DARPA Fact File: A Compendium of DARPA Programs [.pdf]
http://www.darpa.mil/body/NewsItems/pdf/DARPAfactfile.pdf
In April 2002, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released this overview of its current work. The report summarizes many of the organization's main programs, which are grouped into three broad areas. The first area details the efforts being made to minimize threats and ensure national security. Development of new technologies and advanced systems is highlighted in the second section, and the third looks at investigations into "high-risk, high-payoff technologies." There are numerous references to the war on terrorism that describe DARPA's involvement and specific projects to defend against terrorist acts. [CL]
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Nanobiotechnology Center [.pdf]
http://www.nbtc.cornell.edu/NBTC_BrochurePrint.pdf
Established in January 2000, the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) is a consortium of several major universities that is headed by Cornell University. Despite being so new, the NBTC has already made many important advances in this area of research. This brochure starts with a good introduction to the principles and uses of nanobiotechnology, and then gives a brief synopsis of the center's work. Some of the research programs described in this document are Selective Molecular Filtration, Bioselective Surfaces, and Molecular Motors. The NBTC Web site has even more information, including research papers and educational materials. Lesson plans for grade school teachers are also provided to let students learn about this exciting science. [CL]
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Computing the Noncomputable [.zip, .pdf]
http://noisefactory.co.uk/cgi-bin/hypercomp/download.cgi?id=4
This research paper, written by Tien D. Kieu of the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, considers the concept of mathematical noncomputability. It proposes a modification to "the Church-Turing thesis for effective computability" that would use physical principles, such as quantum mechanics, in addition to straight mathematics to better define and broaden the class of noncomputable problems. There is specific focus on Hilbert's tenth problem, which is used as an example of a classically noncomputable problem. The document comes zipped; so, a decompression utility is required to extract and view the paper. [CL]
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Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_serial&pid=0104-6632&lng=en&nrm=iso
The Brazilian Society of Chemical Engineering publishes this quarterly journal on research and development in areas related to chemical engineering. In the latest issue, there are nine articles that deal with the topics of process systems engineering, thermodynamics, biotechnology, reactors engineering, and food process engineering. The format and organization of the papers is quite good, clearly showing the equations and figures that accompany the text. All of the articles are in English, and the online version of the journal is free. Five years of back issues can be found in the archive. [CL]
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The Journal of Corrosion Science and Engineering
http://www.umist.ac.uk/corrosion/JCSE/
The Corrosion and Protection Centre at UMIST University in the UK is active in research and teaching, as well as being an important advisory body for industry. The Journal of Corrosion Science and Engineering (JCSE) is a publication of the Centre, which aims to raise public awareness about the cost of damages from corrosion and the inherent savings in implementing protection techniques. The most recent volume has fourteen papers, and more are added as they are accepted. A unique feature of this online journal is the comment submission form. Readers can both add comments to any part of the published papers and read other readers' comments. However, users must give their email address to use this feature. [CL]
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Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism [.pdf]
http://books.nap.edu/html/stct/index.html
Prepared by the National Research Council (NRC), this report on the contributions of science and technology to defend against terrorism is in the pre-publication form. Because the entire document is nearly 400 pages long, it is divided by chapter for easier downloading. The report begins with discussions of different kinds of threats that face the US, such as biological pathogens and nuclear and chemical weapons. Then, it examines more specific dangers to information technology, energy systems, transportation systems, and other infrastructure. The NRC draws conclusions about the current state of readiness, and offers some recommendations to improve what has already been established. [CL]
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2002 PEER Annual Meeting [.pps]
http://peer.berkeley.edu/2002annualmtg/presentations.html
The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEERC) had its annual meeting early in 2002, and the presentations given by researchers and industry experts are available on this site in PowerPoint Slideshow (.pps) format. The first session deals with progress in performance-based earthquake engineering, and the second focuses on advances in structural or geotechnical areas. Though not as detailed as complete research papers, the presentations give many interesting facts about the direction of current research. Most of these presentations are over one megabyte in size, and some substantially larger. It is advisable to have a fast Internet connection when downloading them. [CL]
