In a press conference yesterday, Intel revealed its next SoC, codenamed Tunnel Creek, which they’re gearing towards embedded systems such as phones, printers and even cars.
Tunnel Creek bases itself around an Atom processor, and will contain an on-chip memory hub, graphics engine, and video engine. Intel also revealed that the chip will sport a direct link that other manufacturers can connect to via PCI Express standard, an industry first. The dedicated path should allow for more flexibility and less overhead on embedded devices.
Intel also unveiled a partnership with a pair of Chinese companies, Rongcheng HawTai Automobile and China Mobile. An auto manufacturer, HawTai will be using Intel technology and the x86 platform Atom provides to improve their in-car infotainment systems. Embedded systems using x86 provide the ability to use existing software solutions and lower development and release times.
China Mobile, the world’s biggest mobile telecom provider, will work with Intel technology to implement what’s termed a “compute and cloud” model, or a system based around a lot of standardized, low-power hardware that can easily adapt and flex to handle varying network load without buckling.
Finally, Intel spoke to energy awareness, showing off a device that promises to gather information about your home’s power usage and offer suggestions to reducing your usage, even giving you goals to reach for. It’s all about information, says Intel.
“Consumer empowerment is critical. Individual consumers must have the information, tools and incentives to conserve scarce energy resources, minimize their carbon impact and keep their energy budgets under control,” the firm said. “If we can make energy more personalized with real-time information and offer visual tools that engage entire communities, it will lead to valuable changes in behavior and save staggering amounts of energy.”
To that end, Intel demonstrated a system with their wireless usage sensor and a display that proposes to save up to $470 a year per household simply by identifying power draws and alerting homeowners to their presence and magnitude. The theory, much like the FCC’s, is that by showing people what they use, they will be more likely to unplug devices that aren’t in use, look for lower-energy appliances, and generally be more thrifty with their consumption.
Intel claims savings nationally of up to $50 billion, while even 1% of households taking part would amount to the equivalent of half a million cars being taken off the road.
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