10th Goddard Conference on Mass Storage Systems and Technologies, 19th IEEE Symposium on Mass Storage Systems [.pdf]
http://romulus.gsfc.nasa.gov/msst/conf2002/toc.html
These conferences, held jointly by NASA and the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in April 2002, focus on current investigations into mass storage technologies. Presentations and papers submitted at the conferences are provided on this Web site, coming from representatives of such notable organizations as IBM, Seagate, Hewlett Packard, the National Center for Super-computing Applications, and various universities. Hot topics discussed include holographic data storage and high speed data recording. There are roughly 30 papers listed as well as presentation slides, revealing many important developments in the storage systems field. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
The USC/ISI CONRO Project: Spider Link Models [.pdf, .ps, .mpg, .avi, QuickTime]
http://www.isi.edu/conro/
The Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California is developing a remarkable type of reconfigurable robot. These devices are comprised of interlocking parts that, in the most basic arrangement, resemble a snake; however, the robots have the ability to reconfigure themselves and "grow a set of legs or other specialized appendages." This site offers a large collection of video clips that show the robots in operation. Many recent research papers are also available that address specific technical issues. An irritating problem with this site is that some of the links are restricted and can't be viewed by the public, but there is still plenty of information that can be accessed. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Base Isolation [Real Player]
http://www.xi1.com/baseisolation/index.html
Base Isolation is a construction technique that maintains a buildings stability in the event of an earthquake. This method does not focus on reinforcing the buildings structure per se; instead, it allows the base to slide back and forth while keeping everything above relatively motionless. The design section of this Web site provides 34 pages that describe base isolation and give detailed derivations and equations of the processes involved. The pages can be selected from the small numbered links on the right side of the screen, which are easily overlooked. A good video demonstration of base isolation is shown in the Earthquake Protection section. There is also information about the techniques inventors. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
The Electronic Journal of Combinatorics [.pdf, .ps]
http://www.combinatorics.org/
This free electronic journal focuses on current research in combinatorics. The material included in the journal is quite substantial; over 20 papers from mathematicians around the world comprise the latest volume. Each paper describes rigorous proofs, algorithms, and other issues related to the authors investigations of combinatorial theory. There is also a section with numerous combinatorics surveys; these are less technical and provide a good background on various topics, such as combinatorial games and Venn diagrams. New papers are accepted often, and those wanting to stay up to date can sign up for automatic email notification. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Verificationlib.org: Bringing Simulation and Formal Verification Together [.pdf]
http://www.verificationlib.org/
This Web site is the home of the Open Verification Library, "an initiative to provide designers, integrators and verification engineers with a single and vendor-independent interface for design validation." The 200+ page document can be downloaded at no charge after providing an email address. There are many library definitions given, with example modules of the assertions in both Verilog and VHDL languages. These predefined modules can be used by the designer regardless of the type of verification tool being used. The latest release of the library was March 2002, and many high profile companies such as Synopsys and Hewlett-Packard support the initiative. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Journal of Graph Algorithms and Applications [.pdf, .ps.gz]
http://www.cs.brown.edu/publications/jgaa/
The Journal of Graph Algorithms and Applications found at this Web site is the electronic version of the scientific journal with the same name. It is a collection of research papers dealing with the "analysis, design, implementation, and applications of graph algorithms." The current volume consists of select papers presented at the 1999 Symposium on Graph Drawing, which have since been revised. Previous volumes are archived on this site as well, and they can be freely accessed. Almost any discipline requires some sort of graphical representation, and specific uses of graph algorithms in various fields are addressed in this journal. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
10 Gigabit Ethernet Technology Overview White Paper [.pdf]
http://www.10gea.org/10GEA%20White%20Paper_0502.pdf
Released by the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance in May 2002, this white paper discusses 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology and the development of the forthcoming standard. 10GbE is ten times faster than the current support for one gigabit per second, and it has the potential to be a dominant form of network technology. The report summarizes some of the key similarities and differences between 10GbE and previous Ethernet protocols. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers created a task force to define the standard for 10GbE, and the criteria it is using in this process are briefly outlined. Once the information outlined in this document is put into practice, the demand for higher bandwidth should, at least temporarily, be satisfied. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
The Center for Networking and Distributed Systems
