ASCOM (an abbreviation for AStronomy Common Object Model) is an open initiative to provide a standard interface to a range of astronomy equipment including mounts, focusers and imaging devices in a Microsoft Windows environment.
ASCOM was invented in late 1997 and early 1998 by Bob Denny, when he released two commercial programs and several freeware utilities that showcased the technology. He also induced Doug George to include ASCOM capabilities in commercial CCD camera control software.
The first observatory to adopt ASCOM was Junk Bond Observatory, in early 1998. It was used at this facility to implement a robotic telescope dedicated to observing asteroids. The successful use of ASCOM there was covered in an article in Sky & Telescope magazine. This helped ASCOM to become more widely adopted.
The ASCOM standards were placed under the control of the ASCOM Initiative, a group of astronomy software developers who volunteered to develop the standards further. Under the influence of Denny, George, Tim Long, and others, ASCOM developed into a set of device driver standards. In 2004, over 150 astronomy-related devices were supported by ASCOM device drivers, which were released as freeware. Most of the drivers are also open source.
ASCOM can refer to:
Ascom Holding AG is a telecommunications company specializing in "Mission-Critical Communication". The company focuses on the areas of Wireless Solutions (customer-specific on-site communications solutions) and Network Testing (testing and optimization solutions) for mobile networks.
The company has subsidiaries in 17 countries and a workforce of some 1600 employees worldwide.
Ascom registered shares (symbol ASCN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich. Subsidiary is Ascom (Schweiz) AG with former company names Hasler AG, Hasler Ascom AG and Ascom AG.
Ascom Wireless Solutions is a provider of on-site wireless communications for segments such as hospitals, manufacturing industries, prisons, retail and hotels. The company offers a range of voice and professional messaging communication systems, supporting and optimizing the Mission-Critical processes of the customers. The solutions are based on VoWiFi, IP-DECT, Nurse Call and paging technologies, integrated into existing enterprise systems. The company has subsidiaries in 10 countries and 1,600 employees worldwide. Founded in the 1950s as TATECO based in Göteborg, Sweden, Ascom Wireless Solutions is part of the Ascom Group, listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange.
The Standard was a German automobile manufactured between 1911 and 1912. The car was produced at Berlin-Charlottenburg using a rotary valve engine built by Henriod, which was unreliable and had not been fully developed; consequently, it was very unpopular.
Standard Superior was an automobile, produced from 1933 to 1935 by Standard Fahrzeugfabrik of Ludwigsburg, Germany, founded by motorcycle maker Wilhelm Gutbrod and unrelated to the Standard Motor Company of England. These small cars were designed according to the patents by Josef Ganz and featured rear-mounted two-stroke engines.
After World War II, the same company made Gutbrod cars and introduced the model Gutbrod Superior.
In the first half of 1932, Wilhelm Gutbrod, the President of the Standard Fahrzeugfabrik, came into contact with German engineer Josef Ganz. Ganz had been working on a small car design since the early 1920s and had so far built two prototypes, one for Ardie in 1930 and one for Adler in 1931, called the Maikäfer (May Beetle). After a demonstration with the Maikäfer by Ganz, Gutbrod was most interested to build a small car according to this design. The Standard Fahrzeugfabrik then purchased a license from Ganz to develop and build a small car according to his design. The prototype of this new model, which was to be called Standard Superior, was finished in 1932. It featured a tubular chassis, a mid-mounted engine, and independent wheel suspension with swing-axles at the rear.
The Standard was an Italian automobile manufactured from 1906 until 1908 by the Fabbrica Automobili Standard of Torino. The company produced a 10/14 hp four-cylinder which was sometimes marketed under the name FAS.