Campbell, CA — December 1, 2025 — Amulet Technologies, a leading provider of embedded graphical user interface (GUI) solutions for industrial, medical, and consumer products, announced today its inclusion in DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network. This collaboration makes it easier for engineers, product designers, and OEMs to access Amulet’s industry-leading GUI design services and embedded integration expertise through one of the world’s most trusted electronic component distributors.

As a member of DigiKey’s curated ecosystem of engineering and manufacturing service providers, Amulet will offer:

· Turnkey GUI Design and Integration Services— from concept to production

· Embedded Firmware and Controller Development

· Display and Touch Interface Engineering

· Manufacturing Support and Production-Ready Modules

“DigiKey has been a franchised distributor for our human interface products for over a decade,” stated Ken Klask, Founder and CEO of Amulet Technologies. “Now, as a Design Service Provider (DSP), we’re thrilled to offer DigiKey’s customers an extra boost of value with Amulet’s user-centric design services. From ideation and research to prototyping, certification, and production, we can help to make their dreams become realities.”

DigiKey Welcomes Amulet to Its Ecosystem

“We are thrilled to welcome Amulet Technologies to our Design and Integration Services Network,” said David Sandys, Senior Director of Technical Enablement & Engagement at DigiKey. “Amulet’s deep domain expertise in embedded display systems and GUI development complements our mission of helping designers bring products to market faster and with fewer risks.”

The post Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network appeared first on Amulet.

Read Our Latest Updates Here:-

• Johnny
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 2, 2026
• Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network
  by CRAIG_REMY
  December 18, 2025
  Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network, Expanding… Read more: Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network
• User Experience Design, UX Design, Visual Design By Erica Spratt
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 19, 2025
  Understanding the Aesthetic Usability Effect   The Aesthetic-Usability Effect refers to a user’s tendency to perceive more aesthetically pleasing designs as more usable. This phenomenon, deeply rooted in human psychology, plays a crucial role in the user experience and interface design. The principle suggests that users are more likely to tolerate minor usability issues in a product or system if they find its design appealing. This overview aims to shed light on this intriguing effect by defining it, exploring supporting research findings, and delving into the psychological principles that explain why.
• Technology By Johnny Gohata
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 19, 2025
  A Real-Time Operation System (RTOS) fundamentally differs from general-purpose operating systems like Windows or macOS. While the typical OS can afford occasional delays or a leisurely approach to task management (imagine casually stirring a risotto while chatting with guests), an RTOS must adhere to strict timing constraints (think of deftly flipping a steak at just the right second for the perfect sear). The stakes are high, and there’s no room for error. What Defines a Timing Critical Application? Timing critical applications are those in which the correct functioning of a system within.
• UI Design, Visual Design By Brian Deters
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 19, 2025
  Introduction: Welcome back! In the first post in this series, we delved into the world of DIY UI design for embedded systems and introduced the concept of using off-the-shelf UI Kits and Element Packs. Today, we’re taking the next step in this journey. You’ve chosen your UI Kit, and now it’s time to extract the assets you need to create a cohesive and visually stunning user interface. This blog will focus on two popular types of UI Kits: Photoshop documents (.psd) and Figma files (.fig). We’ll cover the essentials of working
• DIY UI, Part 2: Extracting Assets from UI Kits
  by CRAIG_REMY
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  Introduction:  Welcome back! In the first post in this series,… Read more: DIY UI, Part 2: Extracting Assets from UI Kits
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  July 29, 2024
  A Real-Time Operation System (RTOS) fundamentally differs from general-purpose operating systems like Windows or macOS. While the typical OS can afford occasional delays or a leisurely approach to task management (imagine casually stirring a risotto while chatting with guests), an RTOS must adhere to strict timing constraints (think of deftly flipping a steak at just the right second for the perfect sear). The stakes are high, and there’s no room for error.
• Understanding the Aesthetic Usability Effect
  by CRAIG_REMY
  July 15, 2024
  The Aesthetic-Usability Effect refers to a user’s tendency to perceive more aesthetically pleasing designs as more usable. This phenomenon, deeply rooted in human psychology, plays a crucial role in the user experience and interface design. The principle suggests that users are more likely to tolerate minor usability issues in a product or system if they find its design appealing.
• Designing for ESD Protection: Essential Best Practices
  by CRAIG_REMY
  July 1, 2024
  Imagine you’re an architect tasked with designing a skyscraper. Every aspect, from the materials used to the structural framework, needs to be meticulously planned to withstand environmental stresses, ensuring the building stands tall and secure for decades. Designing electronic systems, particularly those involving sensitive components like touchscreens, involves a similar level of precision and foresight.
• Boosting Bytecode Efficiency: The Power of GCC’s Label as Value
  by CRAIG_REMY
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  If you’ve been using GEMstudio, you’re probably familiar with our programming language, GEMscript. We designed GEMscript to be a user-friendly, C-like language with the intention of enabling a “write once, run anywhere” approach. This means it can be used seamlessly across all our platforms, including GEMplayer on PC and various hardware devices. 
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  As a seasoned firmware engineer, I’ve encountered my fair share of perplexing bugs. But few have been as challenging and enlightening as an insidious SDRAM initialization bug I stumbled upon in the free software provided by a prominent chip manufacturer. In this blog post, I’ll take you through the journey of how this bug was discovered, the process of unraveling its mysteries, and the eventual triumph of fixing it.  
• What Makes Capacitive Touch So Versatile
  by CRAIG_REMY
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  by CRAIG_REMY
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  In the realm of User Experience (UX) Design, aesthetics extend far beyond the mere appearance of a product. They encompass the overall sensory experience a user encounters when interacting with a digital interface. This includes the layout, color scheme, typography, and imagery that collectively evoke an emotional response. Aesthetics in UX design play a pivotal role in the digital landscape, as they significantly influence user engagement, satisfaction, and, ultimately, the success of a product or service.
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  by CRAIG_REMY
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  In the realm of embedded firmware engineering, creating a product that not only functions flawlessly but also boasts a superior Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is a challenge worth embracing. For engineers with advanced technical experience but limited exposure to User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design, differentiating your HMI from the competition may seem daunting. Fear not – in this guide, we’ll explore practical strategies to set your HMI apart without delving into the intricacies of UI/UX design.
• Designing Cohesive User Interfaces for Embedded Systems – A DIY Approach
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 29, 2024
  As engineers, our primary focus is on functionality and performance. We thrive on solving complex problems and pushing the boundaries of technology. But when it comes to UI design, we often find ourselves out of our depth. You want it to be intuitive, visually appealing, and seamlessly integrated with your project.  This type of design requires a different set of skills – skills that many of us simply don’t possess. 
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  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 15, 2024
  In the ever-evolving world of digital experiences, the terms User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion about their roles and significance. Understanding the intricacies of product design requires a clear distinction between User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design. While often used interchangeably, these two disciplines encompass different aspects of the product development process and directly impact the usability and aesthetic appeal of the final product. This article explores the definitions, roles, and importance of both UX and UI design, shedding light on their unique contributions to creating successful products.
• Resistive vs. Capacitive: Making the Intelligent Choice
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 8, 2024
  In the ever-evolving world of touchscreen technology, two types of touchscreen technology have predominantly occupied the market: resistive and capacitive touchscreens. Each of these technologies offers unique features and caters to different applications. Let’s dive into a comparative analysis to understand their distinct characteristics and help you make the correct choice for your application.
• The Business Case for UX: How Investing in User Experience Boosts ROI
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 1, 2024
  In today’s digital era, businesses have come to realize the importance of providing a seamless and enjoyable User Experience (UX). It is no longer just a nicety but a strategic necessity. Besides enhancing user satisfaction, a well-crafted UX can significantly impact a company’s bottom line. In this article, we explore the business case for UX and delve into the tangible benefits of investing in User Experience. And discuss how it can translate into a substantial Return on Investment (ROI).
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  by CRAIG_REMY
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  You ask, we deliver! From brand new features to better functionality, we are constantly rolling out new improvements requested by our users. Learn more about what’s new in GEMstudio Pro 4.0.
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• May the (holiday) force be with you
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  December 5, 2019
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• Halloween Pumpkin Carving – Best on the Block
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 5, 2019
  Terrifying Jack-O-Lanterns take a fair amount of planning and artistry. This is not one of those. In this one-day build I make an electrifying Jack-O-Lantern using the spookiest components that haunt my closet. Read how I jazzed up my pumpkin with Amulet’s STK-043-HP and Arduino Uno to light up our porch on Halloween.
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  by CRAIG_REMY
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  Amulet can do Wireless?? File this under the “I didnt know it could do that” category. The MK-070C-HP actually has a special header dedicated to many types of devices that conform to the Digi XBee form factor, meaning you can add pre-certified wireless functionality quickly and easily. This project demonstrates the use of an Esprissif ESP8266 “Bee” to take a stock thermostat demo and add live forecast data from the weather service Wunderground.com.
• Battle of the GUI Design – Old School vs New School
  by CRAIG_REMY
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  What happens when you put 2 dueling coders in the same room, with the same goal of designing a GUI, but one person does it the “old fashioned” way, and the other with the current GEMstudio Pro? Watch the video to see how it all plays out. Who will win – will it be Johnny or Minta? Place your bets and watch the short video!
• The Word is Getting Out – Arduino and Amulet
  by CRAIG_REMY
  October 3, 2019
  The word is getting out – it’s really easy to incorporate Adruino with Amulet displays! One user who wanted to add a full color LCD to Arduino wrote, “The easiest method to communicate data between Arduino and any LCD display, can be found with the Amulet Technologies’ Arduino library. Amulet has cleverly taken out the need to know their communication protocol or any type of serial communication.”
• Translating your GUI to Klingon using Amulet’s Multi-Language Feature
  by CRAIG_REMY
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  Have you ever wondered how to change the language on your HMI touchscreen display to Chinese, French, Spanish, or maybe … Klingon? Amulet has simple step-by-step instructions to do just that! In our example, we show you how to use the multi-language feature in Amulet’s GEMstudio Pro software to translate from English to Klingon (but you can do the same steps for any language). Beam me up, Scotty!

