Students and Fresh Graduates Corner

Why Does the New Google Phone Have a Barometer in It?

2011-10-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Buried in the avalanche of features in the newest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, was the addition of a new sensor to accompany the standard GPS, proximity, and accelerometer: a barometer. It's one we'd never have thought to add to a smartphone, and we sat for a little while, scratching our heads at the possible use for a sensor that tests atmospheric pressure. So we talked to the experts over at Weather Underground, and got a better sense of what this is--and, more importantly, what it is not.

WHAT'S A BAROMETER?

A barometer is an instrument used primarily to test atmospheric pressure--essentially the weight of air. Invented way back in the 17th century, barometers now come in a few different forms. There's the water-based kind, very similar to the original invention: a sealed glass container with a narrow spout, half full of liquid. Then there's the aneroid barometer, which uses a small cell made of a beryllium/copper alloy that expands or contracts based on atmospheric pressure. But the most modern, smallest barometers, the kind almost certainly used in the new Galaxy Nexus phone, are digital.
Digital barometers are tiny--they're often found in dedicated GPS units and even in those rugged outdoorsy watches--and replace all mechanical parts with a simple pressure-sensing transducer, which measure pressure in Pascals. Of course, these digital barometers have to be calibrated to deliver an accurate reading; you somehow have to be able to give the barometer a constant that is correct. Often that's done by entering your precise elevation, though over time the barometer will suss out the correct readings.

WHY IS IT IN MY PHONE?

I spoke to Jeff Masters, the director of meteorology at Weather Underground, to find out why Google might have chosen to include this surprising sensor in their new flagship phone. His immediate answer? Altitude. "I would expect," he said, "someone will write an app to determine your change in altitude based on your barometer reading." This could be of a lot of use to hikers who want to see how many feet they've climbed, or people curious to find out the pressure inside a train or plane. The phone's always-on internet connection would allow some sharing and crowdsourcing of data, as well. "It would also be cool if you could share your pressure readings with a bunch of other smartphone users to get a super-dense picture of the pressure changes due to an approaching thunderstorm, cold front, or hurricane," says Masters.
But the main use for a barometer is a lot simpler, and a lot more subtle. Says John Celenza, the lead meteorological developer at Weather Underground, "the barometer is probably used on the phone to aid in correcting altitude measurements by the GPS." In other words, the barometer is more likely than not intended to be a source of supplemental data for the GPS sensor, adding altitude measurements for increased accuracy. The atmospheric pressure is directly related to elevation, so a barometer can very easily be used as an altimeter, measuring your altitude.

WHAT CAN'T IT DO?

Our immediate thought upon hearing that Google was implanting a barometer in smartphones was a revolution in weather forecasting. It'd be like a meteorologist, right in your phone! That weather app of yours would get a shot in the arm of pure, hard data, based on exactly where you are, not the closest weather station. You'd be able to crowdsource weather readings to find out what the weather is all around you!
Those are a bit optimistic, it turns out. According to Celenza, "barometric pressure does not change greatly over a small geographic area. For instance, when people calibrate their weather station barometer, they use the nearest airport's barometric pressure reading." The barometric pressure is unlikely to change very much even over several miles, in terms of assisting with weather prediction. "We do not immediately see," said Celenza, "how having a fine-grid of barometric pressure readings is going to substantially help forecasting." So you can forget about having a tiny meteorologist in your pocket.

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

This isn't to say that the barometer could never be used for all those cool weather forecasting dreams we had. In concert with a few more sets of data, a phone equipped with a barometer really could deliver accurate forecasts for your specific time and place. "If phones could somehow accurately sense temperature, wind speed, and direction, that would be a game-changer," says Celenza. Many smartphones already pack an internal thermometer to sense and regulate the phone's guts--it's not very far-fetched at all to imagine an external thermometer that could measure the outside air.
Wind speed and direction, well, that's a bit harder. The bulky anemometer, invented way back in 1450, is still in wide use, and as a large mechanical device would be pretty hard to translate to a digital form. But there are already wind sensors for our smartphones--apps that use a phone's microphone to hear wind speed. Direction could be sussed out from the phone's position (use the GPS and gyroscope for that), and the microphone can measure speed.
All in all, it's not hard to imagine an all-in-one solution that puts a miniaturized weather station right in your smartphone. And a huge grid of to-the-second weather information could be a pretty amazing resource.

New algorithms to reduce the amount of processing calculation

2011-10-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

Toshiba's newly developed technology has two main characteristics. Firstly, the image processing algorithms have been re-worked, leading to significantly less amount of calculations for image processing.

Figure 1:Spatial restriction of the visual disparity being searched

Toshiba's new algorithms are as follows. Generally, stereo vision aligns and matches images captured by two cameras, one on the left and one on the right, so that they correspond to the same single point. The matching process is usually performed by calculating the degree of similarity to the summation of absolute values of brightness difference in the target region (the search window). Toshiba, in this process, employs a method called "recursive computation of correlation measures" which utilizes calculated results that were obtained in the immediately preceding operation. As a result, a visual disparity map is to be obtained with fewer calculations.

Figure 2:Example of input images and visual disparity map

In addition to the above, Toshiba was able to reduce the amount of calculation by restricting the visual disparity search space for which visual disparity should be calculated. It works this way; the pedestrians and cars to be detected exist on the road's surface, and have a limited height. The road surface is used as the lower limit, and the height of target objects is set to the upper limit, meaning that the searched region is restricted exclusively to the area in between these 2 planar surfaces (Figure 1).

New algorithms implemented to LSI

Another feature to note about Toshiba's new technology is that the developed algorithms have been implemented to Toshiba's 'Visconti' LSI, allowing high-speed processing performance. Implementation to the processor LSI was conducted in the following way.
Stereo image processing usually adjusts the input image so that the search line conforms to the screen's scanning line. This process of adjustment or correction is known as parallelization. And there are processing 4 modules in Visconti; one is a coordinate conversion module, and the remaining three are processing modules. Toshiba has assigned the coordinate conversion module to parallelizationm, and the remaining 3 processing modules to visual disparity calculation with balancing the load of the three modules equally.

Table 1:A comparison of processing times

To evaluate the performance of the LSI, Toshiba created a visual disparity map from the input images of 320 x 240 pixel resolution, with a visual disparity range 18-pixel and a search window 7 x 7 pixel. The result was that the processing speed per frame was 15.47ms, achieving a 25% faster search than a full search

Detecting cars and pedestrians with stereo image processing technology

2011-10-18T01:38:00.001-07:00

oshiba's Corporate Research and Development Center has developed high-speed and highly precise stereo image processing technology for automotive applications. This technology will lead to the development of a system that warns the driver of any impending danger of collision by detecting other cars and pedestrians on the road.
Toshiba's newly developed technology employs a technology called "stereo vision", which measures the distance to a particular object, based on the visual disparity that arises when this same object is viewed from 2 different angles. In addition to being able to measure the distance to the object in question, use of this technology also enables cropping the target object. This feature makes stereo vision technology suitable for patterns recognition and movement detection. For example, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation are already adopting safety technology that uses stereo image recognition in their 'Legacy' and 'Lexus' model vehicles.

Aakash Cheapest Android Tab in India

2011-10-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal is going to launch the cheapest Tab on October 5. This little cost device is directed hit the market via HCL. before lots of delays the 3G Android Tab is going to be clutched by everyone at last.
The Tab has fully touchscreen with built-in keyboard. It’s going to fire up the whole country as it supports Android OS. But the Android version is not yet revealed. Along with the keyboard the device holds 2GB RAM memory and looking at the power condition of India the Tab will be powered by 2 Watt system.

This Made in India Tab is manufactured by Datawind Ltd along with Tata. You can fill the form available in the official site of Aakash to get more information and order a Tab for yourself at cheaper price.

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- Audio out: 3.5mm jack / Audio in: 3.5mm jack
- Display and Resolution: 7” display with 800×480 pixel resolution
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- Connectivity and Networking: GPRS and WiFi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g
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- Web browser – Standards Compliance: xHTML 1.1 compliant, JavaScript 1.8 compliant
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Only Rs.2,999 for the UbiSlate
Monthly internet charges: Rs.98 / 2GB
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- GPRS: Embedded modem eliminates the need for external dongles and allows Internet access everywhere
- WiFi: Allows fast Youtube videos at hotspots
- Fast web access even on GPRS networks, across the country using DataWind’s patented acceleration technology
- Web, Email, Facebook, Twitter and much much more!
Multimedia Powerhouse:
- HD Quality Video
Watching movies in the palm of your hand on a 7” screen
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Applications Galore with Android 2.2:
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There is no other touch-pad tablet or computing device anywhere near the price of the UbiSlate
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What’s New in Apple’s iPhone 4S? – Review

