HighLift Systems [.pdf]
http://www.highliftsystems.com/
An elevator to space might have seemed impossible a few years ago, but now, the feasibility of building one is being seriously investigated. With the recent carbon nanotube breakthrough, the scientific hurdles involved in making a space elevator are nearly manageable. HighLift Systems is studying the technical aspects, and its Web site has many fascinating resources on the subject. Many frequently asked questions are answered that shed light on specifics of the elevator's design. Reports and presentations from NASA and HighLift Systems are free for download. Some history of the idea's origin and its evolution are given, as well as updates on the project's status. This site is also reviewed in the September 13, 2002 Scout Report. [CL]
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Wise Drives [.pdf]
http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/hughes/WiseDrivesSpectrum.pdf
Appearing in the August 2002 issue of IEEE Spectrum, this article considers the potential advantages of adding processing power to computer hard drives. By shifting the burden of such common tasks "as searching and encryption" from the CPU to the hard drive, the author argues that significant performance improvements would be realized. Using a hard drive for more than just data storage would require some changes to existing standards, but could result in more opportunities for manufacturers. The author goes into detail about the implications of intelligent disk drives and suggests some potential useful features. [CL]
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UQ News Online: News Releases Found: HyShot [Windows Media Player]
http://www.uq.edu.au/news/hyshot.phtml
HyShot is a program of the University of Queensland in Australia. Its purpose "is to achieve the world's first flight test of air-breathing supersonic ramjet engines." This technology could dramatically reduce the cost of space launches of small payloads. Several recent developments of the HyShot program are documented on this site, including a news story about a successful test launch on July 30, 2002, that achieved supersonic combustion. A photo gallery and a few videos show some highlights of the project, and another video gives an overview of the experiment. [CL]
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Research Programs: Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures [.pdf]
http://www.isiscanada.com/
Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures (ISIS) is a joint program between several Canadian universities. Its work is spread across such disciplines as "civil, mechanical, materials, aerospace, and electrical engineering." The ISIS Web site has detailed information about four main research focuses, including fibre optic sensors, remote monitoring, innovative structures, and structural rehabilitation. Some examples of the organization's projects are also given. Most deal with bridge reinforcement, but some describe work on power plants and containment structures for a nuclear reactor. A biannual newsletter can also be downloaded. [CL]
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National Nanofabrication Users Network: A Sampling of Research 2002 [.pdf]
http://www.cnf.cornell.edu/nnun/2002nnunreports.html
The National Nanofabrication Users Network (NNUN) recently released this collection of abstracts describing many current research topics. When looking at the table of contents, the diversity of work in nanofabrication is immediately apparent. Over 80 projects are summarized, and many disciplines are engaged in research -- physics; biology; and chemical, electrical, mechanical, and nuclear engineering. Carbon nanotubes and microelectromechanical devices are just two of the many cutting edge technologies being investigated. Individual abstracts or the complete collection can be downloaded. [CL]
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IBM Research: Blue Gene [.pdf]
http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/bluegene/
This is the home page of an IBM research and development project that is designing a supercomputer, called Blue Gene/L, capable of 200 trillion floating point operations per second. According to the Web site, this specification "is larger than the total computing power of the top 500 supercomputers in the world today." Working in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, IBM expects the project to be completed by 2005. There are a few publications and presentations given about the status of the project and its uses. There is also a fact sheet and several industry links about protein folding, which is the main application of Blue Gene/L. [CL]
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One Year Later: September 11 and the Internet [.pdf]
http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=69
Published on September 5, 2002, this report looks at how the September 11 terrorist attacks affected online content and changed the way Americans feel about Internet use. The 65-page document is divided into seven chapters, and its findings are based on research and surveys by the Pew Internet Project. Some of the material describes Americans' views on electronic information protection, such as government policies to withhold sensitive information. Another important topic addressed in the report is how Americans have changed the way they use the Web. From "do-it-yourself journalism" to online religious expression, this report might be one of the most comprehensive analyses on the effects September 11 had on the Internet. [CL]
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Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems
http://gen-iv.ne.doe.gov/
