| About
Emblix
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Q1 |
How did
the Consortium get started? |
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| A1 |
It was a spontaneously generated
coming together of industries involved in embedded Linux who
realize that the use of embedded Linux is likely to expand as
embedded products gain Internet capability and feature sophisticated
browser-compatible communication functions. |
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Q2 |
Why is
the Consortium jointly run by people from industry and
academia? |
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| A2 |
Emblix is interested in doing more
than simply promote embedded Linux. Universities and research
facilities that are able to engage in far-reaching research
have an important role in dealing with questions about where
the next generation of embedded systems should be going and
in probing the possibilities that new technology offers for
new life styles, as well as the implications thereof. In addition
to this, research conducted at universities produces results
that can be immediately used by industry, and it can save costs
to industry by recruiting students who have already studied
Linux in school. |
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Q3 |
What is
the relationship between Emblix and the Embedded Linux
Consortium of the U.S. (ELC)? |
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| A3 |
Emblix is a separate organization
that is independent of the ELC. At the same time, exchanging
information and cooperating with other organizations is a basic
objective of Emblix. Please refer to the 'News
Release Page' for various kinds of cooperative relationships.
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Embedded Linux
Consortium(ELC)
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Q4 |
Why establish
an organization independent from ELC and other organizations?
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| A4 |
Emblix was established as an independent
Japanese organization for the purpose of effective promotion
of the advancement of Linux-based solutions in the field of
embedded systems. Our objective in taking an industrial and
academic joint approach is to decrease the distance between
academia and the field of embedded systems. We are also actively
working to expand membership by corporate users of embedded
Linux for the sake of making Linux the preferred solution for
embedded operating systems. |
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Q5 |
What
kind of relationship does Emblix have with the TRON Association
and other groups? |
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| A5 |
Emblix actively exchanges information
with different Linux organizations and other organizations concerned
with embedded systems. A TRON Association member belongs to
our advisory committee. This will help to insure continued exchanges
with that group in the interest of cooperating to find solutions
to common problems. |
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Q6 |
What markets
is Emblix targeting? |
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| A6 |
We are targeting a wide variety
of fields, including consumer electronic goods, car navigation
systems and other embedded products. We are not targeting personal
computers or work stations. |
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Q7 |
How many
members is Emblix expecting to have? |
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| A7 |
We had been expecting about 10 companies
to be members by our founding day, July 13, 2000, but in fact
we had 24 member corporations and universities by then. We are
now expecting to have about 100 members by the end of 2002.
(Up Date : 2002.8.22) |
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Q8 |
What is
the advantage in being a member of Emblix to a vendor
of embedding equipment? |
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| A8 |
Even though anyone can get information
about Linux for embedding from our home page, membership is
a good way to pick up all the latest information in the field.
Membership is also good for exchanging information with distributors,
tool vendors and systems integration vendors. |
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Q9 |
What is
on the upcoming agenda for Emblix? |
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| A9 |
The upcoming Agenda of Emblix is
following.
Nov 20-22th., 2002 : Embedded Technology 2002
(Up Date : 2002.8.22) |
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Q10 |
What will
Emblix activities consist of? |
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| A10 |
We will be mainly engaged
in the three kinds of activities listed below. They will be
carried out via general meetings, the Planning and Executive
Committee, working groups, a mailing list between members and
our web site.
(1) Industrial-academic cooperation for the advancement of the
embedded Linux industry and public educational activities about
the industry
(2) Standardization of relevant technology through activities
of working groups
(3) Information exchanges with other consortium and organizations
overseas |
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Q11 |
Have actual
activities begun? |
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| A11 |
The formal announcement
of our activities will not be until November, but we are making
preparations to that end. We are presently having discussions
about how working groups and subcommittees will actually function. |
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Q12 |
Who will
ultimately have the main responsibility for Emblix activities?
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| A12 |
Working groups and
specialty subcommittees will be the basic units of Emblix activities. |
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Q13 |
What do
Emblix working groups do? |
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| A13 |
Each work on a specific area of
activities important for furthering the use of embedded Linux.
