Let's discuss an easy-cheesy way to talk to microcontrollers from Flash... something that doesn't require a serial proxy and policy server. Sound good?

Ever heard of the uIP stack? It's a teensy tinsey TCP/IP stack that can run on 8-bit microcontrollers. It's insanely compact and it's loaded with features... best yet - it can serve as the foundation for a simple bridge between complex systems.

Hmmm. Flash has URLLoader, HTTPService... and if the microcontroller could handle those incoming requests. BINGO! If you're old school you could go wired. Today, we'll kick it up the wireless way. Hit the video for a demonstration.

Sick of Arduino? There are many other players in the wireless field to choose from - just Google for 'web enabled embedded systems.'

This particular setup has incredible implications in data exhaust. Imagine a world where every toaster in the world knows just how crumbly and golden brown you like it. Mmmm... toast.

[ Example: Flash UI ]

[ Source: Black Widow Server Sketch ]

Next installment: Five Ways to Connect Flash to Embedded Systems: MIM