunflowers with a basket filled with bright pumpkins, gourds or crisp and fragrant apples. Use gold or russet ribbons to tie back drapes and allow the last rays of summer to shine through. Gather a bouquet of seed pods, berries and autumn leaves for a stunning seasonal centrepiece.
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