What's New @ IEEE in Computing

VOLUME 6 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 2005

CONTENTS:

1. Advances in Video Streaming and Delivery Assessed in IEEE Journal
2. Multimedia Software as Culture: Towards Critical Interaction Design
3. Software Development Certification Testing Starts 1 April
4. IEEE Infocom Coming in March
5. New Proceedings Cover Latest in Software Engineering
6. "Mathematical Assistant" Verifies Proof of Four Color Theorem
7. RSS Feeds Now Available for IEEE Computer Society Journal Abstracts
8. Winners & Losers 2005: IEEE Spectrum Reports
9. IEEE Begins Work on SystemC Standard to Aid System-Level Design
10. IEEE Computer Society Online Bookshelf Expands to 300 Free Titles
11. Members: Start Your Year Off Right

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1. ADVANCES IN VIDEO STREAMING AND DELIVERY ASSESSED IN IEEE JOURNAL
The pervasive presence of the Internet and wireless technologies and the challenge of video streaming in real-time through wireless networks are addressed in the January special issue of Proceedings of the IEEE, the flagship journal of the IEEE. This special issue, entitled "Advances in Video Coding and Delivery," reviews the challenge of producing high-definition images over heterogeneous networks, and provides a look into the future of all-IP networks. Preview the issue and read the guest editor's introduction to this Special Issue at:
www.ieee.org/pubs/proceedings/current.xml

In related news, researchers are trying to help search engines to find images and video through visualization technologies. Read more: www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,66185,00.html

2. MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE AS CULTURE: TOWARDS CRITICAL INTERACTION DESIGN
A new article for IEEE MultiMedia magazine invites readers to question their assumptions about multimedia interaction design. The article highlights four aspects of the future of multimedia: the relationship between location and media, networked interaction, wearable crafts, and diversity. While all of these aspects encompass software as culture and have become active areas of research, the implications and impact that new interaction design practices will have on the future of multimedia are as yet unknown. Read more (Adobe Acrobat Reader required): www.computer.org/multimedia/promo2.pdf

3. SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION TESTING STARTS 1 APRIL
The next opportunity to become an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) starts 1 April. This is the only comprehensive IEEE Computer Society professional certification that was developed by, for, and with software engineering professionals. The CSDP exam measures mastery of the fundamental knowledge required to perform the functions of an experienced software engineer. The Spring 2005 testing period is 1 April until 30 June. A training/preparation course is also available. For more information and discount coupons, visit: www.computer.org/certification/promo

4. IEEE INFOCOM COMING IN MARCH
Computer communications and networking will be addressed at the 24th IEEE Infocom Conference this March. The conference attracts researchers and practitioners of every aspect of digital communications and networks together to present the most up-to-date results and achievements in the field. Included are eight full- and half-day tutorials, two panel discussions, two keynote speeches, and literally hundreds of technical presentations. Session topics include cellular networks, localization in sensor networks, routing, traffic, optical networks, ad hoc networks, and much more. IEEE Infocom will be held 13 to 17 March in Miami, Florida, USA. For more information, or to register, visit: www.ieee-infocom.org/2005/

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/

5. NEW PROCEEDINGS COVER LATEST IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
The Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference (APSEC) is considered the leading international conference in software engineering research and development. The conference proceedings for APSEC 2004, now available from IEEE, presents 61 papers from researchers, practitioners, and government officers from academia, industry, and government discussing research and development issues in software engineering, its application to other fields, and software industry promotion. To purchase, visit ShopIEEE: shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=PR2245
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***

6. "MATHEMATICAL ASSISTANT" VERIFIES PROOF OF FOUR COLOR THEOREM
In 1976, American mathematicians Kenneth Appel and Wolfgang Haken claimed to have solved the famously unsolved Four Color Theorem -- with the help of a computer. Lingering doubts remained about their solution, which was too long to be confirmed by human hands. But these doubts may now fade thanks to Dr. Georges Gonthier of Microsoft Research in Cambridge, England, who has used a new computer technology called a "mathematical assistant" to confirm the proof of the Theorem. For more information, including how the Four Color Theorem can relate to computer networks, visit: www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_01_05.html

7. RSS FEEDS NOW AVAILABLE FOR IEEE COMPUTER SOCIETY JOURNAL ABSTRACTS
The IEEE Computer Society has created new RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds announcing the latest article abstracts from its magazines and transactions. Proceedings and complete digital library feeds will be added soon. The feeds may be read in an RSS aggregator or a Web browser that supports RSS feeds. For more information, visit: bell.computer.org/rss/index.jsp

8. WINNERS & LOSERS 2005: IEEE SPECTRUM REPORTS
IEEE Spectrum's annual special January issue focuses on technology's "winners and losers." Among them is Sun Microsystems' Niagara chip, a new microprocessor which speeds up servers by opening the floodgates to memory. It is the first commercial chip designed from the ground up to improve performance by using a technique called multithreading, which allows the processor to switch among independent instruction streams. Read more: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/jan05/0105wsun.html

9. IEEE BEGINS WORK ON SYSTEMC STANDARD TO AID SYSTEM-LEVEL DESIGN
The IEEE and the Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI) announced recently that IEEE has started work on a new standard, IEEE P1666™, "SystemC Language Reference Manual." SystemC provides hardware-oriented constructs within the context of C++ as a class library implemented in standard C++. Its use spans design and verification from concept to implementation in hardware and software. The new standard, which is sponsored by the IEEE Standard Association Corporate Program and the Design Automation Committee of the IEEE Computer Society, is targeted for completion in 12 to 15 months. For more information, visit: standards.ieee.org/announcements/pr_1666.html

10. IEEE COMPUTER SOCIETY ONLINE BOOKSHELF EXPANDS TO 300 FREE TITLES
Members of the IEEE Computer Society now have unlimited online access to a rotating collection of 300 unabridged technology books. Subjects covered include enterprise computing, graphics and multimedia, hardware, networks, security, software engineering, and more. Larger collections are also available for a modest fee. For more information, visit: www.computer.org/bookshelf

11. MEMBERS: START YOUR YEAR OFF RIGHT
IEEE members can take advantage of numerous benefits, ranging from discounts on products to online research to the IEEE Personal Email Alias. Most of these benefits require the use of an IEEE Web Account. Don't have a Web Account yet? You can register for one here: www.ieee.org/webaccount

After that, you can sign up for the IEEE Personal Email Alias, with virus protection and optional spam-blocking. Visit: www.ieee.org/alias

WHAT'S NEW @ IEEE IN COMPUTING 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
Contributing Editor: Peg Gallos

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