The post User Experience Design, UX Design, Visual Design By Erica Spratt appeared first on Amulet.

Read Our Latest Updates Here:-

• Johnny
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 2, 2026
• Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network
  by CRAIG_REMY
  December 18, 2025
  Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network, Expanding Access to Advanced GUI and Embedded Display Solutions Campbell, CA — December 1, 2025 —… Read more: Amulet Technologies Joins DigiKey’s Design and Integration Services Network
• User Experience Design, UX Design, Visual Design By Erica Spratt
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 19, 2025
  Understanding the Aesthetic Usability Effect   The Aesthetic-Usability Effect refers to a user’s tendency to perceive more aesthetically pleasing designs as more usable. This phenomenon, deeply rooted in human psychology, plays a crucial role in the user experience and interface design. The principle suggests that users are more likely to tolerate minor usability issues in a product or system if they find its design appealing. This overview aims to shed light on this intriguing effect by defining it, exploring supporting research findings, and delving into the psychological principles that explain why.
• Technology By Johnny Gohata
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 19, 2025
  A Real-Time Operation System (RTOS) fundamentally differs from general-purpose operating systems like Windows or macOS. While the typical OS can afford occasional delays or a leisurely approach to task management (imagine casually stirring a risotto while chatting with guests), an RTOS must adhere to strict timing constraints (think of deftly flipping a steak at just the right second for the perfect sear). The stakes are high, and there’s no room for error. What Defines a Timing Critical Application? Timing critical applications are those in which the correct functioning of a system within.
• UI Design, Visual Design By Brian Deters
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 19, 2025
  Introduction: Welcome back! In the first post in this series, we delved into the world of DIY UI design for embedded systems and introduced the concept of using off-the-shelf UI Kits and Element Packs. Today, we’re taking the next step in this journey. You’ve chosen your UI Kit, and now it’s time to extract the assets you need to create a cohesive and visually stunning user interface. This blog will focus on two popular types of UI Kits: Photoshop documents (.psd) and Figma files (.fig). We’ll cover the essentials of working
• DIY UI, Part 2: Extracting Assets from UI Kits
  by CRAIG_REMY
  August 6, 2024
  Introduction:  Welcome back! In the first post in this series, we delved into the world of DIY UI design for embedded systems and introduced the… Read more: DIY UI, Part 2: Extracting Assets from UI Kits
• When is RTOS Necessary for Embedded Development
  by CRAIG_REMY
  July 29, 2024
  A Real-Time Operation System (RTOS) fundamentally differs from general-purpose operating systems like Windows or macOS. While the typical OS can afford occasional delays or a leisurely approach to task management (imagine casually stirring a risotto while chatting with guests), an RTOS must adhere to strict timing constraints (think of deftly flipping a steak at just the right second for the perfect sear). The stakes are high, and there’s no room for error.
• Understanding the Aesthetic Usability Effect
  by CRAIG_REMY
  July 15, 2024
  The Aesthetic-Usability Effect refers to a user’s tendency to perceive more aesthetically pleasing designs as more usable. This phenomenon, deeply rooted in human psychology, plays a crucial role in the user experience and interface design. The principle suggests that users are more likely to tolerate minor usability issues in a product or system if they find its design appealing.
• Designing for ESD Protection: Essential Best Practices
  by CRAIG_REMY
  July 1, 2024
  Imagine you’re an architect tasked with designing a skyscraper. Every aspect, from the materials used to the structural framework, needs to be meticulously planned to withstand environmental stresses, ensuring the building stands tall and secure for decades. Designing electronic systems, particularly those involving sensitive components like touchscreens, involves a similar level of precision and foresight.
• Boosting Bytecode Efficiency: The Power of GCC’s Label as Value
  by CRAIG_REMY
  June 24, 2024
  If you’ve been using GEMstudio, you’re probably familiar with our programming language, GEMscript. We designed GEMscript to be a user-friendly, C-like language with the intention of enabling a “write once, run anywhere” approach. This means it can be used seamlessly across all our platforms, including GEMplayer on PC and various hardware devices. 
• The Potential Pitfalls of “Free” Software: A Firmware Engineer’s Tale
  by CRAIG_REMY
  June 3, 2024
  As a seasoned firmware engineer, I’ve encountered my fair share of perplexing bugs. But few have been as challenging and enlightening as an insidious SDRAM initialization bug I stumbled upon in the free software provided by a prominent chip manufacturer. In this blog post, I’ll take you through the journey of how this bug was discovered, the process of unraveling its mysteries, and the eventual triumph of fixing it.  
• What Makes Capacitive Touch So Versatile
  by CRAIG_REMY
  May 20, 2024
  The continuing advancement in capacitive touch technology has made it possible for modern capacitive touch screens to become the leading, or primary, user interface of choice. Early capacitive touch screens were limited in capability, whereas today’s touch screens can detect multiple fingers, reject water, know when gloves are worn, and work through thick protective glass or acrylic.
• Beyond Usability: How Aesthetics in UX Design Foster Brand Loyalty and Intuitive Experiences
  by CRAIG_REMY
  May 13, 2024
  In the realm of User Experience (UX) Design, aesthetics extend far beyond the mere appearance of a product. They encompass the overall sensory experience a user encounters when interacting with a digital interface. This includes the layout, color scheme, typography, and imagery that collectively evoke an emotional response. Aesthetics in UX design play a pivotal role in the digital landscape, as they significantly influence user engagement, satisfaction, and, ultimately, the success of a product or service.