The Generation IV Nuclear Energy System is a project of the US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology. While certainly not ready for production, the current roadmap proposes that they be ready for demonstration by 2030. The Generation IV will offer "advantages in the areas of economics, safety and reliability," and sustainability. This home page of the future nuclear power plants mainly offers information on the 30-year process. A large collection of documents deals with technology goals, system development, and possible concepts that will ultimately lead to a new standard for nuclear energy production. [CL]
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Plus Magazine: Issue 20
http://plus.maths.org/index.html
"Plus is an internet magazine which aims to introduce readers to the beauty and the practical applications of mathematics." It is published in conjunction with the Cambridge-based Millennium Mathematics Project. The current issue addresses a wide range of topics that include fluid mechanics; probability; and the true, original purpose of the Game of Life. Besides several feature articles, each issue also has fun puzzles, mathematical curiosities, and a news section. The news items take a mathematical perspective of current events or recent scientific investigations. Plus is released about once every other month, on average, and all the back issues are kept in an online archive. [CL]
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C# Computing
http://csharpcomputing.com/
Microsoft's C# programming language, which was integrated into the recent Visual Studio .NET release, is the main subject of this instructional Web site. Maintained by the C# Computing company, the site's most useful section is .NET tutorials. There are 21 lessons that provide an excellent start toward fluency in the language. Some concepts covered in the tutorial include recursion, exceptions, and numerical methods. Each lesson gives a brief discussion of the topic and code examples, and some also list the output of a given program. As a side note, there are two short lessons that touch on HTML and XML. [CL]
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Wavelets: Seeing the Forest and the Trees [.pdf]
http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.article.asp?a=1952
Released on February 25, 2002, this article from the National Academy of Sciences' Beyond Discovery online magazine "describes the development of the mathematical modeling technique known as wavelets." Used in image compression and digital signal processing, wavelet functions are important for computer graphics and animation. The article is very well organized and can be understood by anyone with a modest math background. The few scientific and mathematical terms used in the text are hyperlinked to a wavelets glossary. Examples of wavelet applications are given, describing their use in animated movies and FBI fingerprinting. The final section of the article looks at the future of wavelet theory. [CL]
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e-Learning Network: Information Technology Fundamentals [Flash, QuickTime]
http://elearning.asu.edu/itf/
The e-Learning Network is a "nationwide integrated training program" developed by Arizona State University and Cisco Systems. This Web site offers several instructional modules free for public use. These modules are intended for people that are going into an IT related field. By making the material available to anyone, more people will pass certification exams and hopefully ease the shortage of skilled IT workers. Ten modules are currently on the site. They cover many different concepts, such as networking, peripheral devices, motherboards, storage media, and more. New material is added to the site often. [CL]
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What is Holographic Storage? [.pdf]
http://www.inphase-technologies.com/technology/index.html
InPhase Technologies, a company based outside of Denver, Colorado, recently unveiled the product of several years' research. Its "holographic data storage media" is shown to be capable of much greater storage capacity than DVDs, and is scheduled for a limited commercial release in 2003. This page on the InPhase Web site explains some of the underlying concepts involved in holographic storage. There are two main sections: one is a brief overview of the technology's features and benefits, while the other is a more thorough description of the process of reading and recording data. A video demonstrating the technology is planned to appear on the site. [CL]
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Nut and Bolts: Introduction [.pdf]
http://www.mediafestival.org/NutsBolts02.pdf
The 36th Annual California Student Media and Multimedia Festival was held in June 2002. As a handout for the festival, Hall Davidson created the Nuts and Bolts of Digital Video. This document explains how "to integrate videos, VCRs, audio, and computers" to produce quality presentations. The material addresses many types of equipment, so it can be useful even for people with older equipment. Analog and digital video capture are the first topics, followed by exporting video and sound issues. A number of different plugs and interfaces are covered, including USB, Firewire, and RCA plugs. A bonus section describes how to integrate video downloaded from the Internet. [CL]
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Math Central [.pdf]
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/
