Flexible Processors are “Brains” of Next-Generation Weapons
Single-chip signal processors that can reconfigure and adapt to specific mission requirements are at the heart of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (Darpa) efforts to create smart, autonomous, and adaptable weapons for the military. The goal of the program, Polymorphous Computing Architectures (PCA), is to develop applications, including agile sensors and intelligent avionics, for autonomous weapons that use less power while sifting through and relaying large amounts of sensor data using on-board processors. The agency says reducing processors from eight boards to a single-chip would allow military planners to shrink the size of sensor platforms and send them on longer missions. Read more
New Study Finds IEEE Journals Rank High in Quality Content
IEEE has once again earned high scores from the ISI Journal Citation Reports (JCR), a study that looks at the influence academic journals have on research within their disciplines. Published by Thomson ISI, the report ranks journals by their impact factor – which is the average number of times articles published over the last two years were cited in the most recent year. The 2006 report, released in June of 2007, shows IEEE continuing to lead the field with the high quality and relevant content published in IEEE journals.
According to the JCR, IEEE publishes:
- 17 of the top 20 journals in the field of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- 10 of the top 10 journals in Telecommunications
- 7 of top 10 journals in Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture
- 7 of top 20 journals in Computer Science, Information Systems
- 9 of top 20 journals in Computer Science, Software Engineering
IEEE also has high-ranking journals in several additional fields of technology including the # 1 journal in Imaging Science & Photographic Technology, the # 1 journal in Automation Control, as well as journals ranked among the top 3 for Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science - Interdisciplinary Applications, Computer Science - Theory & Methods, Manufacturing Engineering, Nuclear Science & Technology, Ocean Engineering, Remote Sensing and Robotics. Read more
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EU Drops Restrictions on Radio Spectrum to Promote Wireless Growth
The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), announced the proposal to remove restrictions on radio spectrum for more advanced wireless services to encourage their development. Ideally, the plan will open the global system for mobile communications (GSM) frequencies to advanced mobile data and multimedia services, such as 3G services allowing video streaming and fast downloads on a mobile handset. The measure would increase the number of wireless services available and expand their geographic coverage. The EU also plans to repeal the GSM Directive of 1987, which allocates radio frequencies (900 and 1800 megahertz) exclusively to GSM services. Read more
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New ‘IEEE Applications & Practice Magazine’ Accepting Submissions
IEEE Applications & Practice Magazine, a new IEEE eZine and print supplement to the IEEE Communications Magazine, is intended to be a source of timely, significant, technically-reviewed articles, application notes, and technical papers for engineering practitioners in all areas of communications technology. A special issue focusing on optical communications is planned for January 2008. Submissions for this special issue should provide information that will be useful to engineering practitioners at all levels of experience. Technical papers, tutorials, application notes, and other formats are welcomed in numerous general areas. Abstract submissions are due 15 September 2007 and final papers are due 1 November 2007. Papers should be no longer than 4,500 words and contain no more than 6 figures. Please contact Jack Howell at j.howell@comsoc.org with any questions or to submit materials or click here for additional information..
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Merger Foreshadows IT-Communications Convergence
The July merger of the United Kingdom’s Communications Management Association (CMA) and British Computer Society (BCS) is another step in the convergence of telecommunications, computing and information technologies. The merger between the two companies provides a good outline for what can be expected throughout the entire telecommunications industry. While the industry can expect a few difficulties in merging the IT and communications cultures of different companies, the convergence of the telecommunications, computing, and information technology fields will ultimately present exciting opportunities to learn and build new skill sets for everyone involved. Read more
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IEEE Foundation Grants Awarded for 2007
Thanks to the generosity of donors who understand the importance of unrestricted giving, and in keeping with the mission of the IEEE Foundation to further the scientific and educational purposes of the IEEE, the IEEE Foundation was able to award grants to a variety of initiatives in 2007. Highlights include the creation of a new exhibit at the Women at Work Museum in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA, to showcase the achievements of women engineers throughout history; the production of the pilot episode of “Nerd Girls”, a television documentary aimed at encouraging a young female audience to consider entering engineering related fields; the creation of the “Museum of the Future”, a non-profit organization that aims to promote science and engineering among the public, especially those that are victims of the digital divide in Portuguese-speaking countries around the world; and providing resources to launch a Turkey-wide Pre-College website contest in which pre-college students will compete to design and develop the best school website. In total, nearly $250,000 was presented to support initiatives from IEEE branches around the world. Read more
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Information and Communication Technology Conference
The Information Technology Institute (ITI) will be hosting the 5th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICICT 2007) in Cairo, Egypt, 16-18 December 2007. The conference, cosponsored by the IEEE, will focus on the theme “The Convergence of ICT & Media” with papers and lectures covering four different aspects: Convergence Internetworking Technologies; Convergent Digital Content Development; Convergence Applications and Services; and Convergence Policies, Regulations, and Legal issues. For more information regarding the conference, or to register for ICICT 2007, please visit the conference website.
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Study Shows "Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity" Psychological
There is no evidence that radiation from mobile phones, masts, and appliances like microwave ovens cause fatigue, anxiety or headaches, according to one of the largest studies of so-called electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), conducted by researchers at the University of Essex, United Kingdom. While surveys suggest four percent of the population in the United Kingdom claim to suffer from EHS, it has never been reliably linked to any source of electromagnetic radiation. The study, which exposed groups of self-reported EHS sufferers and volunteer controls to the frequencies emitted by the conventional GSM masts and the newer 3G networks in double-blind tests, revealed that only four and a half percent of self-described EHS sufferers could reliably tell whether the signal was switched on or off – a percentage similar to one expected from chance alone. According to experts not involved in the study, the results are consistent with earlier research that suggests most, if not all, cases of EHS are psychological in origin and not a toxic effect of electromagnetic radiation. Read more
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Call for Papers: ICOIN 2008
The International Conference on Information Networking (ICOIN 2008), which is being held 23-25 January 2008 in Busan, Korea, is looking for papers that contribute significantly to the theoretical and practical aspects of computer communications, wireless networks, and converged networks. Original papers are invited on wired/wireless network architecture, communications protocol, future internet, u-infrastructure, and sensor networks. Other topics of interest include, but are not limited to, network and transport protocols, traffic management, mobile and home networks, ubiquitous networks, and wireless multimedia systems. The submission deadline for paper abstracts is 31 August 2007 and final papers are due on 30 November 2007. Learn more
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New Ultra Mobile Broadband Base Station Debuts
An infrastructure reference design for ultra mobile broadband (UMB) networks intended to help manufacturers reduce development costs and quickly commercialize new UMB infrastructure products has been debuted by QUALCOMM Incorporated. This is based on the firm’s OFDMA Cell Site Modem CSM8900 and technologies from leading component and software providers. The UMB reference design provides “a well architected, flexible solution” while at the same time “giving vendors the ability to accelerate their next generation development efforts.” The new design uses technologies from Freescale Semiconductor, Cavium Networks, and Green Hills Software. Read more
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IEEE Group Settles on Faster Ethernet Plans
The Higher Speed Study Group (HSSG), part of the IEEE, has made the decision to work on a single Ethernet standard that covers both 40G bps (bits-per-second) and 100G bps speeds. The standard, which has been debated for months, could be completed by mid-2010 if given final approval by the IEEE later this year. The dual speed standard was agreed upon to meet the needs of members interested in faster server-to-switch applications, as well as those interested in network aggregation and backbones. The new standard, named IEEE 802.3ba, will include specifications for both speeds and offer a selection of physical interfaces. Learn more
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