• Unlocking Superior HMI Design: Simple Strategies to Elevate Your HMI Game
  by CRAIG_REMY
  May 6, 2024
  In the realm of embedded firmware engineering, creating a product that not only functions flawlessly but also boasts a superior Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is a challenge worth embracing. For engineers with advanced technical experience but limited exposure to User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design, differentiating your HMI from the competition may seem daunting. Fear not – in this guide, we’ll explore practical strategies to set your HMI apart without delving into the intricacies of UI/UX design.
• Designing Cohesive User Interfaces for Embedded Systems – A DIY Approach
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 29, 2024
  As engineers, our primary focus is on functionality and performance. We thrive on solving complex problems and pushing the boundaries of technology. But when it comes to UI design, we often find ourselves out of our depth. You want it to be intuitive, visually appealing, and seamlessly integrated with your project.  This type of design requires a different set of skills – skills that many of us simply don’t possess. 
• UX vs. UI Design: What’s the Difference?
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 15, 2024
  In the ever-evolving world of digital experiences, the terms User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion about their roles and significance. Understanding the intricacies of product design requires a clear distinction between User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design. While often used interchangeably, these two disciplines encompass different aspects of the product development process and directly impact the usability and aesthetic appeal of the final product. This article explores the definitions, roles, and importance of both UX and UI design, shedding light on their unique contributions to creating successful products.
• Resistive vs. Capacitive: Making the Intelligent Choice
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 8, 2024
  In the ever-evolving world of touchscreen technology, two types of touchscreen technology have predominantly occupied the market: resistive and capacitive touchscreens. Each of these technologies offers unique features and caters to different applications. Let’s dive into a comparative analysis to understand their distinct characteristics and help you make the correct choice for your application.
• The Business Case for UX: How Investing in User Experience Boosts ROI
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 1, 2024
  In today’s digital era, businesses have come to realize the importance of providing a seamless and enjoyable User Experience (UX). It is no longer just a nicety but a strategic necessity. Besides enhancing user satisfaction, a well-crafted UX can significantly impact a company’s bottom line. In this article, we explore the business case for UX and delve into the tangible benefits of investing in User Experience. And discuss how it can translate into a substantial Return on Investment (ROI).
• The New AM070RVS01: Wifi Connectivity, Bluetooth, and More!
  by CRAIG_REMY
  April 26, 2021
  Take your project to the next level with the new AM070RVS01. Our new 7″ display comes with built in Wi-Fi!
• All the Latest Features in GEMstudio Pro 4.0
  by CRAIG_REMY
  March 2, 2021
  You ask, we deliver! From brand new features to better functionality, we are constantly rolling out new improvements requested by our users. Learn more about what’s new in GEMstudio Pro 4.0.
• New in GEMstudio Pro Version 3.6.1.0
  by CRAIG_REMY
  June 10, 2020
  Since the last official release of GEMstudio Pro version 3.4.0.2, we have added many customer requested features, some major enhancements and a list of bug fixes.
• May the (holiday) force be with you
  by CRAIG_REMY
  December 5, 2019
  Dickensian scenes of miniature Christmas villages have been a staple of indoor holiday decorations at my house for decades. This year I wanted to spruce things up with something a little different, incorporating Amulet’s MK-070C-HP display and GEMstudio Pro software.
• Halloween Pumpkin Carving – Best on the Block
  by CRAIG_REMY
  November 5, 2019
  Terrifying Jack-O-Lanterns take a fair amount of planning and artistry. This is not one of those. In this one-day build I make an electrifying Jack-O-Lantern using the spookiest components that haunt my closet. Read how I jazzed up my pumpkin with Amulet’s STK-043-HP and Arduino Uno to light up our porch on Halloween.
• Amulet Does Wireless
  by CRAIG_REMY
  October 3, 2019
  Amulet can do Wireless?? File this under the “I didnt know it could do that” category. The MK-070C-HP actually has a special header dedicated to many types of devices that conform to the Digi XBee form factor, meaning you can add pre-certified wireless functionality quickly and easily. This project demonstrates the use of an Esprissif ESP8266 “Bee” to take a stock thermostat demo and add live forecast data from the weather service Wunderground.com.
• Battle of the GUI Design – Old School vs New School
  by CRAIG_REMY
  October 3, 2019
  What happens when you put 2 dueling coders in the same room, with the same goal of designing a GUI, but one person does it the “old fashioned” way, and the other with the current GEMstudio Pro? Watch the video to see how it all plays out. Who will win – will it be Johnny or Minta? Place your bets and watch the short video!
• The Word is Getting Out – Arduino and Amulet
  by CRAIG_REMY
  October 3, 2019
  The word is getting out – it’s really easy to incorporate Adruino with Amulet displays! One user who wanted to add a full color LCD to Arduino wrote, “The easiest method to communicate data between Arduino and any LCD display, can be found with the Amulet Technologies’ Arduino library. Amulet has cleverly taken out the need to know their communication protocol or any type of serial communication.”
• Translating your GUI to Klingon using Amulet’s Multi-Language Feature
  by CRAIG_REMY
  October 3, 2019
  Have you ever wondered how to change the language on your HMI touchscreen display to Chinese, French, Spanish, or maybe … Klingon? Amulet has simple step-by-step instructions to do just that! In our example, we show you how to use the multi-language feature in Amulet’s GEMstudio Pro software to translate from English to Klingon (but you can do the same steps for any language). Beam me up, Scotty!