http://www.cnds.jhu.edu/
The Center for Networking and Distributed Systems and John Hopkins University "focuses on the interplay between theory and practice in distributed systems and networks." There are many resources on the centers Web site, including numerous research papers and publications. One of the papers listed will appear in the IEEE International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems in July 2002. Many of the centers research projects are described, which are investigating areas such as distributed clustering and metacomputing. There is also specialized software that can be downloaded free of charge under certain conditions. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
About MEMS Technology
http://www.memsnet.org/mems/
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are tiny machines that integrate "mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronicsthrough the utilization of microfabrication technology." This site provides a good introduction to MEMS, how they are built, and how they operate. The most descriptive section is The Beginners Guide to MEMS Processing, which explains the processes of deposition, lithography, and etching. For each of these, there are illustrations that show what happens at the microscopic level. Other sections tell the history and current direction of research and development, as well as the challenges that face this growing technology. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
DSL Life: DSL Tutorial [.doc, .pdf, .ppt]
http://www.dsllife.com/dsltut.htm
High speed Internet access is becoming extremely popular, and this site has a lot of information about one of the most common connection methods, DSL. The frequently asked questions (FAQ) list is good for people wondering how the technology works, or for those considering subscribing to a DSL service. The DSL Tutorial is a series of slides that summarizes some of what is covered in the FAQ, but also provides more details about the new industry standard G.Lite ADSL. The White Papers section has a few documents on certain DSL issues, and another section offers some tips for home networking. There is also a glossary of terms that provides brief explanations of common technical jargon. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
TILU Table of Integrals Look Up
http://torte.cs.berkeley.edu:8010/tilu
For high school and college calculus students, integrals can be extremely tedious and mind-numbing. Text books usually offer some sort of table defining a few of the common integrals, but they are often too short and poorly arranged. This useful site, operated at the University of California at Berkeley, puts an end to mindless searching through print versions of integral tables. Simply input an integral, and the result is displayed in seconds. The interface is quite easy to use, and permits Lisp, Mathematica, or user defined entry formats. Both definite and indefinite integrals are allowed, but there are some limitations to using definite integrals. The documentation for using the system is somewhat limited, but the examples given ease the learning process. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
World Wide Web Pages for Dam Design
http://www.dur.ac.uk/~des0www4/cal/dams/fron/contents.htm
This site is a very informative and well presented resource for dam design, primarily intended to give undergraduates or anyone interested in the subject a solid introduction to the basic concepts. Maintained at the University of Durham in Britain, there are many sections that provide a good overview of the many processes involved in building a dam. Many different types of dams are described in detail, including concrete and embankment dams. Hydrology and geology, important factors that need to be considered when choosing a suitable location, are also covered. The layout of the site is fairly good overall, but navigating the many sections and subsections can sometimes get confusing. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations: An Overview and Applications [.pdf]
http://pde.fusion.kth.se/
As part of a distance learning course at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, the majority of this site can be used by anyone on the Internet. The material is probably best used as a supplement to a differential equations course, since the most useful resource is the online textbook. This begins with an introduction to ordinary and partial differential equations, and then goes into more complicated topics, such as finite differences, Fourier Transforms, and Lagrangian methods. There is also a Java applet that performs many functions related to differential equations. To access the video lectures, registration and payment are required; however, the textbook can be freely viewed online or downloaded as an Acrobat file. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Genesis Press Room: Video Releases [Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, QuickTime]
http://www.genesismission.org/mission/mediarelease/
The Genesis Mission (last mentioned in the August 14, 2001 Scout Report) has this page of videos about the mission and its progress. Of particular interest is the eleven minute educational video about cleanroom technology. This discussion arises from the need for a contaminant-free environment to construct the spacecrafts solar collectors. The video starts by describing common measures of airborne particles, and comparing these to what is required for the NASA cleanroom. Then, the design of such facilities is explained, including techniques for circulating airflow. Cleanroom suits and helmets are also shown, which minimize human skin cells and respiratory contaminants. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Optics for Kids [Flash, .pdf]
http://www.opticsforkids.org/