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A Design Environment for High-Throughput Low-Power Dedicated Signal Processing Systems [.pdf]
http://bwrc.eecs.berkeley.edu/Publications/2002/presentations/des_envr_hgh_thrpt/JSSC02.pdf
This paper, published in the March 2002 edition of the IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, looks at "a hierarchical automated design flow for low-energy direct-mapped signal processing integrated circuits." The author argues that directly implementing signal processing algorithms in hardware uses far less computational energy than software implementations, while still keeping chip area small. Current approaches to design automation are examined and compared to the direct-mapped method. Examples of test chips and preliminary results are also provided, and the author identifies plans for future investigation. [CL]
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Agilent Technologies: Educator's Corner: T&M Fundamentals Corner [.sit]
http://www.educatorscorner.com/tools/fundamentals_corner/index.shtml
Maintained by Agilent Technologies, this large site covers many aspects of electronics testing and measurement. The major categories of instructional material are Basic Electronics, Radio Frequencies/ Communications, Lightwave/ Optics, and Digital Design/ Logic; each of these has several interactive lessons, slides, or Java applets that address specific topics. The exercises teach the underlying theory of the concepts while stressing the importance of good practices and proper equipment use. The site's content is very well organized and is best suited for undergraduates in electrical engineering or a related discipline. [CL]
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Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles
http://www.cut-the-knot.com/
Alexander Bogomolny, a software developer and former mathematics professor, operates this educational and interesting Web site. His intention in creating the site is to help people "learn, if not math itself, then, at least, ways to appreciate its beauty." Although beauty is something most of us generally do not associate with the subject, the material manages to spark creative thinking by providing a fun, original way of looking at math. There are Java games and puzzles representing many different topics. A monthly interactive column called Cut The Knot! describes various abstract mathematical problems and concepts. Some of the topics discussed on the site are quite advanced, but others are relatively simple. [CL]
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Office for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education [.pdf]
http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/
The Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has an impressive collection of Java lessons and curriculum resources for learning about these topics. The office was established "to serve as a model-builder for innovative, standards-based, technology-intensive mathematics and science instruction at the K-16 levels." Most of the lessons focus on geometry, statistics, or algebra; but there are also some that cover science concepts. The activities cover a wide range of subject matter, but they can be tedious to browse because there are no suggested grade levels. [CL]
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TelecomWriting.com: Journey to the Bottom of Your Rig
http://www.privateline.com/radio/index.html
Most of the content of Journey to the Bottom of Your Rig was originally published in a book about Citizen's Band (C.B.) radio. Now with added comments by the operator of the Web site, it offers an insightful look into the fundamentals of radio and equipment. The reading is light and slightly humorous, and it is suitable for anyone who wants to know how a radio works. A radio's transmitter and receiver are examined, and the operation of the main components of each are described. More detailed discussions of the oscillator and the principle of modulation are given by the site's creator. [CL]
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AI Topics: A Dynamic Library of Introductory Information About Artificial Intelligence
http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/aitopics.html
This site, operated by the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), is a great starting point for people who want to learn more about the rapidly growing world of artificial intelligence (AI). AI Topics acts as a central hub for an enormous collection of material that exists on the Web. The links given on the site offer a wide range of information, including basic definitions of AI, discussions about related philosophical issues, journal articles, and current research. The news section is particularly useful, as it is updated frequently with new developments. Most of AI Topics are geared toward high school students, undergraduate students, people with little knowledge of the subject, and people interested in pursuing a career in AI. [CL]
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PT3Now [RealPlayer]
http://www.pt3now.org/