2011-10-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

After countless rumors and speculations, the long wait for Apple’s newest iPhone has finally come to an end as Apple finally introduced the iPhone 4S. Though the news may have disappointed some people who were expecting an iPhone 5, it does not mean that the iPhone 4S is just a replica of its predecessor, the iPhone 4, as it is loaded with new features of its own. iPhone 4S may have the same design as iPhone 4 but it has a faster processor, upgraded camera, and a voice-activated software called Siri. In addition, the iPhone 4S will not be exclusive to AT&T and Verizon Wireless as Apple has added Sprint as their newest carrier, thus expanding their target users.
The Siri software will allow the users to send messages and make phone calls by just using their voices. Apple guarantees that Siri is capable of understanding what they say and answering them back. Users do not have to talk in a certain way they can communicate with Siri just how they communicate with other people normally. Siri can also help the users to do things like remind them of their appointments and search the Internet to look for information they would need. It can also familiarize itself with all the people in the contacts, thus, if the user ask Siri to send a message to a particular person, it will be able to do so.
As for the iPhone 4S processor, the A5 dual-core 1GHz with a dual core GPU, which is also used in the iPad 2, can provide a faster and better graphic performance than iPhone 4. This is a huge help with it comes to opening apps, surfing the Internet, playing games, etc. This new processor also allows the iPhone 4S to provide a longer battery life. Moreover, this new iPhone can also provide 6 hours of browsing over 3G, 8 hours of talk time over 3G, 9 hours of browsing through Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video playback, 14 hours of talk time over 2G and 40 hours of music playback. This processor has also helped the enhancement of the iPhone 4S camera.
The new 8 megapixel camera is definitely a tremendous leap from iPhone 4s 5 megapixel camera. It has an autofocus, flash, f/2.4 aperture lens and a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor enabling the camera to gather more light. It also has a hybrid IR filter that helps improve the color accuracy. Users can rest assured that their pictures taken by this iPhone will look brilliant no matter where they view it. In addition, iPhone 4S can also take pictures in both low-light and bright light and it can also take pictures of moving subjects with less blur. Users would also be able to capture pictures fast as iPhone 4S can allow them to take pictures from the Lock screen. Moreover, photo editing can already be done in this iPhone right away easily. Lastly, this camera can capture 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second.
You can get some iPhone 4S deals now, or check out these iPhone 4 deals which have been reduced.

Smartphone Security: How to Keep Your Handset Safe

2011-10-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, a phone was just a phone: It simply made and received calls. The only security you worried about was if someone had picked up in the other room to listen in.
Flash forward to 2011, and the line between phones and computers has all but vanished. In fact, your smartphone is likely more powerful and feature-rich than your desktop computer was just ten years ago.
With that increased utility, though, comes more vulnerability. Having a wealth of information--personal and otherwise--in your device makes your phone a target, and as the bad guys ramp up their efforts to infiltrate it, the good guys are gearing up their efforts to keep the bad guys out.

Does Smartphone Security Really Matter?

The short answer is yes, absolutely, more and more. The degree to which it matters, however, depends on the individual user, or the individual company.
Threats to your mobile security are not always easy to see. They range from the simple (such as when someone finds your phone and reads all of your e-mail) to the highly complex (such as Trojan horses, viruses, or third-party apps that share your personal information).
Here are some common security risks, with tips, tricks, and tools to combat them.

Don't Lose Your Phone

This may seem like a no-brainer, but don't put your phone down on a bar (especially if you work for Apple and have a prototype that no one is supposed to see). If you're in a public area, don't put it in a pocket or an open bag where it's visible and could be grabbed easily. Obvious suggestions, sure, but these kinds of on-the-street situations account for most cases of phone theft.

Your First Line of Defense

Set your phone to lock, or time out, after a certain period of inactivity, requiring a password to get back in. All of the major smartphone operating systems support this function.
You'll want your password to be something hard for you to forget and easy to type since you'll enter it frequently throughout the day, yet difficult for someone else to guess. Anything containing your name, information found on a driver's license, or a number as simple as "1234," for example, are not good passwords.
Here's how to find time-out settings on various smartphone OSs:

Android: Previously, Android supported only pattern unlock (in which you draw a pattern to access the phone), but with version 2.2 of the OS, it now supports PINs and passwords. From the home screen, press Menu, Settings, Location & Security, and under Screen Unlock you'll find many options for setting passwords. To set the screen time-out, however, you must go back to the Settings menu and this time click Display. (Hint: If you decide to go with the pattern unlock, create a complex one that crosses over itself, or someone might deduce your pattern from the repeated smudge marks on your screen).
BlackBerry: From the home screen click Options, Security Options, General Settings. There you'll see options to enable the password, set or change the password, and set the security time-out options.
iOS: Earlier versions of iOS allow only for a four-digit PIN unlock code (which isn't ideal). Luckily iOS 4 introduced the option to set a longer password. Open the Settings app, and then select General, Passcode Lock. Just above Passcode Lock is the Auto-Lock option, which controls the time-out.
Windows Phone 7: Open Settings, and then select Lock and Wallpaper. From there you can set or change the password, and also set the screen time-out.

Your Second Line of Defense

Graphic: Chip TaylorRemote wipe, plus the aforementioned password protection, is the bare minimum that most IT departments will require, although the specific steps you'll need to take very much depend on the level of security at your company.
Remote wipe means that if your phone is lost or stolen, you can remotely clear all of your data--including e-mail, contacts, texts, and documents--off of the handset, thus keeping that information out of the wrong hands.
You or your IT department can set this feature up for any of the major OSs, as well as use Microsoft Exchange to wipe the device (provided that you have an Exchange account). Those people without Exchange accounts or IT departments have other, simpler options.

Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone 7: If your OS is among one of these, you're in luck, as you can find many fantastic third-party applications that allow you to remotely wipe your device. Lookout Mobile Security is just one example that not only enables you to wipe your device via the Web but also lets you track a lost device through GPS, back up your data over the air, and even scan for viruses. Its basic version is free, but to enable advanced features such as remote wipe you will have to pay for a Premium account ($3 a month or $30 a year). You'll encounter big players in the security-app game, too; for instance, NotifyMDM, Symantec, and Zenprise sell multiple-mobile-device management systems to companies.
iOS: iPhone remote wipe is a bit trickier. If you have iOS 4.2 or higher, you can simply download the Find My Phone app from the App Store, and enable it in MobileMe in the Settings app. If you lose your phone, you can log in using MobileMe via Apple's Website to track it, display a message, or wipe it. If you have an older version of iOS, though, you'll need a paid MobileMe account, which costs a steep $99 a year. Plus, you'll have to enable the function by going to Settings, choosing Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and clicking Fetch New Data then Enable Push. Afterward, return to the 'Mail, Contacts, Calendar' screen and select your MobileMe account.

Note that all of the apps and services mentioned in this section, as well as other tools (such as Mobile Defense and Where's My Droid?), can help you find your phone via GPS. These apps have drawn attention lately, as their usage has led to the arrest of several thieves and carjackers.

Trojan Horses, Malware, and Viruses

"As there gets to be hundreds of millions of smartphones out there, that becomes a bigger target for attackers," says Ahmed Datoo, chief marketing officer for Zenprise. His firm creates software that enables a large company's IT department to scan all devices in the system at once, remotely, to make sure no malware has snuck in.
"We have seen a rise in malware across the board for all platforms. Lately it’s been focused on the newer devices with greater adoption: iOS, Android," he says.
And if you’re thinking that kind of thing results only from installing pirated software from sketchy Websites, be forewarned that attacks can also occur in official app stores.
What should you do? Consumers should turn to third-party apps once more. If you're on Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7, again consider Lookout: It scans your phone for malware and spyware, even examining any application you download. That said, it could still miss a nasty SMS or MMS script, so think twice before you open an MMS item from someone you don't know. Symantec, which makes business-level products for virtually every mobile platform, also creates consumer-level tools for Android and Windows Phone 7; more software like Mobile Defense is emerging, too.
iOS doesn't really have antivirus apps available on a consumer level, relying instead on Apple's stringent App Store policies to keep out malware. Considering the scale and speed at which apps are submitted and approved, though, things are bound to slip through the cracks. The potential for human error is just too great to deny. On iOS you can use the Trend Smart Surfing app, which blocks access to Websites known to contain malware or potential phishing attacks. It would be nice to see more protection for various inboxes, though.

Third-Party Apps That Share Too Much

When you install a third-party app, you grant it certain privileges. Those privileges may include access to your physical location, contact information (yours and that of others), or other personal data. Most of the time an app will be fine, but how do you know what its makers are doing with those privileges and your information? The short answer: You don’t.
Most phone OSs try to handle this problem with a centralized application-store screening process, attempting to weed out any bad eggs before they get in. Again, however, undesirable things slip through.
Android takes a different approach, having looser central control but providing the end user with more information. Before you install an application on Android, the app must ask you for specific permissions. Don't simply ignore such messages. If you're just trying to install a simple wallpaper, ask yourself why it needs access to your contacts and your location. Be judicious when granting permissions.
Additionally, with all platforms, always pay close attention to app ratings and read the comments to see what other users have said. If an app has merely 50 downloads and a two-star rating, do a little digging and find out why. The best protection here really is common sense. Failing that, Lookout Premium can provide you with an overview of the permissions you have granted.
Even major companies including Facebook and Pandora have been sharing (read: selling) more user information than was commonly thought. Your options are pretty much limited to avoiding these applications or starting a letter-writing campaign.

Which OS Is the Most Secure?

There is no easy answer to this question. All of the major smartphone OSs have made significant strides in the last year.
"From an enterprise control and security standpoint, BlackBerry is still the gold standard," says Khoi Nguyen, director of product management for mobile security at Symantec. RIM's phones also feature advanced, devicewide encryption--including for the SD Card--that's cleared for usage at some of the highest levels of government.
Yet in the last six months Apple and Android have expanded support for security management, and more companies appear comfortable using them, Nguyen adds. Also, to enable further security, device manufacturers such as HTC and Motorola have added proprietary software on top of the various OSs their phones support.
With Windows Phone 7, Microsoft is following a similar strategy to that of Apple and Google in that it's starting out by keeping its mobile OS consumer-focused. The company is likely to add more business-friendly security in days to come, however.
One of the biggest holes in Android's security that's slowing its mass adoption in the business world is its lack of encryption, especially on the SD Card. That's a significant risk for business users, who save their e-mail attachments on unencrypted SD Cards.
BlackBerry phones offer the option to encrypt SD Cards, whereas iOS and Windows Phone 7 do not currently support removable storage. That said, many companies are willing to accept phones with unencrypted SD Cards, as long as remote wiping is set up. This arrangement will be fine for most consumers, too. It's important to note, though, that in order to wipe a phone remotely, it must be powered on and have a data connection. So if someone pulls the battery out of your Droid before you wipe it, you cannot erase your SD Card.