The post Technology By Johnny Gohata appeared first on Amulet.

The post UI Design, Visual Design By Brian Deters appeared first on Amulet.

Welcome back! In the first post in this series, we delved into the world of DIY UI design for embedded systems and introduced the concept of using off-the-shelf UI Kits and Element Packs. Today, we’re taking the next step in this journey. You’ve chosen your UI Kit, and now it’s time to extract the assets you need to create a cohesive and visually stunning user interface. This blog will focus on two popular types of UI Kits: Photoshop documents (.psd) and Figma files (.fig). We’ll cover the essentials of working with these files, ensuring you can efficiently and effectively extract the elements needed for your embedded systems project. 

Getting Started with .psd UI Kits: 

Opening the Kit: 

While Photoshop is a widely used standard of the design industry, it may not be acceptable for a myriad of reasons. There are several free or cheap alternatives, but Photopea.com has become my editor of choice when I need photoshop effects and filters, i.e. the fancy stuff that makes it look professional. When choosing your editor, make sure the opened file looks just like the website preview and that you do not need to flatten or merge any layers upon opening the file. 

Left: .psd imported into Photopea.  Right: Watermarked preview from CreativeMarket.com  

Exploring Layers and Groups: 

The best .psd UI Kits are like well-organized filing cabinets, with each layer and group neatly labeled and structured. Start by familiarizing yourself with the layers and groups in the file. There should be logical hierarchy, making it easy to locate the elements you need. Look for layer groups named “Buttons,” “Icons,” “Backgrounds,” etc. This organization is your map, guiding you through the design assets. 

Customizing Elements: 

Before extracting, you may want to customize certain elements to match your project’s theme. Change colors, adjust sizes, and tweak designs as necessary. For instance, if you have a button that needs to be a different shade to match your brand’s color scheme, now is the time to make those adjustments. If you are new to these tools there is a large user community out there to help with video tutorials. Still uncomfortable? Check out our Design Services. 

Removing Embedded Text: 

Most UI Kit files come with text layers that you might not need but are there to provide examples of what it could look like and offer a suggested font that pairs well with the design. To ensure the elements are ready for use in your embedded system, you will either need to remove any embedded text layers or create duplicate copies of each item for all possible labels, including any translations. It might seem like a no-brainer to remove the text, but that is not always the case. This choice might depend on the effects used on the label itself, such as glowing letters. Also note that many embedded systems do not have the full suite of text editing features that you have in graphic design tools, so dynamic text may not look as good as the text shown in the .psd file.  

