Seven days, four events, one valley. But a recent week's worth of gatherings, almost literally in my backyard, provides a remarkable industry tour. The show is bigger than ever.
Booths spill out into the hallways and even fill a tent outside the building.
Embedded systems are finding their way into all kinds of products, for the simple reason that a smarter product is a better product. Stanford has seeded brains in more Silicon Valley start-ups and big companies than anyone can count. But CPSR is the antithesis of the valley's culture, for the most part. Its members have a high geek quotient but are more concerned about the social, economic and political impact of the technology than amassing vast riches or power. Then it's over to Cupertino, where Steve Jobs unveils the latest Apple computers and software in an auditorium filled mostly with cheering Apple employees.