Fwd: ActiveCaptain - Signal K?

Tue May 26 18:09:31 CDT 2015

I know there are some boaters on this list, I mean those that don't walk 
on water.....

Links at the bottom of the text.

-------- Forwarded Message --------

>>> Signal K? >>>

There was a small, 12 line press release from NMEA last week titled,
"NMEA Recognition of Signal K Open Source Project." Chances are,
you missed it. And chances are even better that you're now saying,
"Signal K?"

NMEA is the National Marine Electronics Association. They're the ones
who create standards to allow different marine electronics to connect
together. NMEA 183 was the standard used for a few decades for serial
data communications. NMEA 2000 is the current standard used to connect
sensors and displays in a network on boats. If you have a boat with
any type of electronics, you're making use of NMEA's standards in one
way or another.

Because we're software developers, we've always had a soft spot for
other developers. We find ourselves often working with a handful of
young entrepreneurs who have great ideas but no experience in getting
them out and used. These whippersnappers aren't going to create major
new marine electronics devices. But they will use their imagination to
create something that no one else sees as important. So many of these
developers are writing products for Android and iPads and Windows
tablets. But to get into the marine electronics world, you have to
interface to existing marine electronics.

NMEA 2000 provides the framework to connect the major pieces together.
But what was missing was the way to get that data out, especially over
WiFi. It's the reason you don't see many iPad apps showing depth while
underway. Or wind sensor data. Or autopilot control. Today those device
interfaces are built for NMEA 2000 with no standard way to output the
data over the air to these next generation tablets.

So at the Miami Boat Show in February, Jeff asked to meet with the
new President and Executive Director of NMEA, Mark Reedenauer. Jeff
described these issues and showed how the missing wireless link was
holding back NMEA 2000 and might possibly force the creation of
something that could replace NMEA 2000. There is almost no question
that tablet use on a boat isn't going away.

Jeff suggested that NMEA look at a new, open source platform that
he had been experimenting with over the last year called, Signal K.
Mark's first reaction was, "Signal K?"

Over the last few months, NMEA evaluated the idea culminating with the
press release last week. It's a small press release but it's quite a
big step toward changing the way we all use electronics, WiFi, and
especially the internet onboard. NMEA should be congratulated for making
this step. Especially since previous administrations weren't willing to
consider it.

We're excited about the new possibilities this could bring. It's an
exciting time to be involved in boating.

For more information, here's the press release:
http://www.nmea.org/content/nmea_signal_k/nmea_signal_k.asp

Here's the gateway to Signal K information (which is at a geeky level):
http://signalk.org/index.html

Signal K is an interface specification for sharing your navigation data
onto your phones, tablets, and other personal devices. It's a stepping
stone to some major capabilities that we can't even imagine yet. And the
next time you hear the name, you won't have to ask, "Signal K?"

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Dylan and Dee Dee are enjoying their downtime as we complete some boat
projects before heading to Maine for the summer. The weather has been
great allowing them to lounge on the bow. Of course, they are quick to
point out that it only appears to be lounging as they are ever on the
ready to defend us against pirates and scallywags. Check up on what the
hard working crew is up to on their blog:
http://www.takingpaws.com

Karen and Jeffrey Siegel
aCappella
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
sharing the experience

www.eboatcards.com
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