Exporting Elements: 

Once you’ve customized and cleaned up your elements, it’s time to export them. This is where context is key to making your life easier down the road. Many times, when dealing with interactive or otherwise dynamic components, we need multiple images from a single component. As a simple example, a slider has a channel and a handle. We can extract them individually by duplicating the layer, or layer group into a new file. In Photopea you can select the layer or layer group and choose “Duplicate Into …” from the Layer menu. Duplicating layers in a .psd file will get you a new file with a lot of extra transparent regions the size of the original file. Utilize the “Trim” feature of your image editor to get just the bits of the image you need, before finally saving the file as a .png to preserve transparency and quality of the images. 

Exporting, Step 1: Duplicate layer group into new project 

Exporting, Step 2: Trim extra transparent regions 

Exporting, Step 3: Save as .png 

Repeat these steps for all the components you need, and you’ll be ready to start iterating on a UI in minutes. 

Working with Figma UI Kits: 

Opening the Kit in Figma: 

Figma has a web version and a desktop app with the ability to open external files. Additionally, there is a Figma Community page which includes a search tool and offers free UI Kits that open directly into Figma. I’ll be working with this free Nuemorphic UI Kit I found through the community page. 

Understanding Components: 

Figma’s strength lies in its use of components, which are the UI building blocks we are looking for. In a typical well-organized UI Kit, these are organized onto their own page or grouped together in part of a page. Find the list of Pages and it shouldn’t be too hard to spot the components as they are typically laid out like a menu of UI Elements you can easily pick from. 

Customizing Components: 

Just as with a .psd, you’ll want to customize components to fit your project’s needs. Adjust colors, sizes, and styles to match your brand and vision. Figma makes this easy with its intuitive interface and real-time preview of changes. Everything here will almost always be vector-based, so scaling up will not have a pixelated effect.  

Removing Embedded Text: 

In Figma, removing embedded text is mostly straightforward. Select the text within a component and delete it. Multiple component states may be copies of the same Component called an Instance. Here, the top button is the component, while the bottom is an instance. Notice the Icon difference. You can change the instance without changing the component, but changing the component will affect all instances.  

Exporting Components: 

Figma has some handy exporting features. Select the component you want to export, then use the “Export” feature in the right-hand panel, near the bottom. If it’s not there, you might just be in Dev Mode. Choose PNG as the format for high-quality, transparent images. Make sure that the “Ignore overlapping layers” is checked so you have a transparent background. 

 The final step in exporting is to trim any extra transparency from the image. When isolating parts of a multi-image object, like a slider with channel and handle images, the export could create a handle image the full width of the channel. A simple trim will make short work of that, but alas this can’t be done easily in Figma. Since the images are already rasterized, you can use just about any image editor you want. Tools like GIMP or ImageMagick can make quick batch jobs here. 

Tips for Efficient Extraction: 

Batch Processing: 

Figma as well as many image editors allow for batch processing, which can save you significant time. Image editors often have Macros or Actions to automate repetitive tasks, so trimming and saving can be done in 1 click. In Figma, you can select multiple components and export them all at once. This is particularly useful when you have a large number of assets to extract. 

Consistent Naming Conventions: 

Maintain a consistent naming convention for your exported files. This practice not only keeps your assets organized but also makes it easier to integrate them into your embedded system’s development environment. Name your files descriptively, such as “btn_primary_up.png” and “btn_primary_down.png” for button states. 

Resolution and Scaling: 

If you don’t have a wireframe or other design to base precise sizes from, don’t spend forever trying to get the perfect resolution of your exported assets. A few generic sizes are fine for prototyping. For example, a button might have 2 or 3 different widths, all with a consistent height. Scaling the images after they are in a rasterized format can lead to an inconsistent look, so the goal is to be in the right ballpark now and start iterating, with the intention of coming back and getting the pixel-perfect fit once the design is finalized.  

Skip to the fun stuff: 

Support is available for all parts of this process. Finding the right UI Kit is a great starting point for a designer and the research you’ve already done will yield dividends. By clearly understanding your needs and the design elements you’ve chosen, you can collaborate more effectively. Whether you need help with customization, asset organization, or even final integration, having a skilled designer on board can elevate your project and save you valuable time in the long run. 

Conclusion: 

Extracting assets from UI Kits can be your shortcut to designing a cohesive and visually appealing user interface for your embedded systems project. The process can be streamlined with the right approach and tools. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a professional-grade UI without the need for extensive graphic design skills. 

Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll dive into the process of assembling these assets into a functional and beautiful user interface. Until then, happy designing! 

The post DIY UI, Part 2: Extracting Assets from UI Kits appeared first on Amulet.

What Defines a Timing Critical Application?

Conclusion

In conclusion, embedding an RTOS in timing critical applications is not just a good practice; it’s a vital one. Just as a master chef needs a reliable timer to create a perfect meal, engineers need a reliable RTOS to ensure their systems function flawlessly under stringent timing demands. As technology advances, precision and reliability continue to advance, and the accuracy and reliability provided by RTOS will become desirable and indispensable.

Thank you for joining Amulet Technologies, a technical leader in embedded display systems, on this exploration of RTOS. With decades of expertise in developing and implementing real-time operating systems for embedded systems, Amulet Technologies has consistently demonstrated the importance of precision and reliability in digital processes. Whether you’re an experienced engineer or a curious enthusiast, I hope this post has illuminated the critical role of real-time systems in our increasingly digital and connected world. Remember, in the dance of digital processes, timing is not just a step; it’s the entire choreography, and Amulet Technologies is here to ensure that every move is perfectly executed.

The post When is RTOS Necessary for Embedded Development appeared first on Amulet.

The Aesthetic-Usability Effect refers to a user’s tendency to perceive more aesthetically pleasing designs as more usable. This phenomenon, deeply rooted in human psychology, plays a crucial role in the user experience and interface design. The principle suggests that users are more likely to tolerate minor usability issues in a product or system if they find its design appealing. This overview aims to shed light on this intriguing effect by defining it, exploring supporting research findings, and delving into the psychological principles that explain why aesthetics significantly impact usability perceptions. 