The Optical Society of America operates this creative site where children can learn all about optics and its applications. Entertaining chameleon characters guide users through many sections of the site, explaining various concepts and suggesting activities. There is a large selection of educational articles about common phenomena, such as holograms, kaleidoscopes, reflection, and refraction. Examples of everyday occurrences of optics are also explored. The Optics/Laser Lab goes to two offsite resources; one requires free registration and the other requires downloading a special plug-in. Lesson plans for teachers are given on the site as well. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Homework for Kids
http://www.hwforkids.com/
Homework for Kids is a great way for elementary and middle school students to practice their math skills, or for teachers to get some ideas for assignments. It does not have any instructional material as such, but this is not the purpose of the site. Instead, it is simply a large (over 350 pages) collection of exercises to reinforce mathematical concepts learned in the classroom. Several sections divide the site into different subjects and varying levels of difficulty. Some sections cover basic arithmetic, fractions, decimals, set theory, and algebra. Answers are provided for the majority of the topic areas. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
CITRIS Distinguished Speaker Series [Windows Media Player]
http://www.citris.berkeley.edu/yunus.html
The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) provides this visionary and inspiring speech given in April 2002 by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank. His humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh and Southeast Asia over the past two decades have focused on helping impoverished people, particularly women, to make a living. The first half of his speech deals with the economic issues that led to the formation of the Grameen Bank, a very unique bank that gives loans to the poor. The second half considers information technology. Specifically, Dr. Yunus states that power and money currently control the direction of IT. A better way, he suggests, is for it to be controlled by everyone, so that it benefits everyone. To corroborate his views, he details the success of making mobile phones available to the poor. Note that it makes no difference which part of the speech is chosen (part 1 or 2), as both links give the speech in its entirety. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
The Transition to Digital Television [.pdf]
http://www.ncta.com/pdf_files/WhitePap4-2002.pdf
The National Cable and Telecommunications Association has prepared this document that summarizes the transition to digital television (DTV) in the U.S. The report, delivered in April 2002, assesses the countrys progress toward greater digital coverage and more widespread DTV programming. After a brief introduction to the technology, the report gives some background on the broadcast industrys efforts to hasten the transition and the challenges that remain. Then the changes in the cable industry are examined, including upgrades and the carriage of digital signals. Lastly, the report covers consumer response -- the sales trends of DTV sets show steady growth for the technology, but the overall transition is not proceeding as quickly as some people speculated. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Cell Phone Facts: Consumer Information on Wireless Phones
http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/
A joint operation between the Federal Communications Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, Cell Phone Facts is a thorough overview of wireless telephone technology and the associated health effects related to its use. There is a long list of common questions and answers sorted into various topics, such as safety standards, research results of radiofrequency energy, and interference with medical equipment. A glossary of wireless phone terminology clarifies some technical phrases and concepts. Several short reviews of recent research studies are also presented. In addition to the many facts about wireless phones, there is also some information about base stations and the elevated radiofrequency levels near them. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Answering the Call: Communications Lessons Learned from the Pentagon Attack [.pdf]
http://www.pswn.gov/library/pdf/Answering_the_Call_Pentagon_Attack.pdf
In the aftermath of September 11, many agencies and organizations have reflected upon specific aspects of the events to assess how prepared they were and what can be improved in the future. This report of the Public Safety Wireless Network (PSWN) Program "summarizes the state of interoperable communications among emergency incident responders at the Pentagon crash site." The findings of the report are based largely on a study conducted by the PSWN (included in an appendix) that was distributed to many agencies that responded to the disaster. The report discusses the results of the study, considers the lessons learned, and makes recommendations to improve interoperable communications systems. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Space & Communications [Flash, RealPlayer]
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/flash.html
Boeing plays a key role in the scientific exploration of space, and has for many years. On this Web site, Boeing outlines numerous projects and developments currently underway. There are five general areas of the site, which include launch and orbital systems, human spaceflight and exploration, global connectivity, integrated battlespace, and missile defense. Each of these sections offers detailed information about specific products and research. There is extensive material about the International Space Station, space shuttle design and potential upgrades, and satellite systems. Image galleries and videos are also included, illustrating the exciting work being done for government and commercial applications. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Sal.ve: Activities for the Safeguarding of Venice and its Lagoon