Smartphone Security For the IT Crowd

The enterprise ecosystem has changed dramatically in the past year. Each end user wants to stick with the device they prefer personally, and they want to use it for work. Denying them that freedom doesn't always go over so well.
"The days of the IT department trying to regulate what devices users can and can't have--that battle is lost. So they should focus on their real mission, which is providing security to their users," says Datoo of Zenprise.
With so many platforms and new devices flooding the market, how can the IT pro at a small company possibly develop software to track them all, and keep them virus-free? More companies are turning that job over to software developers such as NotifyMDM, Symantec, and Zenprise, which enable management of a company's devices from a single interface.
Third-party software allows an IT admin to search all devices at the same time--whether for 5 or 57,000 users--while still accommodating the latest, most cutting-edge phones.
It's a brave, new, constantly evolving world out there. While we have yet to see an attack on smartphones that rivals the scale of PC attacks, attempts are becoming more and more frequent, and they will continue to proliferate. Critical thinking and your browser's search button may always be your best line of defense.

Smartphones of the Future: How They Will Look, What They Will Do

2011-10-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

lexible designs, augmented reality, quad-core processors, and even some artificial intelligence are just a few of the features you can expect smartphones to have in the next five to ten years.

As you're reading this article, developers, engineers, and product designers are working on the next great mobile technology. The mobile world is rapidly changing: Smartphones have gone from portable messaging and email devices to streaming-video machines that surf the Web at blazing speed and have cameras that rival point-and-shoots (and they also happen to make calls). What will smartphones look like in five years? Or ten? What sort of amazing things will they be able to do?

Of course, we have no way to predict exactly how cell phones will evolve (unless some sort of magical crystal ball comes along), but looking at today’s trends and tracking what the geniuses at MIT and other academic institutions are up to can give us a pretty good idea of what’s to come.

Flexible Smartphone Designs

In the animated series Futurama, the character Amy has a cell phone so tiny that she ends up swallowing it. Although the technology inside phones will get smaller and smaller (think nanotechnology), don’t expect any nearly invisible phones anytime soon. According to Ramon Llamas, a senior research analyst at IDC Mobile Devices Technology and Trends, smartphones will stay around the 3.7-inch to 4.3-inch display size. They might become thinner and lighter, but the market won’t see microscopic phones. Displays won’t grow any larger than 4.3 inches, according to Llamas--after all, who wants to carry a tablet in their pocket?
Even so, consumers can’t get enough of display real estate, which is why manufacturers might try to pack in as much display as possible--while retaining the pocketable size. Remember the Kyocera Echo on Sprint? We applauded its innovative foldable, dual-screen design (it sort of resembled a Nintendo DS), but the way the software interacted with the two screens had some issues. Nevertheless, don’t expect this design idea to go away, says Llamas. He thinks we’ll be seeing similar designs--with better execution--in the next five years.
Other phone manufacturers have toyed around with dual-screen phones, too: Some concept designs have a regular LCD or OLED display on one side and an electronic-ink display on the other. Expect future dual-screen phones to be as thin as today’s full-touch phones when folded.
Llamas also expects to see more wearable phones in the next few years. Of course, we’ve already seen James Bond-esque wristwatch phones from a few manufacturers like LG, but they've been exclusively released in Europe and Asia. And future phones won't be limited to the wristwatch form: You'll be able to bend, fold, and shape your phone to whatever design you prefer. Imagine transforming your phone from a wristwatch/bracelet style to a touchscreen style with a full QWERTY keyboard, and then folding it again to slip it into your pocket.
A good example of what future wearable phones could look like is the Nokia Morph, a concept device that showcases the collaboration between the Nokia Research Center and the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre. The Morph uses nanotechnology to create a flexible, malleable electronic device. The Morph is constructed from fibril proteins that are woven into three-dimensional mesh, allowing the whole phone--screen included--to move and bend.
Remember the roll-up electronic newspapers from the movie Minority Report? We could soon see something similar used in cell phone displays. In 2008, HP and the Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University unveiled a prototype of an affordable, flexible electronic display that uses self-aligned imprint lithography (SAIL) technology. Those paperlike computer displays are made almost entirely of plastic, which makes them durable, movable, and portable.

Features of the Future: NFC, Augmented Reality, and...Artificial Intelligence?

Near field communication, or NFC, allows you to make simplified transactions, data exchanges, and connections by touching your phone to an object or another phone. We're just beginning to see NFC chips in smartphone hardware as well as NFC features built into software (at least here in the United States), but you can expect the technology to explode over the next few years. Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread--which most current phones are running--supports NFC, but only a few phones, most notably the Nexus S, have NFC chips built in. Additionally, NFC is primarily used for making mobile payments, something that a lot of consumers might not be comfortable with.
Google has big plans to make NFC even more useful in its next major Android update, known as Ice Cream Sandwich. One of Google's goals with the Ice Cream Sandwich update is to enable what it calls "0-click interaction," which will let you set up peer-to-peer connections via NFC simply by putting two phones back to back. You'll be able to exchange contact information or share Web pages, YouTube videos, and pretty much any other sort of content--without installing a separate app.
At Google I/O 2011, Google's developer conference, the company showed off some cool demos of all the things that Android app developers can do with NFC. One of the demo apps, Sticky Notes, allows users to leave each other notes by touching their phones together. Another demo app, Google Talk Portal, takes you to a random video chat with another device when you touch your phone to an NFC sticker. Perhaps the coolest use for NFC is in gaming: NFC will make initiating head-to-head games incredibly easy--and you won't have to rely on the cellular network.
Augmented reality is another feature we've seen on a few apps here and there, but IDC's Llamas predicts that AR will become a standard, everyday feature in the phones of tomorrow as opposed to being limited to one-off apps such as Google Goggles or the Layar browser. We've already encountered a bit of this approach in the form of Bing's visual search, which is built right into the Windows Phone 7 platform. If you're traveling or just exploring your own neighborhood, for instance, you can point your phone at your surroundings, and the app will display an overlay of historic landmarks nearby.
If you've ever visited Disneyland or any other amusement park, you've probably had a heck of a time locating the restrooms. In the next few years, your phone might be able to not only locate the nearest restrooms but also tell you how long the line is for Splash Mountain. That is, of course, a hypothetical scenario, but Llamas predicts that GPS will go beyond simply giving you driving directions. With faster data networks, GPS will be able to deliver more-accurate, real-time results regarding traffic, weather, events, and so on. The next generation of GPS might be able to pick up your location within a building, as opposed to merely what street you're on.
The industry has heard some buzz about implementing artificial intelligence into smartphones, too. Cool? Yes. Scary? Just a bit. In the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory’s Spoken Language Systems Group at MIT, researchers have developed a mobile system that can automatically comb through user reviews on sites such as Citysearch or Yelp, extract useful information about a particular establishment, and make that information searchable. For example, if you wanted to find out whether a restaurant made good martinis, the algorithm would perform a grammatical analysis of adjective-noun pairs, such as "excellent martinis" or "disgusting martinis."
Lin Zhong, a professor at Rice University's Computer Science program, predicts that cell phones and applications of the future will collect, analyze, and provide relevant data for users--without users' even knowing.
"As we carry [smartphones] along, they collect data, analyze situations, and provide information in situ, as a human companion would do," Zhong writes in Rice University's Computing@Rice blog.

Powerful Chipsets

Last week, Qualcomm announced that it is planning to ship 2.5GHz quad-core smartphone processors as early as next year (though the company didn’t give specific dates). According to Qualcomm, these quad-core systems on a chip will feature Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and FM radio; support NFC and stereoscopic 3D video/photo (capture and playback); and support LTE networks. If we'll be seeing the first devices with these chipsets in just a year, how powerful will such phones be in five years?
Earlier this year, Nvidia shared its Tegra roadmap, indicating that its quad-core chips will be also be shipping in smartphones as early as the first part of 2012. Nicknamed "Kal-El," this system-on-a-chip is said to be five times faster than the Tegra 2 processor, which is used in many current top-of-the-line smartphones and tablets. Next in line is the "Wayne" series (yes, Nvidia has a superhero thing going on with its chips), which the company says will be 10 times faster than the Tegra 2, followed by the "Logan" (50 times faster!) and finally the "Stark" (75 times faster!). The Stark series is slated to be released in 2014, so you can expect to see smartphones become a lot more powerful in very little time.
Unfortunately, the one technology that won't improve is battery life, at least according to Llamas. As processors grow more powerful and as more smartphones switch to LTE technology, your phone's battery life will continue to suffer. The good news is that portable charging products will improve, including cases with extra (and, we hope, longer-life) batteries.
Finally, expect more phone companies to make a bigger push toward going green--in everything from the technology inside the phones to the manufacturing process to the packaging. We've seen a few companies (most notably Samsung) take such steps already, but Llamas predicts that it will become an across-the-board practice for phone manufacturers.
We're just barely scratching the surface here by discussing only design and features. Networks, carriers, and operating systems will look completely different within five years. That's why I'll be following up with another article about the future of network technology. While we can't predict everything that will come, perhaps the best way to get a glimpse into the future of mobile technology is to watch and read science fiction (well, except maybe Futurama). Just look at the Personal Access Display Device, or PADD, from Star Trek, which is essentially a smartphone/tablet prototype! Also, keep your eye on developments coming out of both academic and corporate research labs (look for their blogs) to get a good idea of what awesome mobile technology could be coming down the pipeline.