Math Central is maintained by the math and education departments at the Canadian University of Regina. Possibly the most valuable section of the site is the Resource Room, which has an impressive database that is separated into materials for elementary, middle, and secondary schools. There are several specific categories for each education level, such as math history, algebra, geometry, problem solving, and many more. Users can email suggestions for additional topics. Another interesting section is the monthly problem, and submissions are accepted and posted online. Most of the site can be viewed in English, French, or Spanish. [CL]
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CTER White Papers on Technology Issues for Educators
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/wp/
These white papers (last mentioned in the October 29, 1999 Scout Report), originally created in 1999 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have been updated for summer 2002. There are seven educators' guides in all, with topics on accessibility, Web evaluation, censorship and free speech, privacy, commercialism, intellectual property, and computer crime. The 2002 addendums to the guides offer fresh perspectives to each of these issues, as they were written by different K-12 educators than those who made the previous versions. Many of the sections deal with concepts related to current events, such as cyber terrorism. [CL]
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E4: Engineering
http://www2.e4engineering.com/
E4: Engineering is a large news site based in the UK. It combines the content of six industry magazines, with themes of general engineering, design engineering, process engineering, metalworking production, control and instrumentation, and integrated manufacturing solutions. Many articles describe important breakthroughs and new products, while others deal with government policies, university research, or business news. Nearly every engineering discipline is covered, and they can all be browsed through a convenient channel bar. The site is usually updated daily. [CL]
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ONERA [.pdf, QuickTime]
http://www.onera.fr/english.html
ONERA is the acronym for the French Aeronautics and Space Research Center. The center's home page has extensive information on scientific activities in which it is engaged. An interactive tour gives users an overview of applications and methods resulting from research. Six future technologies, like the suborbital spaceplane and the lunar observatory, are described in "the ONERA 2025 vision." A large collection of scientific publications can be searched, and full text of the documents is given in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Some short video clips that show project tests and implementations can be viewed. The site can be viewed in either French or English. [CL]
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SupplyChainLinkExpo 2002 [RealPlayer]
http://prescle2002.unisfair.com/
The SupplyChainLinkExpo will take place on October 16th and 17th. It is a free online event with "information and exhibits targeted to professionals involved in design and engineering, planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and supporting technologies." Features will include seminars by industry keynote speakers, Webcasts, multimedia exhibits, product information, and live interaction. Presentations are scheduled for representatives from IBM, Honeywell, Microsoft, and 3M, to name a few. An online registration, with a brief questionnaire, must be completed to take part in the conference. [CL]
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M Commerce Times
http://www.mcommercetimes.com/
While e-commerce was one of the hottest technologies of the 1990's, m-commerce, or mobile commerce, is the current dominating industry. This Web site is the home of M-Commerce Times, an online newspaper that focuses on mobile infrastructure, wireless technology, services, and other industry developments. Some of the common headlines feature Bluetooth applications and third-generation (3G) data services. One section of the site provides market analyses and assessments of trends in the m-commerce community. Besides technology news, there is also a focus on business plans for expanding existing services or implementing new ones. [CL]
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Storage Networking Industry Association [.pdf]
http://www.snia.org/tech_activities/bluefin/
Bluefin is a new application programming interface (API) "for discovering, monitoring and managing devices on a Storage Area Network." Many leading companies are participating in the Storage Management Initiative, which will develop the Bluefin specification. This Web site has information on the SMI work, including background documents on Bluefin technology and its importance. There is also a white paper, released on August 13, 2002, that describes many of the details of the specification. Some of the material focuses on the Common Information Model standard, which was developed by the same organization and is the basis of Bluefin. [CL]
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Whole Building Design Guide
http://www.wbdg.org/index.asp
The National Institute of Building Sciences is developing the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG). While not yet complete, there is already a substantial knowledge base for building professionals to draw upon. The purpose of WBDG is to help designers "improve the performance and quality of their buildings by following the guidance and recommendations provided within the categories of this web site." There are sections for specific building types and design objectives. Eventually, WBDG will have a broader range of categories, as well as a separate section devoted to products and systems. The site has been updated several times this year, and many more resources are planned. [CL]
