Write it in C#...use a C# to VB code converter.

A Cup empty of myself.

In my past life I worked in robotics, PLC's and PC to real world interface. +1 on the .NET stamps...you have to get something robotics specific though or your will spend the next year of your life trying to program the advanced math necessary to run a robot. Think about a two wheeled robot, when you turn left, the right wheel is moving faster than the left. You there is some extremely advanced math involved there with tons of realtime sensor feedback going on. So get a "kit" of some sort that has logic to drive robotic stepper motors with position sensors. Something simple you could do for the wireless is use a DTMF sensor with a cell or cordless phone. You can buy programmable dtmf controllers, bury a cordless phone or cell phone in the robot, dial it an you could use the keypad of another cell phone to control the robot. Cell phone speaker burps out dtmf, controller decodes it and spits out a number/signal telling you what key was pressed, decode that number into "left turn" "right turn", decide what to do with it in code and send the control signal to the drive. I Googled and found a dtmf encoder in two clicks so use google. It's a big project and IMHO I would make the "wireless" part of it, the icing on the cake. After you get the robot working with onboard control, then a wired control...only then would I tackle the wireless. Waaaay too many variables to start with the wireless aspect. To develop this, I would start the project as simple as possible. You have a lot of things that need to work right BEFORE adding the wireless interface. If I woke up in your shoes I would. 1. Build the robot with on-board programmable directional control that can do 2 things - Execute all the movements you want (right, left, arm up, arm down, squeeze whoopie cushion :-) - Successfully do a series of 10 to 20 pre-programmed on-board steps for example 1 - Execute "Drive Strait" 5 seconds (or distance depending on your measurement 2 - Turn off "Drive Strait" 3 - Execute "Turn Left" for 2 seconds (or degrees etc..) 4 - Turn off "Turn Left" 5 - Do While squeeze whoopie cushion wiggle right wiggle left 6 - Loop ****Do this to make sure all movements work and you can store and execute commands 2. Begin testing with a wired interface (something that you can convert to wireless later) - Test and troubleshoot until your wired interface works correctly. 3. Then work on the wireless connection between the two. Lastly -

With a little work and surfing you can convert 99% of the C# articles to VB.NET. You might not be able to copy paste a whole program like with C# but divide it up, run it through a converter or figure out what each slice is doing and piece it back together. Even if most of your code is VB.NET, you can educate yourself by converting C# to VB.NET. You won't *KNOW* C# but you will be able to look and teach yourself to figure out what it going on in either lanugage. C# and VB.NET are so close now that soon I expect...and hope we will be able to click a checkbox or something to convert back and forth in the IDE. I'd also like to see the IDE allow C# and VB code live together. Why not? You can de-compile a VB or C# program from its machine code and get the correct language right? I know it's not *THAT* simple, but personally i'd like to stick with VB but toss in C# when I need it. We *should* be able to write this in the same class and have it work....Microsoft...hint..hint

Private Sub GetNumber()
Dim number As Integer
number = ReturnNumber(2, 2)
MessageBox.Show(CStr(number))
End Sub

private int ReturnNumber(int n1, int n2)
{
return n1 + n2;
}

A Cup empty of myself.

My top 3 choices. 1. Bose 2. Bose 3. Bose

A Cup empty of myself.

It's not only an IT question. Take care of the IT questions yes, but on the human side, allow the person a measure of dignity, even if they don't deserve it. If you handle it well, you may be able to help this person improve by discussing their shortcomings, this person may be able to help you find your shortcomings as an employer. Dignity - I've heard of companies who do "perp walks" middle of the week, middle of the day with managers and 2 security guards escorting them out right through the cube farm. I've seen people rushed out of the building, not even allowed to take pictures of their kids home. C'mon you've just embarassed them to the worst degree. If they are a "standard termination", don't treat them like a criminal on COPS. They likely have social interaction with other co-workers outside of work. You've stripped them raw and with the security guards, you've made people question the character of the person being fired. One of my best friends was a police officer who gave me a ticket that I totally deserved one day. He is one of those rare enlightened individuals, we were playing golf some time after that and I asked him about the ticket his quote was "I look at every traffic stop as an opportunity to make a friend." He had 100's of friends in the community who would do anything to help. That is just as valuable for your future as protecting IT secrets.

A Cup empty of myself.

Actually, i've learned more by doing C# to VB conversions. Instead of copy/pasting code, i've had to really understand what the code was doing to re-create it in VB.

A Cup empty of myself.

Did the zune upgrade last night....the software page looks like someone threw up on my screen...sheez at least give us a "blank" skin or something. It looks like some little kid came up with the color and design scheme. On the technical side....one thing that might be cool is you can program the Zune to find and communicate with your wireless network...you can leave the thing in your car and still sync with it. In case you can't walk the 40 feet to your car and back...joking aside, that's pretty neat. Do you all turn off the privacy stuff like the innocent sounding "help microsoft provide a better customer experience by sharing usage and program data." NOOOOO!!!!! FRIGGIN THANK YOU!! "Hello Mr. Smith.... we noticed you listened to Ted Nugent Last night...here's your free trial subscription to "How to build a compound and militia" magazine. Also, look in your services that are running, what is the "Zune bus..." service? Zone alarm told me that the Zune Bus(I can't remember the whole name), wanted to accept connections from the internet....NO NO NO Are they installing some sort of little server? Of course since i'ts microsoft there will be NO security problems with that...

A Cup empty of myself.