Latest Invention: The Smallest Laser in the World Created by US Researchers

2011-10-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

The latest invention of American researchers is the laser that claims to be the smallest in the world. They managed to develop the laser by squeezing light into a space that is even tinier than a protein molecule. Their latest invention could be a significant breakthrough in the field of optical technology, making one step closer to nanolasers, which can be used to investigate and manipulate DNA. In addition, the laser can lead to the creation of super-fast computers and improved telecommunications.
The team of researchers was led by Professor Xiang Zhang. He mentioned that the plasmon laser constricts light into a gap that is only 5nm wide. An important step was the ability to detain light in a small space for a specific period of time required for light to stabilize into a "coherent" laser state, having all of its waves synchronized.

It is worth mentioning that plasmons are in fact wave-like movements of excited electrons on the surfaces of different metals. By connecting light to these oscillations, scientists managed to compress it further than usually, reports The Telegraph. More information on lasers and latest inventions you can find here at www.IfoNIAC.com, please check the links at the bottom of the story.
Professor Zhang, from the University of California at Berkeley said: "Plasmon lasers represent an exciting class of coherent light sources capable of extremely small confinement. This work can bridge the worlds of electronics and optics at truly molecular length scales." Their latest invention was described in the online version of the journal Nature. The scientist who co-authored the research, Dr Thomas Zentgraf, from the University's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centre, stated: "The advantages of optics over electronics are multifold. For example, devices will be more power efficient at the same time they offer increased speed or bandwidth."

Whiteman faces big challehges at HP

2011-09-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

No one's counting Hewlett-Packard (HP) out. But by any measure, new CEO Meg Whitman faces a mountain of problems as she takes the reins of the world's biggest-selling tech company.

With $126 billion in revenue last year, more than 320,000 employees and a global operation that ships the equivalent of two personal computers every second, HP is still a force to be reckoned with in the tech industry. But the Palo Alto giant is reeling from recent turmoil in the corner office, a disappointing financial performance and a poorly executed effort to revamp the company's strategy for a new era in tech.
Whitman, the former eBay (EBAY) chief who was named CEO of HP on Thursday, faces two immediate challenges: In her own words, "there is no higher priority" than getting HP on sound financial footing, after a series of downward revisions to its sales forecasts caused a steep slide in HP's stock. In addition, analysts say she needs to resolve the question of whether HP will stay in the PC business after last month's announcement that HP might spin off or sell its $40 billion personal computer division.
"Meg has a huge challenge ahead of her.She is going to face big, big challenges," said Peter Bendor-Samuel of the Everest Group, a tech services consulting firm.Many believe Whitman must clarify what HP's strategy will be. She appeared to straddle the fence last week, saying she supports fired CEO Léo Apotheker's controversial decisions, while backing away from his stated goal of "transforming" the company into one focused on software and cloud computing. HP will expand its software business, Whitman said, but it's not going to stop being a hardware company.
Experts warn that several of HP's core businesses, including computer servers, printers and tech services, are threatened by new trends in the way people and companies use technology. In the most obvious example, many people now use mobile gadgets such as smartphones and Apple's (AAPL) iPad instead of PCs to access the Internet.
Despite that trend, Apotheker decided last month to stop selling tablets and smartphones using HP's webOS software after initial sales proved disappointing. That leaves HP with no major product to counter the iPad's popularity.
Whitman may also find challenges inside the company. Critics say HP is ill-served by a board of directors that approved Apotheker's recent moves. Shareholders have already sued the company over Apotheker's decisions and the recent decline in HP's stock, and they may draw more ammunition from a New York Times report that some board members voted to hire Apotheker last year without ever meeting him in person. Whitman joined the board in January.
Some also warn that the board's hasty appointment of Whitman, after deciding to remove Apotheker last week, may have left other top HP executives feeling passed over and eager to leave.
First, however, Whitman "needs to move swiftly, to communicate what is the future of the PC business and get customers to understand what that future looks like," said Crawford Del Prete, a veteran industry analyst with the IDC research firm.
Confusion over the company's plans for the personal computer business has caused HP's corporate customers to hold off on making large-scale purchases of new PCs for their workers, according to Del Prete and others who track the industry. Dell and other rivals have launched new campaigns to lure away those customers.
HP executives have recently said their preference is to spin off the PC division as a stand-alone company that will work with HP to support its products and customers. Some analysts predict that HP, after reviewing the options, will decide to keep the division in-house because it helps HP sell other tech products and negotiate discounts for components used in other computer systems.
Whitman insisted Thursday that she has an "open mind" on the question, but she also promised a resolution by the end of December. "The best thing we can do is get to a decision as soon as possible," she said. "This decision is not like fine wine. It's not going to get better with age."
As for improving the company's financial performance, Whitman gave no hint of specific plans. Chief Financial Officer Cathie Lesjak said Thursday that HP can meet its profit projections for this quarter but said she has "less certainty" about its sales forecast.
At rival Cisco Systems (CSCO), CEO John Chambers confronted declining sales this year by ordering big spending cuts and trimming nearly 13,000 jobs. Without ruling anything out, Whitman and HP Executive Chairman Ray Lane suggested they can improve on Apotheker's performance by taking a more hands-on stance and getting top executives to work "on the same page."
"We're going to function as a team in a way that we haven't for quite some time here," Whitman vowed.
Wall Street analysts mostly applauded the decision to remove Apotheker, after HP's stock lost nearly half its value during his 11 months as CEO. But several voiced dismay over Whitman's statements endorsing the moves Apotheker announced last month, especially the review of the PC business and the deal to buy commercial software-maker Autonomy for a pricey $10.3 billion.
"Despite naming a new CEO, HP's value-destructive strategy remains unchanged," Deutsche Bank's Chris Whitmore wrote in a note to investors.
Whitman insisted that she was excited about the prospects for Autonomy's software, which helps companies manage and search "unstructured" data such as the contents of emails and audio or video recordings.
But she echoed Lane in disavowing Apotheker's intention to "transform" HP.
"Transformation was probably not a good word," she told this newspaper. While the Autonomy deal might add $1 billion or more in revenue to HP's business, she said, "we have almost $130 billion in revenue largely from hardware and services. So adding $1 billion in software revenue isn't going to transform that business. We are in the hardware business and we're going to continue to own that business."
While Autonomy's technology is useful, analysts say, the acquisition makes more sense if HP buys more companies to fill other gaps in its software offerings. Whitman gave no indication that she will pursue other deals, but many believe Autonomy's cost will make it difficult to swing another big purchase for a while.
HP, meanwhile, is one of the world's biggest suppliers of server computers and other tech gear for corporate data centers, as well as computer printers and technology services. But analysts note that each of those businesses is under pressure from new trends.
Profit margins are shrinking in the server business. Printing growth has slowed. And the advent of cloud computing and other new technologies has led to shrinking demand for traditional outsourcing of computer maintenance and other functions that are a big part of HP's $35 billion services business.
Add in the effects of another economic downturn, along with increased competition from Oracle (ORCL), Cisco and other tech giants, and the challenges for Whitman seem huge. But analyst Toni Sacconaghi at Bernstein Research, who said investors are "exasperated" with HP and its board, isn't ready to write the company off.
"We continue to believe that HP is not a broken company," he reported to clients Friday, adding that HP's stock price -- which hit a six-year low Friday -- offers "the potential for meaningful upside for patient investors."

TWO CHALLENGES ON WHITMAN'S IMMEDIATE TO-DO LIST FOR HP

What experts say Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman needs to do to get the Palo Alto tech giant on track:

Clarify the strategy: Some analysts remain skeptical about Whitman's attempt to marry
ousted CEO Léo Apotheker's software-centric
strategy with HP's hardware and services businesses.
Whitman promises to complete the company's
now-infamous review of its PC division by year's end.
Improve the finances: Recent changes in how technology is used have put pressure on HP's core products, including personal computers, servers, printers and tech services.

Latest Science Inventions

2011-09-11T02:38:00.000-07:00

Invisible Shield

This latest science invention is a spray-on invisible thin glass coating that sterilizes, protects and strengthens surfaces.

The coating also repels water, dirt, stains, mildew, fungus, bacteria and viruses.

A liquid coating invented at the Saarbrücken Institute for New Materials in Turkey and patented by Nanopool GmbH of Germany, is a flexible and breathable spray-on glass film.

The film is approximately 100 nanometres thick (500 times thinner than a human hair) and has multiple applications and uses in numerous fields.

The coating is environmentally friendly (Winner of the Green Apple Award).

latest science inventions It can be applied within seconds to make any surface very easy to clean and safe from anti-microbes (Winner of the NHS Smart Solutions Award).

The special glass coating known as "SiO2 ultra-thin layering" protects practically any surface against water, uv radiation, dirt, heat, acid, stains, mildew, fungus. bacteria and viruses.

Trials by food processing plants in Germany have concluded that surfaces coated with liquid glass only need hot water for cleaning. In fact, the coating provided higher levels of sterility than surfaces cleaned with bleach or other chemicals.

A year long trial at a British hospital in Southport, Lancashire is to be published soon with very promising results for a wide range of coating applications used on medical equipment, implants, catheters, sutures and bandages.

Trials for in-vivo applications are confidential, but Neil McClelland, the UK Project Manager for Nanopool GmbH, describes the results as "stunning".

