What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 5 NUMBER 8 AUGUST 2004

CONTENTS:
1. U.K. Government Assesses Risks Associated with Nanotechnology
2. Free Preview: New IEEE Journal Covers Latest in Automation Research
3. "Advances in Circuits and Systems" Tracks Electronic Innovation
4. Car Rental Discounts Available to IEEE Members
5. Researchers Aim to Find Cheaper Way to Deliver Solar Energy
6. 10 Rules of Thumb for Innovation
7. Simulation of Bodily Functions Subject of New Wiley-IEEE Press Title
8. Japanese and Spanish Researchers Develop Robotic Librarians
9. IEEE Publishes Top Journals in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
10. Will Carbon Nanotubes Replace Silicon Microelectronics?
11. Proceedings from 2004 ISCAS Now Available
12. Photonic Chip Prototypes Pave the Way for All-Optical Electronics

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1. U.K. GOVERNMENT ASSESSES RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NANOTECHNOLOGY
A report by the U.K.'s Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering calls for greater regulation of potentially hazardous nanoparticles. The report proposes more rigorous safety tests in the workplace, the labeling of products containing nanoparticles and the development of an independent scientific safety commission to monitor and approve consumer use of such products. The report also recommends that the Health and Safety Executive reduce the level of exposure of manufactured particles until the effects of such exposure to workers and consumers can be better understood. To find out more about this report, visit: physicsweb.org/article/news/8/7/17

On a global scale, the report suggests that nanotechnology could improve quality of life around the world, but could potentially create a 'nano-divide' that increases the disparity in lifestyle between rich and poor nations. Learn more about the effects of nanotechnology on the developing world at: www.sabcnews.com/sci_tech/science/0,2172,85054,00.html

View the entire report at: www.nanotec.org.uk/finalReport.htm

2. FREE PREVIEW: NEW IEEE JOURNAL COVERS LATEST IN AUTOMATION RESEARCH
The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society has introduced IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE), a new journal devoted to publishing foundational research addressing the scientific methods and technologies that improve efficiency, productivity, quality and reliability across today's most important industries. A free preview of the first issue's contents is available online, and includes a copy of the journal's first editorial, plus a preview of the first page of each paper published in the premiere issue. Visit: www.ieee.org/t-ase

3. "ADVANCES IN CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS" TRACKS ELECTRONIC INNOVATION
The IEEE Circuits and Systems Society recently updated the "Advances in Circuits and Systems" online news service, featuring abstracts of five new technical papers in emerging technologies, including retinal implants, chaos-based frequency modulated signals, femtoampere current mode circuits, color-based recognition on a chip and fault diagnosis and tolerance in networks and systems. The service reviews each technology and links to IEEE papers that provide insider insight into the inner workings of electronic devices that use this research. View this newsletter online at: ewh.ieee.org/soc/icss/acs_newsletter_08_2004.php

4. CAR RENTAL DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO IEEE MEMBERS
IEEE members can now take advantage of discounted car rental rates from Avis Car Rental. By using the Avis online booking tool through the IEEE Travel Services web site, IEEE members can request a rate and modify or cancel a reservation. Avis also offers a "Preferred Service" which is available at nearly 1,400 locations worldwide, and includes amenities such as door-to-door directions, assistance with luggage, and access to the newest cars. To find out more information, please visit: www.ieeetravelonline.org/

5. RESEARCHERS AIM TO FIND CHEAPER WAY TO DELIVER SOLAR ENERGY
Scientists from Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.S. are conducting research on the fabrication and characterization of dye-coated solar cells of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The researchers' goal is to develop a less expensive way of making solar cells. The dye on the nanoparticles absorbs sunlight. When the cells are placed on a glass electrode and immersed in an electrolyte solution, they capture energy. Excited electrons in the dye are introduced subsequently to wire connected to a circuit. These scientists are among those recently awarded financial support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). For more information, visit: www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/newsroom/pr.cfm?ni=10000000000116

6. 10 RULES OF THUMB FOR INNOVATION
Many modern-day technological advances are remarkable, to be sure, but modest innovations get introduced to the marketplace everyday. Whether simple or complex, several rules of thumb apply to all innovations. In the latest edition of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer: www.todaysengineer.org/July04/10rules.asp

7. SIMULATION OF BODILY FUNCTIONS SUBJECT OF NEW WILEY-IEEE PRESS TITLE
A new book released by the Wiley-IEEE Press, "Nonlinear Dynamic Modeling of Physiological Systems," provides practicable insight into the responses of neural and sensory systems, cardiovascular and renal systems, and endocrine and metabolic systems through nonlinear dynamic modeling. Author, Vasilis Z. Marmarelis, discusses whether nonparametric, parametric, modular or connectionist modeling strategies are most appropriate for each biomedical scenario. To learn more, or to purchase this comprehensive reference guide, 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***

8. JAPANESE AND SPANISH RESEARCHERS DEVELOP ROBOTIC LIBRARIANS
Robotic librarians equipped with sensors, cameras and grippers are being developed by researchers at the University of Jaume I in Spain and a separate, independent research team in Japan. The Spanish prototype approximates the location of the book in the libraries stacks referencing the libraries database to find the book's barcode, navigates to the location using infrared and laser guidance systems, and scans books within a four meter radius of the sensors attached to its limb. The device can even retrieve books from the shelf with minimal damage to the cover. The Japanese robot scans books and transmits the images over the Internet, giving users remote access to the library's resources. Learn more about these groundbreaking service robots at: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3897583.stm

9. IEEE PUBLISHES TOP JOURNALS IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
The IEEE publishes 18 of the top 20 journals in the field of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, according to the 2003 Journal Citation Reports recently published by Thomson ISI. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine took the first slot this year. In addition, the report shows that IEEE also publishes nine of the top ten journals in Telecommunications, with IEEE Network magazine once again leading at number one. Several other IEEE journals again ranked at the top of their fields this year. The ISI study ranks journals by their impact factor, defined as the average number of times articles published in a specific journal in the previous two years are cited in a particular year. For more information, visit: www.ieee.org/citations

10. WILL CARBON NANOTUBES REPLACE SILICON MICROELECTRONICS?
The versatility of carbon nanotubes as transistors, diodes, light emitters and detectors make them promising candidates as integrated circuits in CMOS devices, according to a recent article in IEEE Spectrum Magazine. The article, written by researchers at the IBMThomasJ.WatsonResearchCenter, predicts that traditional silicon CMOS devices will become obsolete within the next decade. For a more in-depth overview of this team's technology insights, visit IEEE Spectrum online at: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/aug04/0804tube.html

11. PROCEEDINGS FROM 2004 ISCAS NOW AVAILABLE
The proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems are now available through the IEEE Online Catalog & Store. The proceedings cover novel applications of signal processing technologies, nonlinear circuits and systems, graph theory and computing, and neural systems and applications, among other related topics of interest. To supplement your technical skill-set with groundbreaking research, visit: shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=CH37512
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***

12. PHOTONIC CHIP PROTOTYPES PAVE THE WAY FOR ALL-OPTICAL ELECTRONICS
Photonic chips that are easily mass-produced, operate well with existing technologies, and emit light through a specific point have been developed by research teams at the U.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the JapaneseKyotoUniversity. These photonic chips block and channel light to trigger electrical responses in circuits, and could be adapted for use in communications devices, optical memory, quantum computing, lasers, and biological and chemical sensors. The prototypes could lead to all-optical computer devices within the next decade. Learn more at: www.trnmag.com/Stories/2004/072804/Photonic_chips_go_3D_072804.html

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: Bhavika Desai
Contributing Editor: Peg Gallos

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