What's New @ IEEE in Wireless

VOLUME 6 NUMBER 3 MARCH 2004

CONTENTS:
1. Wireless Technology Gets Much Faster and a Thousand Times Longer
2. IEEE Approves Test Standard for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks
3. Closing in on the Perfect Code: IEEE Spectrum Reports
4. China's Stance on Wireless Security Standard In Violation of WTO?
5. IEEE Wireless Telecommunications Symposium Coming in May
6. Reach Out and Touch IEEE: 2004 IEEE Exhibits Schedule Now Available
7. IEEE Personal Email Alias Adds New Filtering Features
8. New Book Analyzes How Engineers Communicate
9. Satisfying a Hunger for Knowledge Through Experimental Learning
10. Proceedings of National Radio Science Conference Now Available
11. I've Fallen and RFID Knows I Can't Get Up

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1. WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY GETS MUCH FASTER AND A THOUSAND TIMES LONGER
A recent BusinessWeek article reported on a wireless technology that is much faster and able to span much larger distances than what is on the market today. According to the article, IEEE 802.16, also known as WiMax, is said to be seven times faster than most current wireless systems and can span distances as great as 30 miles. Once developed, this technology can become a substitute to the tangible wires and cables currently connecting homes and business to the Internet and will allow wireless PC users to access the Internet from virtually anywhere. This technology has especially strong prospects in the developing world where wired telephone networks are sparse. To find out more, visit: www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_03/b3866083_mz063.htm

2. IEEE APPROVES TEST STANDARD FOR WIRELESS METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORKS
Speaking of IEEE 802.16, the IEEE Standards Association has approved IEEE 802.16/Conformance02, "Standard for Conformance to IEEE 802.16: Part 2: Test Suite Structure and Test Purposes (TSS&TP) for 10-66 GHz WirelessMAN-SC Air Interface." This standard describes the structure and purpose of the test suite for the base and subscriber stations defined in the IEEE 802.16 wireless metropolitan area network standard. This is the second of a set of specifications required to support the conformance and interoperability testing of devices built to IEEE 802.16 specifications (per ISO/IEC 9646-1 and 9646-2 and ITU-T Standards X.290 and X.291). For more information, visit: standards.ieee.org/announcements/pr_8021680228025.html

3. CLOSING IN ON THE PERFECT CODE: IEEE SPECTRUM REPORTS
Turbo codes have jumped to the forefront of communications research, with hundreds of groups working on them in companies and universities all over the world, according to a report in this month's issue of IEEE Spectrum magazine. Turbo codes can outperform all other existing coding technologies, providing virtually error-free communications at unprecedented data rates and transmitting power efficiencies. As turbo codes are incorporated into the next-generation mobile phone system, millions of people will soon have them literally in their hands. This coding scheme will let cellphones and other portable devices handle multimedia data such as video and graphics-rich imagery, over the noisy channels typical of cellular communications. And researchers are studying the use of turbo codes for digital and video broadcasting, as well as for increasing data speeds in enhanced versions of Wi-Fi technology. Read more: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/mar04/0304code.html

4. CHINA'S STANCE ON WIRELESS SECURITY STANDARD IN VIOLATION OF WTO?
According to a recent EETimes article, many U.S. officials are declaring China's wireless security mandate to be a violation of the World Trade Organization's basic provision of National Treatment. In December 2003, China mandated that its proprietary Wireless LAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI) be incorporated into all WLAN devices within the Chinese border by June 2004. Furthermore, foreign companies must partner with a Chinese firm in order to incorporate this standard, which is incompatible with the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Advanced Encryption Scheme (AES) schemes currently used by IEEE 802.11x standards. European, Japanese and U.S. industry groups are in an uproar over this issue and are looking to have China join efforts to create an international standard. To read more, visit: www.commsdesign.com/showArticle?articleID=18200945

5. IEEE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYMPOSIUM COMING IN MAY
The 2004 Wireless Telecommunications Symposium (WTS 2004) will be held in Pomona, California, USA from 14 to 15 May. The symposium is designed to be a forum for industry, government and academic leaders and experts from around the world to exchange information on advances in mobile communications and wireless networking technology, applications, management and security. Topics of discussion include wireless Internet and WML, mobile and wireless network security, spectrum management, UWB technology, global wireless services and business, IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth, and 3G/4G wireless networks and systems. For more information or to register, visit: www.csupomona.edu/~wtsi/

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/

6. REACH OUT AND TOUCH IEEE: 2004 IEEE EXHIBITS SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE
Looking for information on IEEE Membership? Have questions about IEEE online collections? Just want to reach out and touch the IEEE? Come visit IEEE at one of the many technical conferences and shows throughout 2004. Aside from the many events across the United States, IEEE will also be organizing displays at technical conferences and shows in Canada, India, Poland, Argentina, Germany, England and the Bahamas. To find out more about our Exhibits program and schedule, visit: www.ieee.org/services/exhibits/schedule.htm

7. IEEE PERSONAL EMAIL ALIAS ADDS NEW FILTERING FEATURES
The free IEEE Personal Email Alias now offers an optional new feature that filters unsolicited commercial email (UCE), commonly known as "spam," from all incoming email messages. The new feature allows users to either tag or block incoming email messages using three levels of filtering sensitivity. There are currently 95,000 IEEE email aliases, making it one of the most used IEEE member benefits. The IEEE Personal Email Alias also includes virus-scanning of all incoming mail. The service is free to IEEE members. For details or to sign up, visit: www.ieee.org/alias

8. NEW BOOK ANALYZES HOW ENGINEERS COMMUNICATE
In their new book, "Communication Patterns of Engineers," authors Carol Tenopir and Donald W. King summarize and analyze the research on how engineers communicate. Among other things, the book offered by Wiley-IEEE Press, compares engineering communication patterns with those of science and medicine and offers information on improving engineering communication skills. To purchase or find out more, visit: www.wiley.com/remtitleinternational.cgi?isbn=047148492X
***IEEE members: Receive a 15% discount on any Wiley-IEEE Press titles. Use code 18493 at checkout.***

9. SATISFYING A HUNGER FOR KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
You've heard the expression, "If you give a man a fish, he will have a single meal; if you teach him how to fish, he will eat for the rest of his life." The natural progression of maturity involves moving from dependency on others toward increasing self-reliance. In the latest edition of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer, Vern Johnson explains how engineers can progress from focusing on survival to focusing on endurance -- becoming what he calls "self-reliant learners." www.todaysengineer.org/Feb04/learning.asp

10. PROCEEDINGS OF NATIONAL RADIO SCIENCE CONFERENCE NOW AVAILABLE
The proceedings of the 2003 20th National Radio Science Conference (NRSC 2003) have been released and are available from the IEEE Online Catalog & Store. The conference was held in Cairo, Egypt in 2003. To find out more, visit: shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=EX665
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***

11. I'VE FALLEN AND RFID KNOWS I CAN'T GET UP
Two newly developed systems from researchers at Intel Corporation and Georgia Tech would use RFID technology to monitor the health and well-being of senior citizens. Sensors would track a user's patterns and log items being used around the house; significant changes in pattern would then indicate a potential problem or illness. Whether seniors (or anyone) would consent to the loss of privacy required for such a system to work is yet to be seen. The systems were demonstrated as part of the launch of Intel's Center for Aging Services Technologies. Wired has the full story: www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,62723,00.html

What's New @ IEEE in Wireless is a monthly, opt-in e-mail 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: Frank Pepe f.pepe@ieee.org

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