Tech OnLine [RealPlayer, .pdf]
http://www.techonline.com/
Tech OnLine is a veritable haven for electronics engineers and information technology professionals. After completing the free registration process, users have access to live and archived Web casts, online courses, and technical papers. An example of the roughly hour-long Web casts is a touchscreen liquid crystal display design, but this is just one area of many. The site is continually updated with feature articles that cover many different hot topics, including a recent look at fourth generation wireless communications. A discussion forum is also available, but it does not seem to be very active. [CL]
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Two on SpaceShipOne
Private Manned Space Plane Unveiled
http://www.msnbc.com/news/902224.asp?vts=041920030925
Scaled Composites [.pdf]
http://www.scaled.com/
On April 18, 2003, an historic event in space travel was marked by the unveiling of the first private manned spacecraft and launch platform (called SpaceShipOne and White Knight, respectively). Already constructed and in the test flight stage of its development, the project was hidden from the public in order to reveal a finished product rather than just schematics. The news article describes the in-flight demonstration of White Knight and the systems testing of SpaceShipOne. Scaled Composites, the private company that developed the spacecraft, gives data sheets and photos on its homepage. A detailed list of frequently asked questions addresses many issues regarding the project and its implications. [CL]
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Government Technology [.pdf]
http://www.govtech.net/
This informative Web site has a host of resources about government technology practices and issues. The main page is updated daily with news stories about homeland security, Internet trends, and more. An online magazine is published monthly; for example, the April 2003 issue has an interesting article on computer systems that monitor online activity and whether they justify Big Brother concerns. The Govtech.net library offers free access to white papers and case studies. [CL]
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Light Reading: 10-Gigabit Ethernet
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=29823
Published on March 18, 2003, this report provides an excellent insight into the expanding 10-Gigabit Ethernet technology. The author starts by explaining what 10-Gigabit Ethernet is and what applications are likely to be the first to take advantage of its advanced, high-speed protocol. A market analysis examines current trends of the technology's growth and suggests what the future might hold. A more detailed description of 10-Gigabit Ethernet is then given, highlighting differences between it and its predecessor. Several illustrations and clear descriptions make the material not overly technical in nature. [CL]
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Bruce Clay, LLC: Search Engine Optimization [.pdf]
http://www.bruceclay.com/web_rank.htm
Anyone who has ever wondered how online search engines determine the order of appearance of Web sites can learn about the complex process here. Web site ranking is more than a curiosity, however, as it can be very important to companies that depend on online recognition. Therefore, this site is also useful because it contains detailed instructions about how to achieve and maintain a high rank. A series of eleven steps are outlined, which must be endlessly repeated to make sure that a Web site's rank does not slip. Even for people who do not have a Web site, this material provides an interesting glimpse into the dynamics of search engines. [CL]
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Discovery Channel: Extreme Engineering [Flash]
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/engineering/engineering.html
Extreme Engineering is a program on the Discovery Channel that unveils "some of the most ambitious architectural plans of our times." The projects highlighted in each episode come from locations around the world. Some are in the planning stages, while others are only theoretical. This Web site serves as a companion to the television broadcasts and has interactive multimedia tours that offer a glimpse of what the projects would look like when completed. An underwater train tunnel linking New York and London, a massive skyscraper city in Tokyo, and a bridge over the Bering Strait are just some of the remarkable projects featured. The online elements are added after the corresponding episode is aired. [CL]
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Sandpile.org
http://www.sandpile.org/
This Web site is a great reference for any assembly language programmers of the 32- or 64-bit x86 architectures. It has complete information about register locations and contents, instruction operation codes, and data representations. Details about interrupt and exception handling, as well as reset states, are also given. Aside from the architecture descriptions, profiles about specific implementations are offered. All major processor manufacturers are represented here, with facts about physical and electrical characteristics, clock frequencies, and more. The documents section is not accessible to the public. [CL]
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SIAM News Online [.pdf]
http://www.siam.org/siamnews/
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) online news journal "brings educators and users of mathematics a publication that helps them keep up with the latest developments and issues in their working environment." Released ten times a year, SIAM news includes technical articles, updates about research and scientific breakthroughs, and more. With a broad range of writers and contributors, the publication can be useful for anyone who is part of the math community. [CL]
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