Remember the board game King Chip? Or the Macintosh XL (aka Lisa)? Or PC Jr.? Don Christiansen revisits some of the technologies and technology predictions of the mid-1980s to explore the veracity of the law of engineering obsolescence.

Some IEEE members believe that all we need to improve public appreciation of engineering is a prime-time TV series featuring engineers. That could very well be true, but quicker than you can calculate pi to 39 decimal places, mathematicians are already in prime time.

With all of the cellular phones, MP3/PMP devices, GPS units, set-top boxes, DVRs, automobile telematics systems and digital televisions out there, we are surrounded by embedded systems composed of custom hardware and software designs. But, is the United States losing its edge in producing engineers who can make these critical systems work?

Most people can relate to the anxiety associated with being asked to give a presentation to a group of colleagues. Susan de la Vergne offers a few suggestions for improving your technical presentation abilities and effectiveness.

Defined contribution plans provide greater portability of benefits than “traditional” defined benefit plans, but shift the responsibility of saving for retirement from employers to employees. Whether employees are saving enough to secure their retirements is question of some concern. Based on a November 2007 GAO report.

In late December 2007, President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R.6). The bill requires auto manufacturers to improve fuel economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020, and boosts ethanol production five-fold by 2022. The legislation also includes a $95 million competitive grants program designed to spur electric vehicle technology development, as well as language calling on NIST to work with the IEEE and others to develop standards for emerging "Smart Grid" technologies. But does it do enough to achieve the nation's ambitious energy independence goals?

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government and its research partners at year end in 2007.

IEEE understands how stressful and expensive it is for parents today to plan and pay for their children’s college education. To help alleviate some of the strains associated with putting a child through college, the IEEE has partnered with College Parents of America, the only national membership association dedicated to advocating and to serving on behalf of current and future college parents.