http://www.salve.it/uk/
Venice has a longstanding reputation for being one of the most romantic cities in the world, but land subsidence and a rising sea level threaten its ecosystem and general wellbeing. Extensive information on the safeguarding of this historical city is given on this site, which is maintained by the Venice Water Authority. Engineering aspects of current efforts are discussed in some sections of the site. For instance, one report gives details of the mobile barriers project, which is hoped to protect the area from the most frequent high waters by temporarily closing the inlets to the lagoon during storms. Both English and Italian versions are available, but the Database of Interventions is given only in Italian. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Hughes: The Source Magazine
http://www.thesourcemag.com/
The Source is a quarterly publication that covers important events, projects, trends, and innovations in the construction business. The magazine, which is offered both in print and online, is certainly not lacking content; each issue has numerous feature articles and stories about different industry segments. Some general categories include building materials, electric utilities, plumbing, and water systems. The online version of The Source has no advertisements to speak of, and is very well presented. Past issues are archived on the Web site, dating back to late 2000. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Connections 2002: The International Home Networking and Residential Gateways Showcase [Windows Media Player]
http://www.ishow.com/demo/connections2002/
Connections 2002 was a recently held event that showcased some of the latest developments in home networking technology. While the products demonstrated at the event are definitely not for the average consumer, it is interesting to see what innovations could become commonplace in the near future. This Web site gives videos of industry representatives talking about various products. Many of the items are used as all-in-one controls for household appliances, lights, and electronics, while others incorporate revolutionary ways of networking computers. A new home wiring technique is also highlighted, which brings multiple signal types (e.g. fiber optics, coaxial, telephone, etc.) to one outlet location. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
Air Transportation
1. Celebrating the Evolution of Flight [Shockwave]
http://www.flight100.org/
2. Celebrating a Century of Wings [QuickTime]
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/
3. Dryden Flight Research Center: Education Homepage [.pdf]
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/trc/
4. Air Transport Association: The Airline Handbook Online Version
http://www.airlines.org/public/publications/display1.asp?nid=961
5. Aerospaceweb.org
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/
6. FanWing: A Revolution in Flight Technology [.mpg]
http://www.fanwing.com/
7. Ground and Flight Evaluation of a Small-Scale Inflatable-Winged Aircraft [.pdf]
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/DTRS/2002/PDF/H-2471.pdf
8. Airworthiness Assurance Nondestructive Inspection (NDI) Validation Center
http://www.sandia.gov/aanc/AANC.htm
Air transportation is vitally important to the world's economy, as well as the thousands of people each day who make routine, long distance trips. While it is easy to take this convenience for granted, it is almost impossible to imagine life without it.
Nearly a century has passed since the Wright brothers momentous flight, and preparations for next years celebration are already underway. Two sites provide information about scheduled events for the festivities and help raise awareness of the history of flight. The first is operated by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) (1), and the other serves as the home page for the congressionally mandated Centennial of Flight Commission (2). The AIAA site has more background information, with a detailed timeline, biographies of flight pioneers, and interactive activities. The later site has video and sound clips, as well as details about webcasts that will be held for the celebration. A lot of educational materials are offered at the Dryden Flight Research Center (3). There are in-depth sections on flight testing and aeronautics, and many links to other useful resources are also given. The Air Transport Association (4) maintains an extensive handbook on several aspects of air transportation, ranging from economic view of the airline industry to the principles of flight and air traffic control. Technical specifications, design characteristics, and images are given in the aircraft museum on this site (5). Additionally, there are discussions of aerospike engines and hypersonic theory. A remarkable innovation in aircraft design is described here (6), the creators of the FanWing home page. This technology generates lift with "a horizontal-axis wing rotor," a technique that has not been successful until now. Details of the FanWing operation, including videos and news articles, are provided on the Web site. A NASA technical publication (7) documents the test results of a small, inflatable-winged aircraft. This unique design is thoroughly explained in this report, complete with diagrams that illustrate the components and operation of the craft. The Airworthiness Assurance Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center at Sandia National Laboratories (8) has a long history of assessing airplane conditions, and its work can be crucial to flight safety. The center's Web site discusses the accomplishments made since its inception. [CL]
[Back to Contents]
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:
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/about/team.html
