Over 98% of all microprocessors that are sold today are used in embedded systems, most of which have less than one millionth of the memory of a modern PC. By developing the lwIP and uIP embedded TCP/IP stacks and the Contiki operating system, Adam Dunkels has established that even such very small embedded systems can be connected to the Internet. He has released his research results as open source software that today is used by hundreds of companies in products ranging from car engines and oil-pipeline monitoring equipment to airplanes and satellites.
The jury's motivation is: "For the development of operating systems and communication software that enables cost-effective Internet connectivity for new product classes, for example car engines, weather stations, and film production equipment." The prize ceremony was held at the Utsikt 2008 conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on 7 February 2008.
http://www.sics.se/chester-carlson-prize/