Defining the Aesthetic-Usability Effect 

The Aesthetic-Usability Effect posits that visually attractive products are perceived as more user-friendly, even if their actual usability is comparable to less aesthetically pleasing counterparts. This effect highlights the importance of aesthetics in design, suggesting that the initial visual appeal can influence users’ overall satisfaction and their tolerance for usability issues. 

Examples: 

Smartphones: Consider the evolution of smartphones. Early models focused on functionality, but as technology advanced, design aesthetics played an increasingly significant role. Today’s popular smartphones not only boast advanced features but also sleek designs that appeal to users’ sense of style and sophistication. Despite occasional usability challenges, such as complex navigation or fingerprint-prone surfaces, users often overlook these issues, drawn in by the device’s aesthetic appeal.  

Websites and Apps: Websites and applications with visually appealing interfaces tend to attract more users. For instance, a beautifully designed e-commerce website with high-quality images and intuitive layout can make shopping more enjoyable, encouraging users to overlook minor navigational issues or longer loading times. 

This example underscores the power of aesthetics in shaping user perceptions of usability, suggesting that the visual design of products is not merely about superficial appeal but can significantly influence user satisfaction and loyalty. 

Research Findings Supporting the Effect 

The Aesthetic-Usability Effect is not just a theoretical concept; it is backed by a wealth of research across various domains. Studies in human-computer interaction, product design, and web usability have consistently demonstrated that aesthetic appeal can significantly impact user satisfaction and usability perceptions. 

Case Study on Interface Design: A seminal study in the field involved two interface designs with identical functionality but different aesthetic qualities. Participants overwhelmingly preferred the more aesthetically pleasing design, rating it higher in usability even though both versions had the same ease of use. This study highlighted how aesthetic appeal could sway user perceptions, making them more forgiving of minor usability issues.

Web Usability Research: Research focusing on website design has shown that users form an opinion about a website’s credibility and usability within milliseconds, largely based on visual appeal. Further, attractive websites are often perceived as more professional and trustworthy, leading users to be more patient with navigation challenges or information retrieval tasks. 

Product Design and Brand Loyalty: Studies in product design have found that aesthetically pleasing products not only attract users but also foster brand loyalty. Even when users encounter usability issues, the initial positive impression formed by the product’s design can lead to a higher tolerance for such problems, contributing to long-term user engagement.

These findings underscore the potent influence of aesthetics on usability perceptions, emphasizing the need for designers to integrate aesthetic considerations into their work to enhance user satisfaction and engagement. 

Psychological Principles Behind the Effect 

Understanding the psychological underpinnings of the Aesthetic-Usability Effect offers valuable insights into why aesthetics have such a profound impact on usability perceptions. Several key principles help explain this phenomenon: 

Cognitive Bias: Humans are inherently biased towards beauty, associating aesthetic appeal with positive attributes. This bias extends to our interactions with products and interfaces, where attractive designs are subconsciously linked with functionality and reliability.

Emotional Response: Aesthetic designs elicit positive emotional responses, which can enhance overall user experience. Positive emotions are known to broaden cognitive processes, making users more creative and flexible in their approach to problem-solving, thereby potentially mitigating the impact of usability issues.

First Impression Effect: The initial impression of a product or interface significantly influences subsequent user interactions. A positive first impression, often formed based on aesthetics, can create a ‘halo effect,’ where users are more likely to overlook minor flaws and focus on the positive aspects of their experience.

Motivational Relevance: Aesthetically pleasing designs can increase motivational relevance, making users more engaged and willing to invest time and effort. This increased engagement can lead to a greater tolerance for navigating usability challenges.

By leveraging these psychological principles, designers can create more appealing and effective products and interfaces, enhancing user satisfaction and loyalty even in the face of usability issues. 

Conclusion 

The Aesthetic-Usability Effect plays a pivotal role in shaping user experiences and perceptions. By understanding and leveraging this effect, designers can create products and interfaces that not only captivate users with their visual appeal but also foster positive user experiences, even when usability is not perfect. Research findings and psychological principles provide a robust framework for appreciating the complex interplay between aesthetics and usability, highlighting the importance of integrating aesthetic considerations into design processes to achieve optimal user engagement and satisfaction. Embracing the Aesthetic-Usability Effect can lead to more successful and beloved designs, ultimately benefiting both users and creators in the dynamic landscape of design and technology. 

Read Our Latest Updates Here:-

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The post Understanding the Aesthetic Usability Effect appeared first on Amulet.

Understanding ESD: The Invisible Threat

Electrostatic discharge is the sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects, often caused by contact or a high-voltage differential. This phenomenon is common in our daily lives—we experience it as the slight shock when touching a doorknob after walking on a carpet. While these minor shocks are harmless to us, they can be devastating to electronic components. ESD can cause immediate damage or latent defects, leading to reduced reliability and eventual failure of electronic devices​​.

The Importance of Grounding 

One of the foundational strategies in ESD protection is proper grounding. Ensuring that all electronics and anything coming into contact with them are at the same electrical potential is crucial. This means grounding workstations, tools, and personnel. Wearing ESD wrist straps connected to a good earth ground, using ESD smocks, and ensuring work surfaces and flooring are properly grounded are all essential steps​​. Think of it as building a lightning rod system for your devices, directing any potential static discharge safely into the ground.

Circuit Design for ESD Protection

Designing circuits to withstand ESD events involves several key practices. One effective method is the use of decoupling capacitors. These components help filter out high-frequency noise and stabilize voltage levels, protecting sensitive parts of your circuit. Placing decoupling capacitors as close as possible to the supply voltage and ground pins minimizes the risk of noise and voltage spikes that could lead to ESD damage.  For example, decoupling capacitors are used across Amulet’s family of resistive displays, protecting the resistive touch controls lines from transmitting potentially damaging ESD introduced by a human touch.

