What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 5 NUMBER 4 APRIL 2004

CONTENTS:
1. Company Views One-Angstrom Image with Commercial-Grade Microscope
2. Neural Engineering's Image Problem: IEEE Spectrum Reports
3. Russian Researchers Take Diamond to Superconducting Status
4. Guide Offers Proven Advice for Electro-Magnetic Interference Challenges
5. Blackout 101 Forum Educates Hill Staffers
6. AMD, Intel Undertake Role Reversal with 64-bit x86 Architecture
7. Newly Released Proceedings Offer Comprehensive Look at VSLI
8. IEEE Member Digital Library Shortens Commitment Time
9. Half-Year Dues Now Available on IEEE Memberships, Publications
10. IEEE Journal Explores Link Between Music and Engineering
11. New Members in U.S. and Canada Receive Life Insurance Policy At No Cost
12. Local SSCS Events Rank High, Survey Finds

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1. COMPANY VIEWS ONE-ANGSTROM IMAGE WITH COMMERCIAL-GRADE MICROSCOPE
FEI Co. of Oregon, USA, has introduced new possibilities for nanoscale research. The publicly traded company announced that it has succeeded in viewing images measuring one-tenth of a nanometer, or less than an angstrom, using readily available microscope technology. This will enable exploration of processes on a very tiny scale such as three-dimensional reconstruction or observing how specimens respond to temperature, stress or chemical environmental changes. Read more: www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=7673

2. NEURAL ENGINEERING'S IMAGE PROBLEM: IEEE SPECTRUM REPORTS
Scientists and engineers are, at last, realizing one of the greatest ambitions in recent medical history: the ability to tap directly into the human nervous system to restore motor and sensory functions for victims of injury, illness, or stroke. But such neural engineering is under-funded, underutilized, and overshadowed by biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries that promise a miracle cure for paralysis is just around the corner. Also holding back use of neural implants, especially for those with spinal cord injury, is an ingrained uneasiness and lack of knowledge about the devices among both patients and their doctors. IEEE Spectrum magazine has more: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/apr04/0404neur.html

3. RUSSIAN RESEARCHERS TAKE DIAMOND TO SUPERCONDUCTING STATUS
Can a semiconducting diamond become a superconducting diamond? The answer is yes, say scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences. They accomplished this using diamond carbon-doped with boron at high temperatures and pressures. If this new result passes muster with skeptics and can be replicated in further studies that researcher Vladimir Sidorov and colleagues are prepared to conduct, there could be significant and attractive uses for diamonds as superconductors in various electronic applications. To read more: www.physicsweb.org/article/news/8/3/17

4. GUIDE OFFERS PROVEN ADVICE FOR ELECTRO-MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE CHALLENGES
A pair of seasoned writers offer guidance for readers who have even the most basic knowledge of math, electronics, and EMC standards in their new Wiley-IEEE Press title, "Testing for EMC Compliance: Approaches and Techniques." Co-author Mark I. Montrose, an expert in regulatory compliance, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and product safety, has published two previous books. Co-author Edward M. Nakauchi, also the writer of many articles and publications, is an expert in analog, power, and digital design, and EMI/EMC/EMP and ESD. Their text contains clear language to assist in solving problems of electro-magnetic interference and creating solutions that both meet regulatory and performance issues. To purchase this volume, visit: www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047143308X.html
***IEEE members: Receive a 15% discount on any Wiley-IEEE Press titles. Use code 18493 at checkout***

5. BLACKOUT 101 FORUM EDUCATES HILL STAFFERS
In February, the IEEE Power Engineering Society and the IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee sponsored a "Blackout 101" forum on Capitol Hill to educate members of the U.S. Congress and their staffs about North America's electric power system. Featuring industry and academia experts, the forum was intended to explain how the power system works, what can go wrong, and how problems -- like the 2003 Northeast Blackout -- can be prevented or mitigated. IEEE-USA's Bill Williams recaps the forum in the latest edition of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer: www.todaysengineer.org/Mar04/blackout101.asp

6. AMD, INTEL UNDERTAKE ROLE REVERSE WITH 64-BIT X86 ARCHITECTURE
AMD and Intel have switched places. According to the research firm, In-Stat, in its "Microprocessor Report," AMD is for once leader and Intel this time the follower with their respective 64-bit x86 architectures. Historically, AMD has done the “reverse engineering” on Intel architectures. Furthermore, In-Stat found that though the architectures were nearly identical, there were significant differences that would mean programs written for one chip set may not run properly on the other. For more details: www.eetimes.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=18900286

