Sun Microsystems researchers are working on projects in areas ranging from embedded Java to boosting the ability of microprocessors to handle objects.In a meeting with InfoWorld at Sun offices in Menlo Park, Calif., on Friday afternoon, Sun researchers discussed several projects:* Squawk, which places a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) directly on the processor. This project is intended to increase use of Java on embedded devices such as wireless sensors. * Maxwell, which purports to develop an object-aware memory architecture to enable microprocessors to handle objects, such as Java objects. * Jedi, providing an environment for exploring proposed modifications to the Java platform. * Semplice, to enable Visual Basic applications to run on the JVM. This effort was first discussed at the JavaOne 2006 conference in San Francisco last week. Visual Basic developers would be able to leverage their current programming skills but deploy to the JVM. Software Development