"Items such as stents can be coated, and this will create anti sticking features. Catheters and sutures which are a source of infection, will also cease to be problematic," he says.

Colin Humphreys, a professor of materials science at Cambridge University, commented that liquid glass appears to have a wide range of applications and that the product 'looks impressive'.

The investment opportunities for this latest science invention seem endless - buildings, vehicles, appliances, clothing etc. can have dirt and germ free surfaces without using toxic coatings or chemicals.

2011-09-04T10:00:00.001-07:00

New HP VirtualSystem for VMware provides foundation for cloud computing
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 29, 2011

Related Links
» View the press kit

HP today announced HP VirtualSystem for VMware, a highly optimized, turnkey solution that gives organizations a virtualized infrastructure that speeds implementation and provides a foundation for cloud computing.

As virtualization has gained adoption, multitier network architectures, virtual sprawl, inflexible storage, unpredictable workloads and security concerns have increased complexity and limited broad deployment. To help midsize to large organizations address these challenges, HP VirtualSystem for VMware includes virtualized HP Networking solutions, HP Converged Storage, HP BladeSystem servers, HP Insight software with on-site installation services.

Built on HP Converged Infrastructure, HP VirtualSystem features architectural innovations and services that help eliminate virtualization complexity, consolidate IT infrastructure and improve performance, enabling clients to:

* Accelerate virtual machine mobility by up to 40 percent while doubling throughput and reducing network recovery time by more than 500 times(1) with the new HP FlexFabric virtualized networking solution;
* Cut capacity requirements by 50 percent, double virtual machine density(2) and speed deployment with HP LeftHand and HP 3PAR Storage Systems;
* Improve virtual server operations with HP Insight Control for VMware vCenter™ Server, which alerts IT administrators and allows for remote troubleshooting and management;
* Align virtualization strategy and investments to business goals with consulting, planning, preintegration, deployment and support services from HP Technology Services and HP ServiceONE partners.

“Virtualization has become mainstream for clients, but there are obstacles to broad deployment,” said Paul Miller, vice president, Systems and Solutions, Enterprise Servers, Storage and Networking, HP. “With HP VirtualSystem for VMware, clients can simplify and scale their virtualization deployments to provide a clear path to the cloud.”

“Companies need solutions that enable them to move from siloed stacks of infrastructure to pools of technology resources that can be shared and delivered as application services in real time,” said Gary Green, vice president, Global Strategic Alliances, VMware. “HP VirtualSystem for VMware helps customers streamline their virtualization projects today and transition to cloud computing in the future.”

Rapid time to revenue for channel partners

HP VirtualSystem is modular and easily optimized for midsize businesses, helping channel partners to sell and speed time to value. HP VirtualSystem for VMware offers partners faster time to revenue via streamlined and simplified solution sales and delivery of HP-optimized VMware solutions.

In addition to delivering HP VirtualSystem for VMware solutions, partners can customize HP Virtualization Smart Bundles. These are optimized configurations that deliver predictable performance and reduce complexity with modular components to add performance and capacity as needed.

Pricing and availability

HP VirtualSystem for VMware is available now starting at $167,300, including HP Converged Infrastructure, factory integration and three years of HP Support Plus 24.(3) Clients can leverage existing licensing agreements or purchase pre-installed VMware licensing from HP.

Additional information is available at www.hp.com/go/vs4vmware.

More information about HP VirtualSystem, HP CloudSystem and HP Converged Storage is available at HP booth 301 at VMworld® 2011.

HP’s premier client event, HP DISCOVER, takes place Nov. 29 - Dec. 1 in Vienna, Austria. The event showcases how organizations can get started on their Instant-On Enterprise journeys.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure at the convergence of the cloud and connectivity, creating seamless, secure, context-aware experiences for a connected world.

U.S. economic woes just a distraction, the real crisis is in Europe

2011-08-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

U.S. economic woes just a distraction, the real crisis is in Europe

By David Olive Business Columnist

David Olive's blog

Among the leading economic indicators to watch right now is the number of police officers deployed today to prevent a fourth straight night of rioting in London. That number is 16,000. The turmoil beginning last Saturday already has yielded one of the year’s iconic images – a woman engulfed in flames leaping from a blazing building in which she is trapped. That was just one of more than 60 fires set by rioters in London alone.
North American stock markets shed about $1 trillion in value Monday in the worst one-day session since 2008. But market losses of the past few weeks have been a mild and overdue correction to irrational exuberance, which by last May had the markets within hailing distance of the all-time 2007 high.
The markets have now fallen more than 10 per cent below their May high. Technically that marks the onset of a bear market. But in the depths of the global financial meltdown of 2008-09, the markets plunged about 40 per cent. Which is why bargain-hunters emerged on the markets by Tuesday.
The earlier market buoyancy wasn’t supported by fundamentals, given the continued anemic recovery in North American GDP and job creation. The downgrading of U.S. debt Friday by credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s – which set off the markets’ panic selling Monday – was itself an exaggerated reaction to the admittedly prolonged and acrimonious negotiations to lift America’s debt ceiling.
A much fretted-over default by the U.S. was never in prospect, though it’s still commonly warned of by people who should know better. Tax and other revenues flowing into the U.S. Treasury this month are sufficient to cover America’s debt obligations falling due in August about six times over, absent any change in the debt ceiling.
True, the U.S. may be flirting with a double-dip recession. Then again, a stronger second-half performance may avert that outcome. In any case, after 17 consecutive months of job growth as of July, the U.S. is not the basket case suggested by downcast markets of past weeks.
Yet if the recent antics in Washington were second-rate vaudeville, the debt crises across Europe are real.
Distracted as we were by the painful side-effects of America’s unprecedented housing bubble of the 2000s, we’ve paid little heed to similar insanity in Britain, Spain, Ireland and Iceland during that period, when shakily financed new housing construction went on a U.S.-style tear.
Now Europe’s day of reckoning has arrived.
“The crisis in Europe is quickly becoming on par with the [global] financial crisis of 2008,” David Levy, portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management, told CNN Money this week. “The [latest U.S.] jobs report shows that things aren’t getting much worse in the U.S., but the focus is clearly on Europe.”
That’s a reassuring outlook for Canada, far less reliant on the $16-trillion (U.S.) European market than exports to the slightly smaller U.S. economy. “We can continue to see a slow rebound in the economy,” said an upbeat Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in Brazil this week for trade talks.
There even are a couple dividends for Canada here. One is that the central bankers of Canada and the U.S. have each signaled they will effectively freeze interest rates at least until next spring. That rules out a long-rumoured increase in borrowing costs by the Bank of Canada.
And there’s talk of a reverse brain drain. With many forecasters plotting a flat line for U.S. GDP growth over the next few years, and with much of Europe fiscally in extremis, the world’s best talent has that much more reason to choose Canada in seeking work abroad.
Close-hand observers don’t yet know what to make of the tens of millions of pounds’ worth of what British PM David Cameron calls “sickening” damage to vandalized buildings and vehicles in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and other British cities.
Is this Britain’s version of an Arab Spring, driven largely by university graduates without a job for several years? College students and graduates are indeed prominent among those detained by British police, who’ve taken a dim view of BlackBerry use by social-networkers in organizing coordinated protests.
Or is it just spoiled brats venting? BlackBerry is an oddly high-end tool of choice for rioters. “They’re not homeless, these blokes,” said a cabbie calling in to a BBC news show last night. “They’ve run out of bling, is all.”
Anti-austerity protesters have already been taking to the streets of Athens and Madrid for months. Yet the powers that be in European capitals, at the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund are moving at a glacial pace in devising a way out the continent’s fiscal crisis.
Which suggests that social unrest in Europe will intensify before it subsides.

Impact of recession in American economy on India

2011-08-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Past recessions

The US economy has suffered 10 recessions since the end of World War II. The Great Depression in the United was an economic slowdown, from 1930 to 1939. It was a decade of high unemployment, low profits, low prices of goods, and high poverty.

The trade market was brought to a standstill, which consequently affected the world markets in the 1930s. Industries that suffered the most included agriculture, mining, and logging.

In 1937, the American economy unexpectedly fell, lasting through most of 1938. Production declined sharply, as did profits and employment. Unemployment jumped from 14.3 per cent in 1937 to 19.0 per cent in 1938.

The US saw a recession during 1982-83 due to a tight monetary policy to control inflation and sharp correction to overproduction of the previous decade. This was followed by Black Monday in October 1987, when a stock market collapse saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunge by 22.6 per cent affecting the lives of millions of Americans.

The early 1990s saw a collapse of junk bonds and a financial crisis.

The US saw one of its biggest recessions in 2001, ending ten years of growth, the longest expansion on record.

From March to November 2001, employment dropped by almost 1.7 million. In the 1990-91 recession, the GDP fell 1.5 per cent from its peak in the second quarter of 1990. The 2001 recession saw a 0.6 per cent decline from the peak in the fourth quarter of 2000.

The dot-com burst hit the US economy and many developing countries as well. The economy also suffered after the 9/11 attacks. In 2001, investors' wealth dwindled as technology stock prices crashed.

Impact of an American Recession on India

Indian companies have major outsourcing deals from the US. India's exports to the US have also grown substantially over the years. The India economy is likely to lose between 1 to 2 percentage points in GDP growth in the next fiscal year. Indian companies with big tickets deals in the US would see their profit margins shrinking.

The worries for exporters will grow as rupee strengthens further against the dollar. But experts note that the long-term prospects for India are stable. A weak dollar could bring more foreign money to Indian markets. Oil may get cheaper brining down inflation. A recession could bring down oil prices to $70.