Another critical element is the use of transient voltage suppressors (TVS) and zener diodes. These components act as protectors, clamping excessive voltage and preventing it from reaching sensitive areas of the circuit. For example, protecting the touch panel controller in a display system with TVS arrays can prevent visual anomalies caused by ESD. It’s like installing shock absorbers in a car, ensuring that sudden impacts don’t damage the vehicle’s delicate systems.

PCB Design: Creating Safe Pathways

The design of the printed circuit board (PCB) itself plays a pivotal role in ESD protection. One of the best practices is to create a low impedance path to ground, allowing any electrostatic discharge to flow directly to earth ground. Separating earth ground from digital signal ground is crucial to prevent ESD from finding alternate paths through sensitive circuitry.  In all the PCB designs for Amulet’s products, a separate ground plane is used that is not connected to signal ground.  The ground plane is connected to the chassis ground or earth ground when assembled into the final product.

Additionally, using thick ground traces and strategically placing TVS devices close to potential ESD entry points can significantly reduce parasitic inductance and improve ESD resilience. Imagine laying down well-marked, broad paths in a park to ensure visitors don’t trample the flower beds—proper PCB layout guides ESD away from sensitive areas, preserving the integrity of your design.

System-Level Design: Holistic Protection

Beyond individual components and circuit design, system-level considerations are essential for comprehensive ESD protection. Ensuring that the housing of the display module or other electronic devices provides a solid connection to earth ground is one such measure. This involves designing the enclosure to act as a shield, dissipating any electrostatic charge safely into the ground. Attaching wires from mounting screws to the chassis ground of the enclosure ensures that the entire system works together to mitigate ESD risk

Real-World Application: Implementing ESD Best Practices

Let’s delve into how these best practices come together in a real-world scenario. Imagine you’re designing a high-end industrial touchscreen interface. This device will be used in various environments, from cleanrooms to manufacturing floors, each with its own ESD challenges. Here’s how you might implement ESD protection based on the principles we’ve discussed:

Circuit Design: Integrate decoupling capacitors close to the power and ground pins of the touch controller. Use TVS diodes to protect the touch panel’s X+ and Y+ coordinates, ensuring they clamp any excessive voltages.

PCB Layout: Design the PCB with thick ground traces and separate digital signal grounds from earth grounds. Place TVS devices near connectors and potential ESD entry points.

System Enclosure: Design the device housing to include a solid earth ground connection, using mounting screws to tie the enclosure to the chassis ground. This creates a protective barrier that directs ESD away from sensitive internal components.

Conclusion: Building Resilient Designs

Incorporating these best practices for ESD protection is akin to constructing a fortress around your electronic systems. By grounding your devices, designing resilient circuits, optimizing PCB layouts, and considering system-level protection, you can significantly mitigate the risks posed by electrostatic discharge. These strategies not only enhance the durability and reliability of your designs but also ensure that your products perform flawlessly in diverse environments.

Amulet takes all the fore mentioned best practices and incorporates them into the design of all their products.  From the board level product like the GCC-2 to the high performance 7 inch capacitive smart module, high reliability and longevity remains a high priority.

As engineers, our goal is to create devices that stand the test of time, much like the architect who designs buildings to withstand the elements. By embracing these ESD protection best practices, you can build the foundation for robust, reliable, and long-lasting electronic systems. Remember, every detail matters, and taking the time to implement these measures will pay off in the longevity and performance of your products. Let’s continue to innovate with resilience at the forefront, ensuring our designs are ready to face the invisible threats of the modern world.

The post Designing for ESD Protection: Essential Best Practices appeared first on Amulet.

GEMscript and Virtual Machines 

If you’ve been using GEMstudio, you’re probably familiar with our programming language, GEMscript. We designed GEMscript to be a user-friendly, C-like language with the intention of enabling a “write once, run anywhere” approach. This means it can be used seamlessly across all our platforms, including GEMplayer on PC and various hardware devices. 

GEMscript is a VM (virtual machine) based language, meaning your code gets compiled into “bytecode” and runs in a VM interpreter instead of being compiled down to native machine code. This allows us to achieve our goal of running the same compiled code across multiple platforms. Additionally, by sandboxing GEMscript from our OS in a VM, we avoid some pitfalls of writing in native C, such as unsafe memory access and code execution. However, there’s a big trade-off when using VMs: speed. 

It’s no secret that VMs are generally slower than native machine code. Therefore, optimizing VMs is crucial, particularly for limited hardware where every bit of speed counts. So, I rolled up my sleeves and started exploring ways to optimize our code. And guess what? I found a neat and easy trick for speeding up opcode dispatch. This article discusses the performance improvements I achieved by optimizing opcode dispatch in GEMscript using GCC’s “Label as Value” feature, demonstrating a significant speed increase. 

Enhancing VM Performance: Speeding Up Opcode Dispatch 

When I started looking at our VM, I realized that focusing on opcode dispatch could yield significant performance gains. Efficient opcode dispatch is key to faster execution because it reduces the overhead of interpreting each instruction in the VM. Let me put this in simpler terms: 

Imagine you’ve got a list of vocabulary words to study. One way to do this is by using the index at the back of a dictionary. For each word, you: 

1. Look up the page number in the index. 
2. Flip to the correct page to read about the word. 
3. Return to the index for the next word. 

Doing this for each word is straightforward but slow and tedious. 

Now, imagine using index cards with all the vocabulary words printed in order. For each word, you: 

1. Read the information on the top index card. 
2. Move instantly to the next card. 

No more flipping back and forth! This method is much faster and more efficient, even though it takes a bit of effort upfront to set up the index cards. Similarly, by optimizing our opcode dispatch, we can make our VM run instructions more quickly and efficiently. 

