IEEE-USA: Today's Engineer
http://www.todaysengineer.org/
IEEE-USA, a unit of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, maintains this monthly Webzine to inform industry workers and professionals about issues relevant to their careers. Business trends, ethics, public policy, engineering performance, and management are just a few of the focus areas addressed in Today's Engineer. Reader polls provide insight into thoughts and values of engineers around the country. The Web site also keeps archives of both career and policy feature stories that date back to January 2001. [CL]
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Mike's Electric Stuff [.avi]
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/
Mike's Electric Stuff is a popular Web site with various odds and ends about electronics and related equipment. Ever wondered just how much fun microwaving a CD can be? That's just the beginning of the wild things you can find. The site is divided into three main sections: antique glass (e.g., nixie tubes and neon lamps), Tesla coils and high-voltage stuff, and miscellaneous items such as lasers. Detailed instructions are given for several projects (perhaps crazy experiments would be the better term). A particularly well documented project shows how to build old-fashioned nixie tube clocks, and printed circuit board layouts are included. This site is also reviewed in the July 19, 2002 Scout Report. [CL]
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Bulletin of American Society of Information Science and Technology
http://www.asis.org/Bulletin/index.html
This publication of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST) is released every two months. Some of the articles are specific to ASIST activities, but most examine issues and "non-research developments" that are relevant to anyone with an interest in this field. The June/July 2002 issue has a special section that reviews the recent Summit on Information Architecture. Another notable article is a follow-up to the fourth part of a five part series titled "Information and the War Against Terrorism." Readers can access all previous parts to this series, as well as complete back issues from seven years past. [CL]
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XML.org: The XML Industry Portal [.pdf]
http://www.xml.org/
The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is widely used for Web design and authoring, and its uses go far beyond the confines of the Internet. It is a versatile metalanguage that is spreading across many different industries. XML.org is one of the best resources of XML information for curious beginners or advanced users. For the first group of people, there are plenty of frequently asked questions lists, tutorials, and articles to get started. The registry contains many specifications and schemas that are specific to a particular industry. To make the collection as comprehensive as possible, developers can submit content to share with other users. In addition to these features, the Web site offers many more useful items. [CL]
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ATM Technology: The Foundation for Broadband Networks [.pdf]
http://www.atmforum.com/
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), one of the key technologies in the transition to broadband telecommunications, is used to transmit "data, video and voice at ultra high speeds." This home page for the ATM Forum is a good place to learn about the technology and its many applications. For people unfamiliar with ATM, the Beginner's Guide to ATM explains some of the basic principles involved in digital communication. More informed readers can download specifications, white papers, case studies, or a user handbook. Those interested in compatibility issues will find discussions of ATM's interworkings with Gigabit Ethernet, DSL, and other wireless mediums. [CL]
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Clean Coal Technology Compendium [.pdf]
http://www.lanl.gov/projects/cctc/
Operated by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, the Clean Coal Technology (CCT) Program works with new coal burning methods of energy generation that minimize environmental impact. The material on this Web site outlines some of the findings of the CCT program. Most of the information is contained in the topical reports, which deal with environmental control technologies, advanced electric power generation, coal processing for clean fuels, industrial applications, and other general topics. There are almost twenty of these reports, and they can be freely downloaded. The quarterly Clean Coal Today newsletter is also available, as well as news updates and Department of Energy Assessments. [CL]
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National Imagery and Mapping Agency [.pdf]
http://www.nima.mil/
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) "provides timely, relevant, and accurate Geospatial Intelligence in support of national security." NIMA's Web site has a wide range of resources in this area, including detailed interactive maps, public access to databases, and publications. The Geospatial Engine, for example, allows custom views of almost any area in the world from regional to local perspectives. An online guide to geodesy provides visitors with an introduction to surveying techniques and geodetic systems. There are also many standards and specifications used by the military that can be viewed online. [CL]
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The Manufacturing Report
http://lionhrtpub.com/tmr.html
Lionheart Publishing, Inc. offers this free report about important happenings in the manufacturing industry. There are feature stories that cover market analysis, management strategies, new and growing technologies, and case studies. Manufacturing products are noted and reviewed as they come on the market. News about major business developments is covered, and dates of upcoming conferences and conventions are often added on the online calendar. The main problem with this site is that it is not updated at a regular interval; however, it is still quite current and a good source for manufacturing news and products. [CL]
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