General
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/tr100_1003.asp
This special report from the October 2003 issue of Technology Review highlights "100 innovators [age] 35 or younger whose technologies are poised to make a dramatic impact on our world." Each of the 100 honorees falls into one of four categories: computing, biotechnology and medicine, Internet, and nanotechnology. A brief bio of each innovator is provided along with the basis for his or her selection. A separate section of the report mentions a few people who were recognized in past years and tells about their current activities and accomplishments. Note that a brief registration is required to view the report. [CL]
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1576/
This Web site provides full text of the 2003 book New Challenges, New Tools for Defense Decisionmaking. The book examines the transformation in U.S. foreign and defense policy spurred by the end of the Cold War and, more recently, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Although many legislative matters are discussed, significant attention is given to current and future technologies and information management. For example, one chapter of the book considers the Soldier of the 21st Century and what advances in special operations could be seen in the future. The virtual battlefield and information warfare are discussed in another chapter. Unfortunately the book cannot be downloaded in a single file. [CL]
http://greatstructures.wox.org/
Great Structures of the World is unlike similarly themed Web sites in that it does not focus on a single type of structure. Skyscrapers, bridges, tunnels, and even more exotic human creations are included in this information and picture archive. Users can browse through structures in Asia, Canada, Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere. Features include the world's largest indoor ski area, the world's largest offshore gas platform, and the world's largest radio telescope array. Several facts and links to additional information accompany each structure. The only major downside to this site is that it does not have more extensive information about the selected structures included internally. [CL]
http://www.asee.org/neic/efs/default.cfm
Cosponsored by three prominent engineering societies, the Engineers Forum on Sustainability was founded to "help promote the principles and practice of sustainability." The forum's newsletter can be viewed at this site. It contains information on worldwide activities and developments in the field of sustainability, including educational initiatives, environmental protection programs, international conferences, and more. The July 2003 issue features a special guest article written by the President of the World Federation of Engineering Societies, who touches on issues of sustainable development, technology transfer, and the role of engineers in developing countries. The newsletter is released roughly three times a year. [CL]
Anyone who has ever owned a laptop has probably used a removable PC card at some point. The organization that created the original standard, the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, has developed a new standard in these input/output cards. Called the ExpressCard, it will be smaller and faster than its predecessors. This Web site has a great deal of information on the ExpressCard, including physical dimensions, performance characteristics, and other specifications. Since this technology was only recently announced and is not expected to be integrated into commercial products until the second half of 2004, many updates and news releases are likely to be added to this site on a regular basis.
ACM Queue is a magazine of the Association for Computing Machinery, and its online version is available at this site. The publication strives to intelligently assess "the challenges expected to arise in the near term as emerging capabilities or technologies gain widespread acceptance." While it is targeted at computing professionals, many of its features are of interest to a general audience since they provide key insights into future trends and developments within the industry. The first issue of ACM Queue was published in March 2003, and since then each issue has focused on a central theme. These themes have ranged from data storage to embedded systems to open source software. Interviews with notable industry professionals are also occasionally featured. [CL]
http://www.spaceandtech.com/index_current.html
Space and Tech is a Web site that provides news and market analyses related to the aerospace industry, but perhaps its most useful resource is its database of launch vehicles, rocket engines, satellite constellations, and more. The database highlights specific systems, both existing and planned, and offers information about their operational status, milestones, and technical function. About thirty expendable and ten reusable launch vehicles are profiled. Other ventures, such as the unsuccessful Iridium satellite telecommunications system, are also featured. The database gives a fairly comprehensive view of current space operations. [CL]
Communicar is a project of the Information Society Technology program whose goal is to "design, develop and test an easy-to-use on-vehicle multimedia Human-Machine Interface." Visitors to the Communicar Web site can download documentation about progress made, journal papers, and magazine articles. A virtual prototype can also be explored online, but this feature unfortunately lacks the depth of other sections of the site. Substantial information related to technologies used in the Communicar project and similar industry developments can be found at the Multimedia Innovation Telematics Observatory (MITO) homepage, which is hyperlinked several times from the Communicar Web site. A brief, free registration is required to access the main features of the site. [CL]
