The European magazine for embedded design

An Author's Guide

Embedded Systems welcomes technical information from all those who feel that they have the skills to educate the embedded engineer working in Europe.

As well as information provided via press releases, meetings and conferences we also seek written papers of a technical nature from 1000 to 3000 words.

This Author's Guide is designed to assist you in your preparations and ensure that what you deliver has the best chance of success.

A technology article may appear at any time during the editorial calendar at the desecration of the editor. A technology article in Embedded Systems must be news worthy, and explain how a process, architecture, or principal works in not more than 800 words. Diagrams may be used to help the explanation. These are quite often written/rewritten by the Editor after meeting with companies

The Abstract

It is useful to submit an abstract before writing progresses. This should be approximately 100 words briefly summarising proposed content of the article. Our comments or requests will then help to tailor the article to our readership.

The Biography

We also require a short biography of the author/s for inclusion into promotional materials and acknowledgment at the end of the article. It also enables our editorial staff to contact you for quotes, which helps to make the article more conversational. Commissioned articles are attributed to their author(s). Research references are not listed unless by special arrangement. CMP also require permission to use the material in other media, e.g. our web site www.embedded.com/europe.

Your Target Audience

Readers of the magazine are generally engineers and welcome detailed technical explanations. The best represented job functions are software design/development, systems design/development and hardware design/development. Remember that the majority of our products are reaching a European audience. Over 20 countries are represented within the circulation of Embedded Systems. So, your article should keep in mind that, for many of those reading, English is the second language.

Graphics

Try to supply at least four graphics, these can include diagrams or high-quality colour photo to make your article visually attractive.

Diagrams/graphs

These are sometimes re-drawn but high quality originals are preferred.

Electronic files

If possible, please send your text and graphics by e-mail or on CD. Most text formats and Word Processing packages can be read (although graphics embedded within MS Word files can cause difficulties in conversion). Please send graphics of greater than 300 dpi (dots per inch resolution) in EPS, TIFF or JPEG format.

Editing

All material received is edited for style and length. This is carried out with sensitivity to the original meaning. If English is not your strong point (and especially if it is not your mother tongue) you may rely on the editorial team to correct your grammar.

Content

There are many ways to add objectivity to a technical paper and ensure that readers enjoy your article:

• Write the paper in association with a customer or an academic institution.
• If the technology is not new, explain a new application.
• Review technology trends in your sector.
• Use examples and practical applications throughout your presentation.
• When using abbreviations make sure the words in your article are spelt out at least once.
• Try to stick to technical issues rather than a particular brand or company solution.

Deadlines

Final text and pictures for the magazine, Embedded Systems, should arrive at least 6 weeks prior to the month of publication. Deadlines are shown on the Media Details leaflet.

The Benefits

Thank you for considering contributing to Embedded Systems. Most companies find that the time their employees spend writing a paper is more than repaid by the kudos received from being published.

More information?

You are very welcome to contact the Editor, Colin Holland, to discuss any queries. You can contact him at es@colinholland.co.uk and 44 208 319 1324.

Legal stuff

As a media company we have to request exclusivity and permission to distribute and promote the content of your work across both printed and electronic media. We also regard it our duty to ensure that our readers receive value in the data they receive. It must therefore be fresh. A legal notice giving detail of copyright etc. is given below.

Copyright and Title

You hereby grant to Us an exclusive, irrevocable world-wide license to use, edit, modify, copy, reproduce, publish, display and exploit the Work during the period [Acceptance of abstract, to 3 months following the presentation of the work], know as 'The Exclusivity Period' in all media and in all formats now know or hereafter invented.

During the Exclusivity Period, You will not:

• assign or license (or otherwise deal with) in any way in any part of the world the copyright or other rights of intellectual property in the Work or any work created by You or on Your behalf during the provision of Your Services under this Agreement; or
• publish or otherwise exploit (either in whole or in part) in any media or format now known or hereafter invented, the Work or any work created by You or on Your behalf during the provision of Your Services under this Agreement, in any country in the world.

All rights in the physical property in the Deliverables will pass to Us upon delivery.

You shall ensure that all copyright and other intellectual property rights in any part of the product of Your Services under this Agreement which You obtain from any employee, contractor or other third party are transferred to You on such terms as to allow You to fully perform Your obligations to Us as set out in this Agreement generally.

You hereby grant Us the right to use Your name, photograph(s) and biographical details in connection with the Work.