FREMONT, Calif.– M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. today announced that their DiskOnChip flash disk device was selected as the local storage device for the IEEE Computer Society's first annual Computer Society International Design Competition (CSIDC). The new competition challenges college students around the world to design and implement computer-based solutions to real-world problems.

In addition to M-Systems, other inaugural technology sponsors include: AMD, Caldera Systems Inc., Calluna Technology Ltd., General Software Inc., Metrowerks Inc., Microsoft Corp., Pervasive Software Inc., QNX Software Systems Ltd., and VersaLogic Corp. These companies will provide state-of-the-art technology components for the competition's project kit.

"We set out to offer the students the very latest in technology in the project kit," said Dr. Bruce Shriver, a former president of the Computer Society, who is the CSIDC chairman. "M-Systems' DiskOnChip Millennium provides a highly reliable, small form-factor, easy-to-use flash disk that fits very nicely with the rest of the project kit components" continued Shriver. "This competition will expose students to real-world challenges in which they can gain substantive hands-on experience," said Chuck Schouw, president of M-Systems, Inc. We're thrilled to be asked to contribute our DiskOnChip solution as a significant part of the CSIDC project kit. Our participation illustrates our leadership and reputation as the premier supplier of local storage devices and puts M-Systems' products in the hands of future designers."

About the CSIDC Competition

The CSIDC application form and guidelines are available on the society's Web site (http://computer.org/CSIDC/). All interested teams must submit an application by Dec. 1, 1999; Fifty teams will be selected to compete by Dec. 8, 1999. The competing teams will be tasked with the design and implementation of an Information Appliance.

Each team will receive a project kit consisting of various hardware and software components donated by the sponsoring technology companies, as well as a set of constraints the students must contend with in their design. These project kits help simulate "real-world" situations encountered by the designer when incorporating a set of available components.

Participating teams must submit an operational prototype of their solution, along with a detailed report describing the design and implementation of the project by May 4, 2000. The top ten teams will make a technical presentation to the judging panel at the CSIDC World Finals from June 25-27, 2000 in Washington, DC. The judges will select the top five winners and five honorable mentions. Prizes range from $1,000 cash to a $25,000 cash/financial aid package.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.