"PT3 NOW! is a television and radio series that investigates the relationships between education and technology." The televised version of the program looks at how schools have to adapt to incorporate technology into their curriculum, while the radio version focuses on general education issues. Many past episodes of both series are given on this Web site in Real Audio and Video formats, and new episodes are added regularly. Educators from grade school to college can find valuable insights into using technology effectively in the classroom. [CL]
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Real-Life Math, Architecture, and Computers
http://www.math-kitecture.org/
Math-Kitecture, as this site's original name suggests, lets students put their mathematical skills to work in architecture projects and exercises. The main activity has students draw a floor plan of their classroom to scale, and, in doing so, they "learn estimation, measuring skills, proportion, and ratios." They then make a computer draft of their drawings using either a scanner or a computer-aided design package. Once this is complete, students can email their floor plans to Math-Kitecture to have them posted in the online gallery. Other activities include Geometry in Architecture, Design a Fantastic Bedroom, and Walk Through a 3D Building. [CL]
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Aerodynamics for Students [.xls, .m, .f, .zip]
http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/aero/contents.html
This Web site serves as an online aerodynamics textbook for college students. Offered by the department of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Sydney, the material is divided into several main categories. These include fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, gasdynamics, aircraft performance, and propulsion. Each of these sections has many specific topics that are discussed in detail. There are MATLAB, Excel, and FORTRAN files and data sheets that accompany the reading, but they are best used as reference and are not needed to understand most of the material. [CL]
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Voices Of Innovation [.mp3, .pdf]
http://www.voicesofinnovation.org/
First broadcasted in Spring 2002, Voices of Innovation is a daily public radio program organized by the American Association of Engineering Societies. Each program is relatively short -- between two and three minutes long -- and looks at important achievements and current developments in the world of engineering. The program's Web site has five sample stories that have been previously aired, which can be downloaded to get a feel for what types of topics are covered. One looks at a new kind of prosthetic hand, while another deals with earthquake engineering. The site could be improved by adding more samples, but because the program is broadcast daily, this is not a major problem. [CL]
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IEEE Virtual Museum [Flash, QuickTime]
http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created this site to give people a good historical perspective of the harnessing of electricity and the implications it has had on society. There are currently three exhibits. One is about the basics of electricity and how it was discovered, another concerns sound recording, and the last details the life and inventions of Thomas Edison. Each of these exhibits has several stories that explore a particular topic. A search engine allows queries of the entire site, separating results into four different categories. For example, a search for "transistor" produces results for related stories, important people, technologies, and historic events. [CL]
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Committee on ICANN Evolution and Reform
http://www.icann.org/committees/evol-reform/links.htm
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) (last mentioned in the November 17, 2000 Scout Report ) has this page about a large movement to reform the organization and its practices. The original mission of ICANN was "to create an effective private sector policy development process" to manage the Internet domain name system. The documents given on this site explain why this implementation has been inadequate, and they look at current discussions about what should be done to reform ICANN. There are many working papers listed, the most recent being ICANN: A Blueprint for Reform, which was released June 20, 2002. [CL]
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Sea Launch [.pdf]
http://www.sea-launch.com/
Sea Launch is an international satellite launch service company that has a unique way of delivering payloads into space. With the launch platform situated on the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a specially designed rocket propels satellites into orbit with very good accuracy. The Sea Launch home page has plenty of information about its operation, including an overview of the technology, statistics about its successes and failures, and Webcasts of many of its launches. A 200+ page user's guide goes into detail about all the various stages of a mission; everything from design considerations for the spacecraft to transportation to the launch site is mentioned in the document. [CL]
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Charles Babbage Institute: Center for the History of Information Technology
http://www.cbi.umn.edu/index.html