The whole of Asia would be hit by a recession as it depends on the US economy. Even though domestic demand and diversification of trade in the Asian region will partly counter any drop in the US demand, one simply can't escape a downturn in the world's largest economy. The US economy accounts for 30 per cent of the world's GDP.

Says Sudip Bandyopadhyay, director and CEO, Reliance Money: "In the globalised world, complete decoupling is impossible. But India may remain relatively less affected by adverse global events." In fact, many small and medium companies have already started developing trade ties with China and European countries to ward off big losses.

Manish Sonthalia, head, equity, Motilal Oswal Securities, says if the US economy contracts much more than anticipated, the whole world's GDP growth-which is estimated at 3.7 per cent by the IMF-will contract, and India would be no exception.

The only silver lining is that the recession will happen slowly, probably in six months or so. As of now, IT and IT-enabled services, textiles, jewellery, handicrafts and leather segments will suffer losses because of their trade link. Certain sections of commodities could face sharp impact due to the volatile nature of these sectors. C.J. George, managing director, Geojit Financial Services, says profits of lots of re-export firms may be affected. Countries like China import commodities from India, do some value-addition and then export them to the US.

The good side of US recession

2011-08-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

US recession may be a boon for Indian offshore software companies. Infact, even as America is moving into recession, Indian offshore companies are getting more business than ever before.
The impact of recession is undoubtedly higher to small and medium sized enterprises whose bottom lines get squeezed due to lack of spending by consumers. These thousands of small and medium enterprises are increasingly waking up to cash in on the outsourcing wave, a market opportunity explored by their big daddies for a couple of decades now.

BEST JOBS IN AMERICA Money/Payscale list of great careers.

2011-07-18T23:24:00.000-07:00

Top 50
Money and pay scale rate the top 50 careers with great pay and growth prospects.

Rank	Job title	Job growth (10-year forecast)
1	Software Architect	34%
2	Physician Assistant	39%
3	Management Consultant	24%
4	Physical Therapist	30%
5	Environmental Engineer	31%
6	Civil Engineer	24%
7	Database Administrator	20%
8	Sales Director	15%
9	Certified Public Accountant	22%
10	Biomedical Engineer	72%
11	Actuary	21%
12	Dentist	15%
13	Nurse Anesthetist	13%
14	Risk Management Manager	24%
15	Product Management Director	12%
16	Healthcare Consultant	24%
17	Information Systems Security Engineer	23%
18	Software Engineering / Development Director	17%
19	Occupational Therapist	26%
20	Information Technology Manager	17%
21	Telecommunications Network Engineer	53%
22	Environmental Health & Safety Specialist	28%
23	Construction Project Manager	17%
24	Network Operations Project Manager	23%
25	Emergency Room Physician	22%
26	Information Technology Business Analyst	20%
27	Director of Nursing	16%
28	Information Technology Consultant	17%
29	Psychiatrist	24%
30	Test Software Development Engineer	20%
31	Information Technology Network Engineer	23%
32	Senior Sales Executive	15%
33	Information Technology Program Manager	17%
34	Primary Care Physician	22%
35	Computer and Information Scientist	24%
36	Hospital Administrator	16%
37	Programmer Analyst	20%
38	Applications Engineer	34%
39	Research & Development Manager	15%
40	Regional Sales Manager	15%
41	Project Engineer	24%
42	Training Development Director	23%
43	Human Resources Consultant	21%
44	Speech-Language Pathologist	19%
45	Business Development Analyst	24%
46	Physical Therapy Director	16%
47	Structural Engineer	24%
48	Nursing Home Director	16%
49	Systems Engineer	13%
50	Healthcare Services Program Director	13%

From the November 2010 issue

How To Tie a Tie for BEGINNERS

2011-07-18T03:45:00.000-07:00

How to Dress for an Engineering Job

2011-07-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

Wearing the right clothes on the job is important to success and advancement. The general rule is to dress according to the written or unwritten dress code of the engineering company. Many firms even include dress guidelines in job listings. The trick is figuring out the subtle stuff, especially if there is nothing in writing!

Instructions

- 1
  
  Ask the Director of Human Resources if there is a formal dress code. If so, read through it carefully.
- 2
  
  Whether there is a written dress code or not, look around at other people working in the engineering firm. Most firms allow what is known as "business casual" clothing, though some will be dressed in suits (and ties for the men). Make notes of what you see, such as the kind of slacks women wear, types of blouses or knit tops, and whether men seem to favor collared golf-style shirts or cotton button-downs.
- 3
  
  Sit in front of your closet and bureau with the dress code, or notes of what you have observed in the office. Organize clothing that will fit in with the style in the firm.
- 4
  
  Make sure there are at least two formal business outfits in the closet for special meetings, especially with firm partners and client meetings out of the office. Take a cue from what the partners wear.
- 5
  
  Check your hairstyle. Long hair on men is usually acceptable if it is well groomed. Women should avoid extreme styles or unusual hair colors (lose the hot pink streak)!
- 6
  
  Double check before going to work. Make sure clothes are clean and pressed and look professional, even if they are casual. Ladies: leave the low-cut and tight stuff at home and make sure the heels are not too high. You should be able to stride down the hall or visit a job site. Guys: keep tie and suit combinations to the classics (striped tie and white shirt) if you are not sure. Of course, remember socks should match!

Business casual clothing
2 formal business outfits
Shoes (such as loafers, brogues--but not sneakers)!

Tips & Warnings

Dressing for the job interview is not the same as dressing for the job! Most engineering schools tell their students to put on a suit for an interview. Wait until the interviewer tells you to lose the tie or take off the jacket.
Classic styles are never wrong. A cotton button-down shirt with a subtle stripe, paired with khaki slacks and loafers, is perfect business casual for men. A well-tailored blouse and dark slacks with mid-height pumps are perfect for women.
Color is good. Business casual does not mean it has to be black and white. A pink shirt or a red blouse works great!
Unless others wear them (and no one comments), leave the jeans at home.

Science News!!!Your Brain On Androids!!!

2011-07-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (July 15, 2011) — Ever get the heebie-jeebies at a wax museum? Feel uneasy with an anthropomorphic robot? What about playing a video game or watching an animated movie, where the human characters are pretty realistic but just not quite right and maybe a bit creepy? If yes, then you've probably been a visitor to what's called the "uncanny valley."
The phenomenon has been described anecdotally for years, but how and why this happens is still a subject of debate in robotics, computer graphics and neuroscience. Now an international team of researchers, led by Ayse Pinar Saygin of the University of California, San Diego, has taken a peek inside the brains of people viewing videos of an uncanny android (compared to videos of a human and a robot-looking robot).

Published in the Oxford University Press journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, the functional MRI study suggests that what may be going on is due to a perceptual mismatch between appearance and motion.
The term "uncanny valley" refers to an artificial agent's drop in likeability when it becomes too humanlike. People respond positively to an agent that shares some characteristics with humans -- think dolls, cartoon animals, R2D2. As the agent becomes more human-like, it becomes more likeable. But at some point that upward trajectory stops and instead the agent is perceived as strange and disconcerting. Many viewers, for example, find the characters in the animated film "Polar Express" to be off-putting. And most modern androids, including the Japanese Repliee Q2 used in the study here, are also thought to fall into the uncanny valley.
Saygin and her colleagues set out to discover if what they call the "action perception system" in the human brain is tuned more to human appearance or human motion, with the general goal, they write, "of identifying the functional properties of brain systems that allow us to understand others' body movements and actions."
They tested 20 subjects aged 20 to 36 who had no experience working with robots and hadn't spent time in Japan, where there's potentially more cultural exposure to and acceptance of androids, or even had friends or family from Japan.
The subjects were shown 12 videos of Repliee Q2 performing such ordinary actions as waving, nodding, taking a drink of water and picking up a piece of paper from a table. They were also shown videos of the same actions performed by the human on whom the android was modeled and by a stripped version of the android -- skinned to its underlying metal joints and wiring, revealing its mechanics until it could no longer be mistaken for a human. That is, they set up three conditions: a human with biological appearance and movement; a robot with mechanical appearance and mechanical motion; and a human-seeming agent with the exact same mechanical movement as the robot.
At the start of the experiment, the subjects were shown each of the videos outside the fMRI scanner and were informed about which was a robot and which human.
The biggest difference in brain response the researchers noticed was during the android condition -- in the parietal cortex, on both sides of the brain, specifically in the areas that connect the part of the brain's visual cortex that processes bodily movements with the section of the motor cortex thought to contain mirror neurons (neurons also known as "monkey-see, monkey-do neurons" or "empathy neurons").
According to their interpretation of the fMRI results, the researchers say they saw, in essence, evidence of mismatch. The brain "lit up" when the human-like appearance of the android and its robotic motion "didn't compute."
"The brain doesn't seem tuned to care about either biological appearance or biological motion per se," said Saygin, an assistant professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego and alumna of the same department. "What it seems to be doing is looking for its expectations to be met -- for appearance and motion to be congruent."
In other words, if it looks human and moves likes a human, we are OK with that. If it looks like a robot and acts like a robot, we are OK with that, too; our brains have no difficulty processing the information. The trouble arises when -- contrary to a lifetime of expectations -- appearance and motion are at odds.
"As human-like artificial agents become more commonplace, perhaps our perceptual systems will be re-tuned to accommodate these new social partners," the researchers write. "Or perhaps, we will decide it is not a good idea to make them so closely in our image after all."
Saygin thinks it's "not so crazy to suggest we brain-test-drive robots or animated characters before spending millions of dollars on their development."
It's not too practical, though, to do these test-drives in expensive and hard-to-come-by fMRI scanners. So Saygin and her students are currently on the hunt for an analogous EEG signal. EEG technology is cheap enough that the electrode caps are being developed for home use.
The research was funded by the Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind at UC San Diego. Saygin was additionally supported by the California Institute of Telecommunication and Information Technology (Calit2) at UCSD.
Saygin's coauthors are Thierry Chaminade of Mediterranean Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, France; Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University and ATR, Japan; Jon Driver of University College London; and Chris Firth of University of Aarhus, Denmark.