Among the working groups slated for formation, one will deal
with standardization of conditions for development and the creation
of a middleware standard interface. |
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Q14 |
What do
subcommittees do? |
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| A14 |
Subcommittees are advisory groups
that prepare reports for the Emblix Chairperson dealing intensively
with specific topics. |
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Q15 |
Will the
findings of working groups and subcommittees be publicly
disclosed? |
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| A15 |
Yes. Neither body is subject to
any restrictions. Their findings will be shared with all. |
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Q16 |
Will Emblix
coordinate its activities with other enterprises outside
the Consortium? |
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| A16 |
No such function is among the objectives
of Emblix. We emphasize instead the importance of disclosure
and of sharing information. |
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Q17 |
How will
the money from membership fees be used? |
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| A17 |
Maintaining our home page, renting
venues for events, registering trademarks and meeting other
expenses needed for running the organization. Revenue from Emblix
seminars will be put to the same uses, and any surpluses will
go into the Consortium budget. None of our activities are for
monetary gain. |
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Q1 |
What are
some examples of embedded Linux products? |
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| A1 |
Items either presently available
or soon to made available include personal digital assistants
(PDA), Bluetooth access points, Linux wristwatches, Internet
radios, etc. Considerable growth is expected for an entire spectrum
of Internet products, from mobile communicators to home appliances,
games, car navigation systems, etc. |
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Q2 |
Different
companies are using different Linux kernels. Which will
Emblix use? |
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| A2 |
Emblix does not specify or limit
any kernel. We will freely provide information about drivers
that can be applied to various embedding uses and their records
of successes or failures and about vendors that provide technical
support. |
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Q3 |
Is it
necessary to disclose source code for applications that
run on Linux? |
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| A3 |
Although it is necessary to fully
disclose basics about Linux kernels, etc., there is no need
for disclosure concerning applications that have been developed
for embedded Linux products. |
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Q4 |
What are
the dangers associated with the free use of source code? |
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| A4 |
Although there is no guarantee against
legal problems resulting from developing embedded Linux products,
we will work to make clear what is legally safe within the realm
of practical possibility. We consider this to be one of the
missions of the open source community, just the same as it is
with other kinds of enterprises. |
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Q5 |
How is
Linux different from ITRON? |
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| A5 |
One way of considering this question
is to think in terms of specifying small jobs as the province
of ITRON and leaving complex jobs like managing file systems
or X-Windows to Linux. Or the matter can be approached by thinking
in terms ways of making the two systems coexist. Emblix is now
considering a joint project with the TRON Association. |
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Participation
in Emblix, etc.
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Q1 |
What are
the conditions for joining Emblix? |
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| A1 |
Organizations judged appropriate
to participate in Linux-related activities and individuals who
have applied for membership registration and receive approval
by the Emblix Planning and Executive Committee can become members.
Application for membership registration can be made from Emblix
home page(Japanese page only). |
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Q2 |
What are
the advantages of being an Emblix member? |
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| A2 |
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Permission to process
documentation produced by the Japan Embedded Linux Consortium
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Business use of the
Emblix logo |
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Discounts on Emblix
seminar admission fees |
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Links on the Consortium
home page |
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The right to participate
in Emblix working groups |
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Q3 |
Can individuals
become members? |
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| A3 |
This Consortium is
primarily concerned with facilitating corporate and industry-wide
activities in the field of embedded Linux and does not recognize
membership by individuals per se. However, individuals can participate
in working groups established by the Consortium, provided they
are approved by a working group, upon recommendation by a participating
enterprise. Nor does the rule against individual Emblix membership
preclude participation in subcommittees or the advisory committee,
upon the recommendation of the Emblix chairperson. |
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Q4 |
Do members
have to be Japanese corporations? |
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| A4 |
Any corporation whose
main office is outside Japan can participate, provide it has
established a firm incorporated under Japanese law. Branches
or offices that are not so incorporated are not permitted membership
because to do so would create potential problems with export
regulations. Nevertheless, any individual, regardless of whether
or not he or she belongs to a Japanese corporation, can participate
in a working group, provided that the individual has the approval
of the working group, upon the recommendation of a participating
company. |
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Q5 |
Does membership
registration expire after a certain period? |
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| A5 |
No limits to the period
of membership will be established. Applications for members
will be accepted any time. |
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Q6 |
Can a
company register in the name of more than one representative? |
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| A6 |
We request that each
enterprise register under the name of one person only. This
restriction does not, however, apply to participants in working
groups. |
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