San Jose, California, 16 April 2008 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of embedded silicon and platform technologies, today announced that the VIA ARTiGO Pico-ITX builder kit has been selected as the platform for the Build Your Own Embedded System track, a new hands-on embedded system development lab at Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley, taking place in San Jose from 14-18 April.

Illustrating the suitability of the super-compact system for x86 embedded design, the VIA ARTiGO will also be featured in the Microsoft conference keynote, and is one of the primary VIA platform offerings for the Microsoft SPARK Your Imagination program, aimed at spurring innovative embedded system development among academics and hobbyists.

Visitors to ESC Silicon Valley will be able to catch up with the VIA ARTiGO and many other leading VIA embedded x86 technologies at the VIA booth 2110.

“We are excited to be featuring the VIA ARTiGO builder kit as an offering in our SPARK Your Imagination program,” said Scott Davis, Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft Windows Embedded Academic & Community Programs. “The SPARK program demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to the developer community by making leading development tools available to hobbyist developers and academics, helping to foster their creativity and drive innovation in the industry.”