7. NEWLY RELEASED PROCEEDINGS OFFER COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT VSLI
The latest developments in VSLI, system and system-on-chip designs, circuits and much more are among the topics covered in the newly published proceedings of the 17th International Conference on VLSI Design , subtitled "Emerging Trends in VLSI Systems Design." The conference was sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society. The proceedings display a conference that brought VLSI experience to new areas and technologies such as nano-devices, molecular devices and bio-inspired computing. This new release is available from the IEEE Online Catalog & Store. Visit: shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=PR2072
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***

Continue learning about VSLI at the 2004 IEEE Symposium on VLSI Circuits, to be held 15 to 19 June 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Attendees will be able to encounter the breadth of VLSI discipline including technology, circuits, automation, and systems from presenters and attendees arriving from all over the world to interact and exchange ideas on VLSI Circuits. To find out details, or register to attend: www.vlsisymposium.org/

Don't miss the next conference you need for your career. IEEE sponsors more than 300 technical conferences and workshops each year, highlighting the latest technological advances. Find events through the IEEE ConferenceSearch Web site at: www.ieee.org/conferencesearch/

8. IEEE MEMBER DIGITAL LIBRARY SHORTENS COMMITMENT TIME
The initial commitment required with a subscription to the IEEE Member Digital Library has been reduced from 12 months to six months, effective 1 April. This modification, which affects new and existing subscribers, comes in response to a research project conducted with subscribers and other IEEE members in 2003. Commitment times will be automatically reduced for current subscribers. The IEEE Member Digital Library offers full-text access to up to 25 articles per month from the full range of online IEEE periodicals and conference proceedings. For more information, visit: www.ieee.org/ieeemdl

9. IEEE JOURNAL EXPLORES LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND ENGINEERING
The April 2004 issue of Proceedings of the IEEE addresses the exciting synthesis of engineering and music, and new technologies for human-system symbiosis. Papers in this issue address human-technology interaction and music perception; gestural control of sound synthesis; robotic interfaces for embodied interaction; and auditory displays in human-machine interfaces; among others. Contributors include a transdisciplinary team of engineering and music professionals. A preview, including the editor's introduction, is available online at: www.ieee.org/pubs/proceedings/current.xml

Subscribers will be able to access the entire contents of this issue online through the IEEE Xplore delivery system at: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?puNumber=5

10. HALF-YEAR DUES NOW AVAILABLE ON IEEE MEMBERSHIPS, PUBLICATIONS
Dues on new IEEE memberships and additional IEEE Society memberships are now available at half price through 15 August 2004. Discounted rates on new subscriptions to IEEE publications are also available to IEEE members during this period. Individual memberships and subscriptions become active upon payment and continue through the remainder of 2004. IEEE Societies focus on specific technologies such as communications and aerospace engineering or focus on general technology subjects. There are 120 publications that may be added to membership during this half-year cycle. To join IEEE, visit www.ieee.org/join. To add societies or publications to existing memberships, visit: www.ieee.org/addservices

One society to consider joining is the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT), focusing on environmental, health and safety implications of technology, and engineering ethics and professional responsibility. SSIT is profiled in this month's issue of The Institute: www.theinstitute.ieee.org/portal/index.jsp?pageID=institute_level1_article&TheCat=2201&article=tionline/legacy/inst2004/apr04/4w.featuresociety.xml

11. NEW MEMBERS IN U.S. & CANADA RECEIVE LIFE INSURANCE POLICY AT NO COST
Did you know that new IEEE members living in the U.S. and Canada receive a no-cost $20,000 life-insurance policy for one year? It's true. New full-grade members are enrolled in the program on a quarterly basis. The plan is administered by MARSH Affinity Group Services, and may be renewed at cost, increased or allowed to lapse after the first year. For more information on the full range of insurance services available through the IEEE Financial Advantage Program, visit: www.ieeeinsurance.com

12. LOCAL SSCS EVENTS RANK HIGH, SURVEY FINDS
A new survey of IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS) members rated the quality of presentations and the educational opportunities of chapter events as very satisfactory or satisfactory, by nine to one. The professional networking, meeting times, and locales were rated satisfactory or very satisfactory by better than three to one. However, more than two-thirds of the survey respondents didn't know enough about chapter events to answer questions about the program. SSCS members can find their local chapters by visiting: sscs.org/chapter.htm

WHAT'S NEW @ IEEE IN CIRCUITS is a monthly, opt-in email update designed to provide you with the latest news regarding IEEE activities, industry trends, career development tips, and new IEEE product releases. We welcome your feedback on this service.

Managing Editor: John Platt j.platt@ieee.org
Editor: Peggy Gallos

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