DVD alloys help make computers that think like us

2011-07-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

THE material that lets us record on DVDs has a far more tantalising property: it can mimic the nerve cells of the brain and the junctions between them. The discovery could lead to the development of brain-like computers that, crucially, operate at ultra-low power levels.

A brain-like computer is one that can learn and adapt without external programming. Such an ability would allow machines to become far better at tasks like face and speech recognition. They could also process and store data in the same location - just as nerve cells do. Conventional computing loses efficiency by keeping these functions separate.

Now two research groups have built artificial nerve cells, or neurons, and synapses - the junctions between them - using an alloy known as GST, an acronym of the symbols for its components: germanium, antimony and tellurium.

In the UK, David Wright and colleagues at the University of Exeter have created a GST neuron (Advanced Materials, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201101060), while at Stanford University in California, Philip Wong's group have created a nanoscale electronic synapse. The junction even mimics the way synapses can change their connection strength (Nano Letters, DOI: 10.1021/nl201040y).

GST is known as a "phase-change" alloy, because of its ability to change its molecular structure from a crystalline to a disordered amorphous "phase" when heated. In DVDs, this allows binary 0s and 1s to be recorded and then read by a laser.

But GST can do more than store two states. Different areas within a tiny spot of GST can be crystalline or amorphous to differing degrees, which means it can store information across a much wider range of values than simply 0 or 1. This is important because it is a build-up of input signals that makes a real neuron "fire" when it reaches a certain threshold.

Wright's neuron is able to mimic this threshold firing because GST's electrical resistance drops suddenly when it moves from its amorphous phase to the crystalline. So incoming signals in the form of pulses of current are applied to the artificial neuron - and it is deemed to have fired when its resistance plummets.

GST's talents don't end there. When a real neuron fires, the signal's importance to the next neuron it arrives at is set by the strength of the synapse connecting them. In nature, this strength is adjusted in a process called spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP): if the first neuron repeatedly fires before the second, the synapse's strength increases, but if the second fires first, its strength decreases.

Duygu Kuzum, a member of the Stanford team, says GST's ability to change its resistance has allowed them to program it to dynamically modify the strength of the nanoscale artificial synapses they have built - just like STDP. This lets them prioritise which neural signals are most important to any given task.

At just 75 nanometres across, the artificial synapse may offer the low power sought for brain-like computers, says Kuzum. The team's calculations suggest a system with 10¹⁰ synapses would consume just 10 watts - compared with the 1.4 megawatts needed by a supercomputer to simulate just 5 seconds of brain activity.

"Phase-change devices may indeed capture the right essence of the behaviour of the brain," says Steve Furber of the University of Manchester, UK, who is building a brain-like computer from conventional microprocessors. "But it has a very long way to go. I'll be interested when they can make 100 million of them on a chip for next to nothing."

Race to build an artificial brain

Phase-change materials are competing with at least three other approaches to brain-like computing.
In the Blue Brain Project, Henry Markram's group at the Swiss Institute for Technology in Lausanne aims to create a software model of brain biochemistry on a supercomputer.
And this week, the University of Manchester in the UK began building Spinnaker - a 1-billion-neuron computer - using smartphone microprocessors that model 18,000 neurons each. The connection strength between neurons is stored using on-chip memory.
"Memristors", too, can have their resistance "set" by applying a voltage across them, making them strong contenders for neurons or synapses.

Top 10 IT MNCs in India

2011-07-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

Top 10 software companies in India

1. Tata Consultancy Services

The Indian software industry is set to keep up its growth rate despite the slowdown in the economy. The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) has forecast a strong outlook for FY08-09 strong with software and services revenue seen growing by 21-24 per cent. The software and services exports are set to hit the $50 billion-mark. The software and services exports segment grew by 29 per cent (in USD) to register revenues of $40.4 billion in FY07-08, up from $31.4 billion in FY06-07. The domestic segment grew by 26 per cent (in INR) to register revenues of $ 11.6 billion in FY07-08. According to the latest Nasscom rankings, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Infosys Technologies Ltd. and Wipro Technologies Ltd are the top 3 revenue generators in India. Check out the top ten players in the Indian IT industry.
TCS
Founded in 1968, TCS is one of India's largest corporate houses. It is also India's largest IT employer with a staff strength of 111,000 employees.
The company began as a division of the Tata Group, called the Tata Computer Centre. Its main business was to offer computer services to other group companies. Soon the company was spun off as Tata Consultancy Services after it realised the huge potential of the booming IT services.
The company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,290.61 crore (Rs 12.90 billion) for the first quarter ended June 30, 2008, an increase of 7.3 per cent compared to the year-ago period.
Its annual sales worldwide stands at $5.7 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2008. During the year 2007-08, TCS' consolidated revenues grew by 22 per cent to Rs 22,863 crore ($5.7 billion). S. Ramadorai, is the chief executive officer and managing director of TCS.
TCS is IDC-Dataquest IT best employer in IT services in 2007. TCS also topped DataQuest DQTop 20 list of IT service providers in 2007.
Image: Chief Executive Officer of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) S Ramadorai .

2. Wipro

What started off as a hydrogenated cooking fat company, Wipro is today is a $5 billion revenue generating IT, BPO and R&D services organisation with presence in over 50 countries. Premji started Wipro with the 'idea of building an organisation which was deeply committed to values, in the firm belief that success in business would be its inevitable, eventual outcome'. The company has over 72,000 employees. Wipro's revenues grew by 33 per cent to Rs 19,957 crore (Rs 200 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2008. The net profit grew by 12 per cent to Rs. 3,283 crore (Rs. 32.83 billion). The revenues of the combined IT businesses was $4.3 billion with 43 per cent YoY growth.
Wipro was the only Indian company to be ranked among the top 10 global outsourcing providers in IAOP's 2006 Global Outsourcing 100 listing. Wipro has also won the International Institute for Software Testing's Software Testing Best Practice Award.
Image: Chairman of the Indian software giant Wipro Technologies Limited, Azim Premji is all smiles during a press conference in Bangalore.
3. Infosys

Infosys Technologies Ltd was started in 1981 by seven people with $250. Today, the company boasts of revenues of over $ 4 billion and 94,379 employees.

Under the leadership of N R Narayana Murthy, the company has become a global brand. The company is now headed by Kris Gopalakrishnan. The income for the quarter ended June 30 2008 was Rs 4,854 crore (Rs 48.54 billion). The net profit stood at Rs 1,302 crore (Rs 13.02 billion).
Forbes magazine named Infosys in its list of Global High Performers. Waters magazine rated Infosys as the Best Outsourcing Partner. The Banker magazine conferred two Banker Technology Awards on Infosys to acclaim its work in wholesale and capital markets in two categories - Payments and Treasury Services, and Offshoring and Outsourcing.
The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) ranked Infosys at No. 3 in its '2008 Global Outsourcing 100'.
Image: Founder and mentor of Infosys Technologies N.R.Narayana Murthy (C) with NASDAQ President & CEO Bob Greifeld (6th R) celebrate with Infosys officials during the NASDAQ Remote Opening Bell Ceremony in the Infosys campus in Mysore.

4. Satyam Computer Services

Established in 1987 by Ramalinga Raju, Satyam has a staff strength of 51,000 employees. In 2008, the company's revenues crossed the $ 2-billion mark.

'A simple, yet extensive management model to create value, which promotes entrepreneurship, a focus on the customer, and the constant pursuit of excellence,' is the company's mantra for success. In FY2008, its revenues saw a growth of 30.7 per cent to Rs 8,473.49 crore (Rs 84.73 billion) compared to fiscal 2007.
The net profit stood at Rs 1,687.89 crore (Rs 16.87 billion), a growth of 20.2 per cent over fiscal 2007. Satyam is among the youngest IT service companies to reach $1 billion in annual revenues. It is ranked No. 1 in the ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) BEST Award, 2007.
Image: Employees of Satyam group standing out side the city centre in Hyderabad

5. HCL Technologies

HCL is a leading global technology player with annual revenues of $4.9 billion. The HCL Enterprise comprises two companies listed in India, HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystems. Founded in 1976, HCL is one of 'India's original IT garage start ups'.
The HCL team comprises 53,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, operating across 18 countries. At a time when India had a total of 250 computers, Shiv Nadar led a young team which passionately believed in the growth of the IT industry.
Three decades later, he succeeded in creating a $ 4.9 billion global enterprise. The company has reported consolidated revenue of Rs 3017.5 crore (Rs 30.17 billion) during the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The profit after tax stood at Rs. 81.5 crore (Rs 815 million).
Image: Chairman and CEO of HCL Infosystems Ajai Chowdhry with the HCL Mileap laptop in New Delhi.

6. Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra was incorporated as a joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra and BT plc in 1986 under the name of 'Mahindra-British Telecom'.
Later, the name was changed to 'Tech Mahindra', in order to reflect the diversification and growth of the client base and service offerings. The company was incorporated in 1986. Tech Mahindra is a global systems integrator and business transformation consulting firm focused on the communications industry. At the helm of the fast expanding organisation is Vineet Nayyar.
In a career spanning over 40 years, he has worked with the government, international multilateral agencies and the corporate sector. Tech Mahindra's net profit rose 8.57 per cent to Rs 196.4 crore (Rs 1.96 billion) on 6.09 per cent growth in net sale to Rs 911.6 crore (Rs 9.11 billion) in Q3 December 2007 over Q2 September 2007.
Image: Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra Anand Mahindra during a press conference to launch the Tech Mahindra foundation in Mumbai.

7. Patni Computer Systems

Patni Computer Systems Ltd one of the leading global providers of information technology services and business solutions. The company has clients across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific locations.
The company has serviced more than 400 Fortune 1000 companies, for over two decades. Patni Computer Systems Limited was incorporated on 10 February 1978 under the Companies Act, 1956. On 18 September 2003, the Company converted itself from a private limited company into a public limited company.
The company headed founded by Narendra K Patni by has a staff strength of over 14,000 professionals. The revenues for the quarter ended March 2008 stood at $ 176.4 million (Rs. 7,061.2 million) up 13.1% YoY from $ 156.0 million (Rs. 6,724.1 million). The net income for the quarter at US$ 18.1 million (Rs. 724.6 million) down 35.0 per cent YoY from $ 27.8 million (Rs. 1,200.3 million).Frost & Sullivan ranked Patni 1st among 'Top 5 Engineering Service Providers'.
Image: Model of a software park in Chennai.

8. i-flex Solutions

iflex started as a division of Citicorp (now Citigroup), wholly owned subsidiary called Citicorp Overseas Software Ltd. (COSL) in 1991. Later, a separate company Citicorp Information Technologies Industries Ltd. (CITIL) was formed and Rajesh Hukku was appointed as its head. CITIL started off with the universal banking product, MicroBanker which became very successful. In the mid-90s, CITIL developed Flexcube at its Bangalore development centre. After the launch of Flexcube, all of CITIL's transactional banking products were brought under a common brand umbrella. CITIL changed its name to i-flex solutions to reflect its growing independence from Citicorp and to strengthen its Flexcube brand.
In 2006, i-flex became a majority-owned subsidiary of Oracle Corporation i-flex posted a top line growth of 8 per cent QoQ with revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 at Rs 672 crore (Rs 6.72 billion) as compared to Rs 601 crore (Rs 6.01 billion) for the corresponding quarter during the previous year representing a 12 per cent YoY growth.
The net income for quarter stood at Rs 185 crore (Rs 1.85 billion) representing 73 per cent growth QoQ. The revenue for the full year ended March 31, 2008 stood at Rs 2,380 crore (Rs 23.80 billion), up 15 per cent as compared to the previous year.
Image: Chairman and Managing Director of i-flex Solutions Limited, Rajesh Hukku.

9. MphasiS

MphasiS Limited was formed in June 2000 after the merger of the US-based IT consulting company MphasiS Corporation (founded in 1998) and the Indian IT services company BFL Software Limited (founded in 1993). Jeya Kumar is CEO of MphasiS, which has a staff strength of 27,000 people. For the year ended 31 March 2008, the MphasiS Group recorded revenues of Rs 2,423 crore (Rs 24.23 billion), a growth of Rs 662 crore, which is 38 per cent over the previous year.
The net profit increased by 42 per cent from Rs 180 crore (Rs 1.8 billion) to Rs 255 crore (Rs 2.55 billion) during the year ended 31 March 2008. MphasiS was named among amongst the Top 100 Companies in Global Outsourcing.
Image: IT sector grows despite slowdown.

10. L&T Infotech

L&T Infotech is a global IT services and solutions provider. It is a subsidiary company of is Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T), an engineering, manufacturing and construction conglomerate, with global operations. A M Naik is the chairman of the company. Originally founded as L&T Information Technology Ltd (LTITL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), the company changed its name to L&T Infotech on 1st April, 1997. In 2004, it tied up with Fidelity Information Services, a division of Fidelity National Financial to provide banking solutions for the Indian banking industry. In 2007-08, L&T had recorded revenues of Rs 29,600 crore (Rs 296 billion).
Image: L&T Infotech building.

Computer engineering

2011-06-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and hardware-software integration instead of only software engineering or electronic engineering. Computer engineers are involved in many hardware and software aspects of computing, from the design of individual microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, to circuit design. This field of engineering not only focuses on how computer systems themselves work, but also how they integrate into the larger picture.
Usual tasks involving computer engineers include writing software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, designing VLSI chips, designing analog sensors, designing mixed signal circuit boards, and designing operating systems. Computer engineers are also suited for robotics research, which relies heavily on using digital systems to control and monitor electrical systems like motors, communications, and sensors.

The first accredited computer engineering degree program in the United States was established at Case Western Reserve University in 1971. As of October 2004, there were 170 ABET-accredited computer engineering programs in the US. Due to increasing job requirements for engineers, who can concurrently design hardware, software, firmware, and manage all forms of computer systems used in industry, some tertiary institutions around the world offer a bachelor's degree generally called computer engineering. Both computer engineering and electronic engineering programs include analog and digital circuit design in their curricula. As with most engineering disciplines, having a sound knowledge of mathematics and sciences is necessary for computer engineers.
In many institutions, computer engineering students are allowed to choose areas of in-depth study in their junior and senior year, because the full breadth of knowledge used in the design and application of computers is beyond the scope of an undergraduate degree.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Electrical engineering

2011-06-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical power supply. It now covers a range of subtopics including power, electronics, control systems, signal processing and telecommunications.
Electrical engineering may include electronic engineering. Where a distinction is made, usually outside of the United States, electrical engineering is considered to deal with the problems associated with large-scale electrical systems such as power transmission and motor control, whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of small-scale electronic systems including computers and integrated circuits.^[1] Alternatively, electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit energy, while electronic engineers are concerned with using electricity to process information. More recently, the distinction has become blurred by the growth of power electronics.

Chemical engineering

2011-06-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g., chemistry and physics), and life sciences (e.g., biology, microbiology and biochemistry) with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. In addition to producing useful materials, modern chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques – such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and biomedical engineering.Chemical engineering largely involves the design, improvement and maintenance of processes involving chemical or biological transformations for large-scale manufacture. Chemical engineers ensure the processes are operated safely, sustainably and economically. Chemical engineers in this branch are usually employed under the title of process engineer. A related term with a wider definition is chemical technology. A person employed in this field is called a chemical engineer.

Telecommunication

2011-06-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded drumbeats, lung-blown horns, or sent by loud whistles, for example. In the modern age of electricity and electronics, telecommunications now also includes the use of electrical devices such as telegraphs, telephones, and teletypes, the use of radio and microwave communications, as well as fiber optics and their associated electronics, plus the use of the orbiting satellites and the Internet.
A revolution in wireless telecommunications began in the first decade of the 20th century, with Guglielmo Marconi winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909 for his pioneering developments in wireless radio communications. Other highly notable pioneering inventors and developers in the field of electrical and electronic telecommunications include Charles Wheatstone and Samuel Morse (telegraph), Alexander Graham Bell (telephone), Nikola Tesla, Edwin Armstrong, and Lee de Forest (radio), as well as John Logie Baird and Philo Farnsworth (television).

Telecommunications play an important role in the world economy and the worldwide telecommunication industry's revenue was estimated to be $3.85 trillion in 2008.The service revenue of the global telecommunications industry was estimated to be $1.7 trillion in 2008, and is expected to touch $2.7 trillion by 2013.

Civil engineering

2011-06-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like bridges, roads, canals, dams, and buildings. Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline after military engineering, and it was defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering. It is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering.Civil engineering takes place on all levels: in the public sector from municipal through to national governments, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.

Civil engineers typically possess an academic degree with a major in civil engineering. The length of study for such a degree is usually three to five years and the completed degree is usually designated as a Bachelor of Engineering, though some universities designate the degree as a Bachelor of Science. The degree generally includes units covering physics, mathematics, project management, design and specific topics in civil engineering. Initially such topics cover most, if not all, of the sub-disciplines of civil engineering. Students then choose to specialize in one or more sub-disciplines towards the end of the degree.While an Undergraduate (BEng/BSc) Degree will normally provide successful students with industry accredited qualification, some universities offer postgraduate engineering awards (MEng/MSc) which allow students to further specialize in their particular area of interest within engineering.
In most countries, a Bachelor's degree in engineering represents the first step towards professional certification and the degree program itself is certified by a professional body. After completing a certified degree program the engineer must satisfy a range of requirements (including work experience and exam requirements) before being certified. Once certified, the engineer is designated the title of Professional Engineer (in the United States, Canada and South Africa), Chartered Engineer (in most Commonwealth countries), Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand), or European Engineer (in much of the European Union). There are international engineering agreements between relevant professional bodies which are designed to allow engineers to practice across international borders.
The advantages of certification vary depending upon location. For example, in the United States and Canada "only a licensed engineer may prepare, sign and seal, and submit engineering plans and drawings to a public authority for approval, or seal engineering work for public and private clients.".This requirement is enforced by state and provincial legislation such as Quebec's Engineers Act. In other countries, no such legislation exists. In Australia, state licensing of engineers is limited to the state of Queensland. Practically all certifying bodies maintain a code of ethics that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion. In this way, these organizations play an important role in maintaining ethical standards for the profession. Even in jurisdictions where certification has little or no legal bearing on work, engineers are subject to contract law. In cases where an engineer's work fails he or she may be subject to the tort of negligence and, in extreme cases, the charge of criminal negligence.An engineer's work must also comply with numerous other rules and regulations such as building codes and legislation pertaining to environmental law.

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