Java Digital Signal Processing Editor [.pdf]
http://www.eas.asu.edu/~midle/jdsp/
Professor Andreas Spanias of Arizona State University has supervised the development of this online digital signal processing (DSP) system simulation utility. This utility has many functions that allow the user to generate various signals, create filters, and analyze the responses. Other functions include Fourier Transforms, convolution, autocorrelation, and several speech processing tools. The interface is well designed and easy to use, and there are plenty of examples and documentation. However, some features are missing from it, such as the ability to print and save. The software is still being improved, though, so these problems might be fixed in the future. [CL]
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Digital Logic
http://www.play-hookey.com/digital/
For electrical or computer engineering students or anyone with a passing interest, this site presents a very good overview of digital logic. The basics of both combinational and sequential logic are discussed, and the design of specific components such as counters and shift registers are also illustrated. A particularly interesting section is devoted to the inner workings of logic gates, which is important to fully understand digital design. This looks beyond the gate level into the transistors and other basic elements. Even though the material is very informative overall, one possible downside to this site is that some of the circuit diagrams are a little too closely spaced. [CL]
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Autodesk: Design Your Future
http://www.autodesk.com/dyf/dyfmain2.html
Design Your Future is an excellent program that encourages young women in middle and high school to pursue careers in math, science, and technology. It has extensive information that will answer many common questions and make technical fields seem more accessible, and even fun. There are many bios of working women, which describe the daily activities and challenges involved in their jobs. A lot of college advice is also provided on the site, including tips to help choose a career, find the right school, get financial aid, and apply. There is a special feature of the Web site that connects female Autodesk employees with girls to start a mentoring program; however, the registration process for this is not well outlined. [CL]
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An Innovation Odyssey
http://www97.intel.com/odyssey/index.asp
Every school day, Intel showcases a new story about creative projects that use technology in education. The stories come from teachers and schools all over the world, and the original ideas they present can help other educators introduce technology to students. Projects can be on any topic; the only condition is that they must use some kind of technology to help teach the material. Anyone can submit a project for possible appearance on the Web site, and participants can receive an Intel camera or microscope. The series will continue to run over the summer, and an archive of all previous stories is included. [CL]
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Technobuff
http://www.technobuff.com/
This site serves as a good starting point for people learning about Web development. It has introductory tutorials, tips, and software for programming in Java and HTML. The Java Start Kit is particularly useful for novice programmers. The informative articles on the site cover various special topics about Web design, and there are associated quizzes that reinforce the concepts. Several message boards are also available, allowing communication and problem sharing among the developer community. There is even a section with information on being a successful online entrepreneur. Many resources are given on this site; however, a short registration is required to access the quiz center, downloads, and message boards. [CL]
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National Library of Virtual Manipulatives for Interactive Mathematics
http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/index.html
A team at Utah State University has assembled this impressive collection of interactive, educational online Java applets. The tools are suited for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. There are five main categories of applications, consisting of numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability. Each category has a number of applets that demonstrate various concepts. The applets present a problem and prompt the user for a solution. Graphical representations and answer checking complete the package. The ease of use and well-programmed Java applets make this a truly exceptional site. [CL]
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Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program
http://education.dot.gov/
A tribute to the inventor of the traffic signal, this site has educational transportation material for almost anyone. Students from kindergarten to high school will find information, history, trivia, and games about every mode of transportation. Resources for teachers are also included, such as project suggestions and lesson plans. There are sections that can help students plan for a career in transportation, with lists of relevant colleges and universities. The one drawback is that most of the specific information is contained in links to other sites; however, the site's interface and centralized access to a wide variety of resources are what make it so useful. [CL]
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Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason
http://whyslopes.com/
Math resources for both students and teachers are given on this site, spanning the general topics of arithmetic, logic, algebra, calculus, complex numbers, and Euclidean geometry. Lessons and how-tos with clear descriptions of many important concepts provide a good foundation for high school and college level mathematics. There are sample problems that can help students prepare for exams, or teachers can make their own assignments based on the problems. Everything presented on the site is not only educational, but interesting as well. There is certainly plenty of material; however, it is somewhat poorly organized. This does not take away from the quality of the information, though. [CL]
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