The Basics of VM Interpreting 

Let’s start with a basic interpreter loop for a VM, which is similar to using the dictionary index method. Instead of a list of vocabulary words, we have bytecode, which is a list of opcodes in memory. Instead of searching an index for the correct page, we use a switch statement, with each opcode case representing a different operation. This switch case is in a loop, so we repeatedly look for our current opcode and execute it until we run out of opcodes. Here’s a simple example in C: 

void runVM(){
    uint32_t pc = 0; // program counter
    while (1) {
        uint32_t opcode = memory[pc++];

        switch (opcode) {
            case OP_ADD:
                // do addition operations here
                break;
            case OP_SUB:
                // do subtraction operations here
                break;
            ...
        }
    }
}

Threaded Code Execution: A More Efficient Approach 

We can do better! Remember the index card approach? The programming concept that mirrors this is called threaded code. It lets us execute an opcode and then move directly (or indirectly) to the next opcode, creating one continuous thread of execution. The previous example isn’t a continuous thread because it must jump back to the start of the loop and search again for every opcode. 

Using labels in C, we can replicate this approach by using `goto` to jump between instructions instead of searching for them in a switch statement. However, there’s a challenge: how can we know which label to go to from a list of opcode values? We need to map the opcodes to the corresponding labels in our function so we can easily jump to the right place. 

void runVM(){
    uint32_t pc = 0; // program counter
    uint32_t opcode = memory[pc++];

    // FIX: find first label from opcode?
    goto FIRST_LABEL;

OP_ADD:
    // do addition operations here

    // FIX: find next label from opcode?
    goto NEXT_LABEL;
OP_SUB:
    // do subtraction operations here

    // FIX: find next label from opcode?
    goto NEXT_LABEL;
    ...
}

Introducing GCC Label Values: A Game Changer 

While digging around for ways to speed up our VM, I discovered that a very common way to implement threaded code in C is with a specific feature in GCC called “Label as Value”. Even after eight years of working with C and C++, I didn’t know about this! The official docs say that by using the `&&` operator, you can reference the address of a label within a function. The GCC docs also describe the exact scenario we are in: 

“Another use of label values is in an interpreter for threaded code. The labels within the interpreter function can be stored in the threaded code for super-fast dispatching.” 

Optimizing Our VM with GCC Label Values 

Armed with this new knowledge, I set out to optimize our VM by storing label addresses and mapping opcodes to these labels. Here’s a revised example where our bytecode is stored in `memory[]`, and we have a macro called `NEXT()` to jump to the next label based on the current opcode. 

#define NEXT(pc) // explained later...

void runVM(){
    // pointer to first opcode loaded into memory
    uint32_t* opcode = &memory[0];

    // array of opcode labels
    // (GCC Label as Value)
    static const void * const opcodelist[] = {
        &&OP_ADD,
        &&OP_SUB,
        ...
    }

    // find first label and jump
    NEXT(opcode);

OP_ADD:
    // do addition operations here
    NEXT(opcode);
OP_SUB:
    // do subtraction operations here
    NEXT(opcode);
    ...
}

Now, we have labels for each operation and a table of addresses to these labels. The `NEXT()` macro lets us jump to the next opcode efficiently. Depending on our choice of indirect or direct threading, this macro can be implemented in different ways.  

Indirect Threading: Taking an Extra Step 

First, I tried using indirect threading. This approach sticks to the logic we talked about earlier: when the interpreter jumps to a new opcode, it first looks up the mapped opcode-to-label address indirectly. We store our label addresses in `opcodelist`, so by using the opcode as an index into `opcodelist`, then dereferencing and jumping to the address, we’re using indirect threading. 

Here’s how the `NEXT()` macro looks with indirect threading:  

#define NEXT(pc) goto *opcodelist[*pc++]

// Example: opcode points to an index of opcodelist
uint32_t* opcode = &memory[0];
NEXT(opcode); // expands to `goto *opcodelist[*opcode++]`

Direct Threading: Streamlining Execution 

While indirect threading is simple and fast, it’s not quite like our index card analogy. With the index cards, they were pre-made and set up in order. You just had to move to the next card, which already had the vocab word on it. We can achieve something similar with direct threading. If we can fix up our opcodes in memory before executing them, then we don’t need to use the opcodes as a map to label addresses; the opcodes themselves can be the addresses.  

Here’s how the `NEXT()` macro looks with direct threading:  

#define NEXT(pc) goto **pc++

// Example: opcode points to a pointer to the label in opcodelist
uint32_t* opcode = &memory[0];
NEXT(opcode); // expands to `goto **opcode++`

Of course, this requires the opcode size to match the address size of your platform (32bit, 64bit, etc.), but for us it works perfectly. This also requires our VM to do the fixup when the bytecode is first loaded, but it’s only a one-time speed decrease that doesn’t impact the overall speed of execution much. Let’s assume in our examples that this fixup is already applied when using direct threading. 

Measuring the Speed Boost 

To test these optimizations, I wrote a new, simple VM specifically for benchmarking purposes, separate from GEMscript. This test VM can handle basic arithmetic and conditional jumps. To evaluate its performance, I used a prime number algorithm to find the 65,535th prime number and tested four scenarios: 

• Native C 
• VM with a Switch Statement 
• VM with Indirect Threading (GCC labels as value) 
• VM with Direct Threading (GCC labels as value) 

All options were compiled with GCC and -O3 optimizations. Here are the results: 

• Native: 70ms  
• Switch Statement: 1140ms  
• Indirect Threading: 400ms  
• Direct Threading: 380ms  

Normalized to the switch statement speed: 

• Native: 16.29x faster  
• Switch Statement: 1x faster (reference speed) 
• Indirect Threading: 2.85x faster  
• Direct Threading: 3x faster 

Wrapping Up 

These optimizations didn’t match the speed of native C execution, but that was expected. However, we did achieve a 2.85x to 3x performance boost by adjusting our interpreter loop to threaded code using GCC’s labels as values! For such a simple change, that’s a very welcome speed increase. 

We’re excited to roll out these optimizations in an upcoming release of GEMstudio. These changes will make a difference in the performance of any code heavy applications that may have slowed down in the past. To stay updated on the latest features and enhancements to GEMstudio (like this one), sign up for our newsletter: [link for newsletter sign-up goes here] 

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