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Web Standards Project
http://www.webstandards.org/
Led by the World Wide Web Consortium, the Web Standards Project is an effort to make "technologies for creating and interpreting web-based content." These standards allow many types of languages and object models to be compatible on different browsers and platforms. The project's home page has many resources for users to learn about standards and guidelines. Some of the major topics include HTML, XML, Cascading Style Sheets, and accessibility. An informative section on Web browsers compares the standards compliance of eight popular browsers. Special email addresses of some browser manufacturers are also given, so users can report bugs to help improve the quality of the software. [CL]
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Welcome to the World's Longest Tunnel Page
http://home.no.net/lotsberg/index.html
This Web site contains information on hundreds of the world's longest tunnels. There are four main categories that list facts about road, subsea, railway, and canal tunnels. Each of these sections can be browsed in its entirety or separated into individual countries. The data is presented in tables and includes years of construction, length, depth, and gradient. Future projects are also shown, and many of the tunnels have links to sites with further information. A problem with the site is that not all the tables are sorted the same way. Some are sorted by length, others by opening date. Despite this flaw, the Longest Tunnel Page is an excellent resource. [CL]
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Pollution Control
1. Air Pollution Control Technology Handbook [.pdf]
http://www.engnetbase.com/ejournals/books/book_summary/summary.asp?id=493
2. Helping You Engineer a Better Environment
http://www.pollutionengineering.com/
3. Environmental Technology Verification Program: ETV Centers [.pdf]
http://www.epa.gov/etv/centers/index.html
4. How Recycling Works: Back to the Future [.pdf]
http://www.abcrc.com/HRWorks/Default/frameset
5. Environmental Research and Technology Division [Shockwave]
http://www.dne.bnl.gov/ewtc/
6. Clear the Air
http://www.cleartheair.org.hk/
7. Technology Fuels Recycling Plant
http://sci.newsfactor.com/perl/story/17926.html
8. NETT21 (GEC Environmental Technology Database)
http://nett21.unep.or.jp/gec/database/
Pollution takes many forms, such as ground, air, and water pollution. To make the environment pleasant to live in, certain methods are needed to clean up pollution or, even better, to prevent it all together. Several technologies and engineering techniques are regularly employed to keep pollution in check.
The Air Pollution Control Technology Handbook (1) takes an in-depth look at many types of systems used in control equipment. Although the link on the page only shows the table of contents, each entry is hyperlinked to the full text. The online version of the Pollution Engineering magazine (2) has news and information about environmental control issues. A monthly publication, it stresses the economic benefits that can be realized with proper practices. Eight environmental technology verification centers can be accessed from this Web site (3). Operated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the centers focus on greenhouse gas technology, advanced monitoring systems, water quality protection, air pollution control, and more. Recycling is something that many people do to reduce waste, but few know what the process of recycling involves. This educational site (4) provides a good overview of aluminum, glass, plastic, and polycoat recycling. Brookhaven National Laboratory operates this page (5), which offers extensive information on its environmental research and technology focus areas. Some sections describe work in decontamination and decommissioning, waste form development, and risk assessment. On September 8, 2002, a news report reported that the air pollution in Hong Kong, which is notorious for poor air quality, reached an all-time high in August since monitoring began in 1995. Clear the Air (6) is a project that hopes to reverse this trend by introducing pollution control measures. The project's home page has information on the situation in Hong Kong, as well as facts about the risk of air pollution in general. Another news article (7) describes the recent construction of a computer shredding plant in Chicago. Since computer disposal is a major problem in the US, recycling this technological waste is increasingly important. The operation of the system is quite impressive. The Global Environment Centre Foundation's Environmental Technology Database (8) has specifications and documentation on many types of pollution control equipment and technologies. Much of the information is about Japanese applications. [CL]
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Below are the copyright statements to be included when reproducing annotations from The NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology.
The single phrase below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing any portion of this report, in any format:
From The NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, & Technology, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/
The paragraph below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing the entire report, in any format:
Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2002. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the National Science Foundation.
For information on additional contributors, see the Internet Scout Project staff page:
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