The Charles Babbage Institute (CBI), located at the University of Minnesota, emphasizes the importance "of the history of information technology and information processing and their impact on society." One of the most interesting parts of the CBI Web site is the Cray Research Virtual Museum exhibit, which showcases many of the supercomputing giant's accomplishments over the last half century. In the collections section, oral histories of many prominent computer scientists are given with complete interview transcripts. These transcripts tell the personal stories of the people who made the computer industry what it is today. There is also an interesting look at the history of computers in Hollywood, citing examples of movies that use computers as key plot elements. [CL]
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Office of Transportation Technologies: Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies [.pdf, .asx]
http://www.cartech.doe.gov/
The Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies (OAAT) is a conglomeration of all light vehicle technology research and development of the US Department of Energy. Divided into separate teams for energy conversion, energy management, and vehicle systems, the office continually updates its Web site with news about its work. There is detailed information about electric vehicle batteries, fuel cells, alternative fuels, and emissions that are being investigated at OAAT. Additionally, a library of progress reports, fact sheets, and technical reports can be downloaded free of charge. The office's involvement in FreedomCAR, a government program to research emission-free vehicles, is also documented. [CL]
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dspGuru: Digital Signal Processing Central
http://www.dspguru.com/
dspGuru is a site dedicated to digital signal processing (DSP) designers. It has a good collection of resources for both beginners and seasoned users. Many open-source software titles can be freely downloaded, ranging from implementations of DSP algorithms to compilers and other software development tools. Five frequently asked questions lists cover some important DSP subjects, like finite and infinite impulse response filters and Fourier transforms. There is also a section called Tribal Knowledge that is filled with common techniques and tricks that experienced DSP designers know, "but isn't in the textbooks." [CL]
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Multimedia Home Platform [Flash, .pdf]
http://www.mhp.org/flash_index.asp
The Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) "defines a generic interface between interactive digital applications and the terminals on which those applications execute." This gives different digital content providers the freedom to address any type of terminal, regardless of the end user's hardware. While the movement toward this kind of standard is not popular yet in the US, it is gaining momentum across the globe. This Web site lists the applications of MHP and provides many papers about the ongoing development of the system. There are also updates about its progress, and news about different areas that are implementing the technology. [CL]
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Cryptography
1. Kids' Page: Puzzle Solvers at Cryptic Manor
http://www.nsa.gov/programs/kids/
2. RSA Laboratories' Frequently Asked Questions About Today's Cryptography, Version 4.1
http://www.rsasecurity.com/rsalabs/faq/
3. Handbook of Applied Cryptography [.pdf, .ps]
http://www.cacr.math.uwaterloo.ca/hac/
4. Cryptographic Algorithms
http://www.ssh.fi/tech/crypto/algorithms.html
5. Quantum Cryptography in Norway [.pdf]
http://www.vad1.com/qcr/
6. Center for Democracy and Technology: Encryption
http://www.cdt.org/crypto/
7. Microsoft Hard at Work on 'Vault'
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,53466,00.html
8. Journal of Cryptology [.pdf]
http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00145/tocs.html
Cryptography is an ancient science, but, with the rise of the information age, computers have brought it to a whole new level. Online privacy and national security both depend on encryption, and maintaining a strong standard is more important than ever.
The National Security Agency (NSA) maintains a fun and educational site for kids (1). Children can navigate through Cryptic Manor and solve puzzles of varying difficulty levels. Many common questions about cryptography are answered by RSA Security Inc. (2). These include applications, legal issues, and techniques. For a more comprehensive guide, try the Handbook of Applied Cryptography (3). The book is given in its entirety at this site, and it goes into great detail and explains many complex topics. Some commonly used cryptographic algorithms are briefly explained here (4). The material is relatively straightforward, and it is part of a larger resource called Cryptography A-2-Z. A research project in Norway about quantum cryptography is described at this page (5). In addition to information about the project, several research papers are also offered. The Center for Democracy and Technology maintains this site about cryptography and its role in government (6). US policy, legislation, and a history of court cases are documented that stress the importance of online security. An ambitious undertaking by Microsoft, intended to provide ultra-secure information exchange, is described in this article (7). Unveiled at the end of June 2002, the project already has many skeptics, despite working in conjunction with Intel and other major companies. The Journal of Cryptology (8), a quarterly publication of the International Association for Cryptologic Research, focuses on various research topics in information security. [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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