EETimes Network: The Worldwide Electronics Resource
http://www.eetnetwork.com/
EEdesign (last mentioned in the February 15, 2002 NSDL Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology is one of many Web sites that are part of the EETimes Network. This new resource for electrical engineering (EE) and electronics professionals integrates the online versions of global technical newspapers. It also serves as a central access point to sites for specific industries that are part of the EETimes Network. For instance, there are features for communications, analog design, embedded systems, semiconductors, and microwave engineering. All of this provides an excellent way to keep up to date on breakthrough technologies, market developments, and business dealings. This site is also reviewed in the August 16, 2002 Scout Report. [CL]
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Humanoid Robot [QuickTime, RealPlayer, Viewpoint Media Player]
http://world.honda.com/robot/
Honda is widely known as a major car manufacturer, but it is also an innovator of new robot technologies. The company's "humanoid robot research and development plan" seeks to create a highly mobile, intelligent robot with the potential to benefit society. After many years of work, considerable progress has been made, and this is described in detail on this site. An overview of the development of three prototypes -- the P1, P2, and P3 -- is given, and some specifications are provided for the later two. Visitors to the site can view movies of the robots in action, or examine the newest prototype, ASIMO, in 3D. ASIMO rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on February 14, 2002, and a news article of this story is presented on the site. [CL]
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IPWatchdog.com: Internet Law Page [.pdf]
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/internet.html
Gene Quinn, a professor of law and patent attorney, operates this site about Internet law. There are several categories to browse, such as cybercrimes, encryption, MP3s, constitutional law, and many more. Some examine individual court cases, federal acts and rulings, and related news. Others simply provide an overview of the topic, with basic definitions and links to offsite resources. Many government documents and Web sites are listed that address these issues. The site also has sections for intellectual property law and antitrust law. Publications, journal papers, and news articles are offered for all of these topics. [CL]
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Future Fab: International [.pdf]
http://www.future-fab.com/
Future Fab International offers a large selection of articles and white papers related to the semiconductor industry. With contributors from hundreds of companies and an editorial board comprised of IBM, Intel, and Texas Instruments representatives, it is a well respected publication. The last six volumes are currently online, with about 280 white papers listed. Articles deal with many aspects of fabrication, including wafer processing and contamination control. Major press releases are also given on the site. Future Fab is an annual publication, according to the Web site, but it appears to be released twice per year. [CL]
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Consumer Electronics Association: Digital America
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/digital_america/default.asp
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the publisher of Digital America 2002, a diverse assessment of digital technology penetration into the US consumer market. Digital technology is a very broad term, which is why this report covers a wide variety of products and services. Specific market analyses are given for items ranging "from handheld computers and personal video recorders (PVRs) to wireless phones and MP3 players." Besides looking at the trends that are shaping the future, Digital America considers the history that made current advancements possible. This report is very well presented online, but it cannot be downloaded as a single file. [CL]
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The Panama Canal [Flash]
http://www.pancanal.com/
Among all the engineering feats of the 20th century, the Panama Canal was certainly one of the greatest. The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) provides this home page, which contains a vast amount of information regarding the canal's origins and current affairs. Most visitors to the Web site will be mainly interested in the complete history of the canal. This begins with early plans by the Spanish in the 1500s, and documents all progress until the final completion in 1914. An impressive photo gallery includes historical pictures and panoramic views of four main locations, and a live camera shows the boat traffic in the canal at ten second intervals. Other resources such as maritime operations and news articles are also available. [CL]
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Federation of American Scientists: Intelligence Resource Program [.pdf, .doc]
http://www.fas.org/irp/index.html
Founded in 1945 by members of the Manhattan Project, the main commitment of the Federation of American Scientists is to end "the worldwide arms race." This section of its Web site has extensive information about US and international intelligence resources and the threat of terrorism, many of which are technology related. For example, chemical and biological weapons are discussed in several documents. There are also cryptographic and security systems highlighted, as well as overviews of classified aircraft. A wide assortment of news articles, government reports, and official documents are provided, including a recent report about "the acquisition of technology relating to weapons of mass destruction." [CL]
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Mike's Hardware
http://www.mikeshardware.co.uk/
This site is a good place to find information about future computer components and software. The most useful feature of Mike's Hardware is its often-updated roadmap of the commercial computing industry. It has tentative release dates and specifications for microprocessors, chipsets, graphics processors, operating systems, and memory technologies. Products for both industry and home use are covered. This information can be especially important when considering the right time to buy in the constantly changing market. The roadmaps extend past 2005, but dates are much less firm beyond about a half year. Current prices for Intel and AMD CPUs are also given. [CL]
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