# 376: Left Half of My Brain Is Digital

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 376
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/376

## Summary

David Comer, a retired engineer with a career spanning from the Galileo mission to the semiconductor industry, discusses his journey from early electronics hobbyist to chip designer at Texas Instruments and Signetics. He reflects on the evolution of embedded systems, comparing legacy architectures like the 8051 and 4-bit microcontrollers to modern ARM and FPGA technologies, while emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and professional resilience. Comer shares anecdotes about working on the Galileo probe's memory control system, the impact of alpha particles on space electronics, and the shifting landscape of major tech companies like HP and Intel.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=6) Introduction and Early Electronics Hobbyism
- [4:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=263) Career Path: From Radio to Semiconductors
- [5:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=310) Lightning Round: Languages and Learning
- [6:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=412) Retirement, SDR, and Staying Relevant
- [13:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=793) Career Advice: Job Hopping and Dealing with Bosses
- [17:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=1053) Mentorship and Interacting with Younger Engineers
- [24:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=1442) Handling Conflict and Workplace Politics
- [36:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=2198) Galileo Probe and Space System Design
- [47:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=2820) Microcontroller Evolution: 8051, ARM, and RISC
- [52:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital#t=3145) Industry Consolidation and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Galileo (product)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- Signetics (company)
- Intel (company)
- HP (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- ARM (chip)
- 8051 (chip)
- HackRF (product)
- Arduino (product)
- LoRa (product)
- National Instruments (company)
- Ettus (company)
- Silicon Labs (company)
- Miro Samek (other)

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- [Really long needle nose pliers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-04-25-really-long-needle-nose-pliers) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Jack Ganssle - Embedded Elchee Epexegesis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-08-02-an-interview-with-jack-ganssle-embedded-elchee-epexegesis) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Steve Leibson - Impavid Ideopraxist Insider](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-06-11-an-interview-with-steve-leibson-impavid-ideopraxist-insider) (The Amp Hour)
- [Apple HQ and Vintage Arcade Games - The Mothership Manifesto](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-06-15-apple-hq-and-vintage-arcade-games-the-mothership-manifesto) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-10-376-left-half-of-my-brain-is-digital. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.