Issue 101 December 1998
em Ware Top to Bottom
Part 2: Launching the Application

THE RESULTS

I designed a web-browser interface, connected EMIT widgets to real functions and variables on a PIC16C73, and looked at or changed PIC internal register values. It may not seem like much until you consider I can do this from anywhere!

Unfortunately, EMIT was chained to the 8051 platform for a long time. Although the 8051 is great , it’s fun to exploit the myriad of onboard peripherals found in PIC products.

For instance, you could take my application and include the use of the eight A/D inputs or apply the I2C interface to communicate with other equally equipped intelligent devices. With Visual Café, you can create a user-friendly interface and connect variables and functions to code in the target PIC.

Another plus is the ever-increasing internal code space and register or RAM area. EMIT functions normally reserved for a PCM-4862 can be moved to the target microcontroller, leaving more room on the embedded PC for utilities or applications.

As for applications, imagine controlling gadgets in your home remotely via your Internet connection. And, instead of dull old command line, you have control via a custom GUI.

But, the real story is that by using the Internet and some RS-232, you can apply EMIT to most anything requiring human interaction. A simple PIC program coupled with the magic of emWare proves that it doesn’t have to be complicated to be embedded.