Many had hoped that the Supreme Court's Bilski decision would clarify exactly what is and is not patentable. However, the Court's decision left much unresolved.

Even before the first wave of electric vehicles rolls out of dealers' showrooms, a great deal of work is already under way to make it possible for roads — and the electric grid — to handle them.

In the United States, innovation has become almost synonymous with economic competitiveness. But will our economy be able to flourish if our companies just specialize in innovation, but produce overseas? NYU Research Professor Ralph Gomory argues that we need to do more than produce exciting new ideas; we must also be able to compete in large productive industries.

In a 90-minute debate on 21 June, telecommunications policy experts argued the resolution that: That the United States is lagging seriously behind other countries on broadband access and this is due primarily to a failure of U.S. telecom regulation.

Many people are leery of the science behind things like childhood vaccinations, global warming and the safety of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository. Perhaps, though, if scientists and engineers better understood the public and how its views are shaped by, among other things, ideology, values, priorities, misinformation, and yes, a poor understanding of science, the public would be more accepting of generally sound scientific data and theories.

IEEE-USA continues to push Congress to pass the Engineering Education Act of 2010, or E2 bill, before Congress adjourns later this year.  The Act is supported by a broad coalition of engineering societies, businesses, universities and other groups, all of which see value in teaching American students basic engineering design concepts.

The Second Annual IEEE Green Technologies Conference, held in picturesque Grapevine, Texas, presented some ingenious research on sustainable engineering.

Faced with a design challenge, whether it be to refine an existing product or system or to meet some ambitious new demand, the usual procedure is to itemize the desired new design features—that is, the “needs” and the “wants.”

The problem with industrial policy is strategic — some agency must direct the policy, and it is not always clear that the best direction has been chosen. While the United States lacks an official industrial policy, government actions in the past have achieved some goals akin to industrial policy, usually motivated by defense concerns.

The United States and other countries are pursuing a very broad range of technology options to mitigate potential climate change impacts. Do we run the risk of expending our financial and R&D capital on options that will not be available in a timely manner? The Scorecard is a simple, qualitative approach that can provide guidance for answering this question.

How does biomass production impact food prices, and how does the value of bioproducts impact the decision making of organizations as they weigh options of commercial profit or societal well-being?

Significant and consistent levels of federal funding for university-based research are necessary in order to help bolster U.S. global competitiveness and long-term economic health, according to a report released on 11 May by the Science Coalition.

Free trade agreements (FTAs) have proven to have an advantage in increasing exports from the United States. Today, the United States has FTAs with 14 countries. In 2006, six new FTAs were implemented: with Bahrain, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Morocco, and Nicaragua. Last year, trade with countries that the United States has FTAs was significantly greater than their relative share of the global economy.

On 21 April, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced a federal initiative designed to gather public input and review the nexus between privacy policy and innovation in the Internet economy.

Technology export controls continue to be vital to U.S. security and competitiveness, but also challenge the ability of industry, laboratories and academia to interact internationally. Industry, academia and the government are calling for reforms to the system of licensing technology exports to enhance U.S. national security while allowing key U.S. industries to remain competitive in global markets.

The leadership of IEEE-USA has applauded the National Broadband Plan (NBP) recently introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), aimed at providing access to very high-speed broadband Internet service for all American homes and businesses.

Senate bill S.515, a patent reform bill, is poised to change the United States from a "first-to-invent" patent system to a "first-to-file" system. What could this mean for engineers and companies whose lifeblood is their intellectual property?

IEEE-USA has developed model legislation to help guide Congress when it takes up educational and employment-based immigration reform.

Reauthorizing the landmark America COMPETES Act will be the top priority this year for the House Science and Technology Committee, according to Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.

As in past years, this annual survey examines the outlook in eight areas of significant import to the U.S. endeavor: technology, energy, climate change, work force, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy.

The recent push to computerize healthcare has resulted in a confusing set of acronyms that even health IT professionals sometimes have trouble understanding. The transition from paper medical records to electronic records has resulted in a proliferation of terms. The following is an attempt to sort out the “alphabet soup” of healthcare IT and expand some of the common acronyms that you may encounter.

IEEE-USA and a coalition of engineering groups has drafted legislation that will be introduced into Congress to help states make engineering and technology a formal part of their standard science curriculums.

The third in the series on biofuel and biomass energy provides a discourse on an exceptionally important concern of biofuel and biomass production — that of land availability, conversion and deforestation.

An exciting "new age" in fusion energy research and development is now beckoning, including important advances expected to be achieved at the ITER international experimental reactor in France, fusion experts have testified before a congressional panel.

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) has been serving as chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology since the start of the 110th Congress. He recently shared his thoughts with Today's Engineer on a number of important issues.

The U.S. rail network today, at 94,942 miles, is less than half of the mileage in 1970. However, sharply higher fuel prices have highlighted the economic value of railroads, and the industry seems poised to enjoy a renaissance of sorts.

What is the future of precollege engineering education in the United States? What learning opportunities do engineering curricula provide to students? How can policy-makers bring meaningful changes to this country's educational programs? These are just a few of the questions addressed in the new NAE report, Engineering in K-12 Education: Understanding the Status and Improving the Prospects.

IEEE-USA has joined forces with a coalition of engineering and science associations to provide training for engineers interested in running for public office.

“Buy American” is making a comeback in response to the nation's foundering economy, and in light of "Buy American" provisions within the current administration’s stimulus program. But is it the best thing for America?

The U.S. human spaceflight program currently appears to be on an “unsustainable trajectory,” according to a report by a 10-member expert panel chaired by Norman R. Augustine, retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp.

On 9 November 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in perhaps the most important patent case in decades: Bilski v. Kappos. On 1 September, IEEE-USA joined with Lee Hollaar in submitting an amicus curiae brief on this landmark case.

Select government documents and reports are provided through the IEEE-USA e-book catalog as an information service to IEEE members. The catalog has been recently updated to include the three new titles.

On 24 August, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its Report to the President on U.S. Preparations for 2009- H1N1 Influenza. Did PCAST miss opportunities to foster greater impact by not addressing this issue through the interoperability lens?

The House of Representatives is ready to debate their $1 trillion bill after the August recess, but the Senate Finance Committee has not revealed the details of their $900 billion version yet. A look at the issues Congress will be embroiled in this Fall.

Congress and the Department of Energy are focusing intensified attention on the energy-water nexus, particularly in the context of efforts to develop advanced technologies which promise to substantially reduce water withdrawals and consumption by electric power plants.

The outlook for the $280 million request by the Department of Energy for the establishment of Energy Innovation Hubs is in the hands of the all-important conference committee.

Kristine L. Svinicki, a commissioner of the U.S. NRC, recently observed that “in the United States — and globally — there has been much discussion in recent years of a so-called ‘Nuclear Renaissance.’ Where does IEEE-USA stand?

Congress missed a 30 July deadline for reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) loan program and the similar Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, but agreed to continue the programs until at least 30 September.

NASA's human space flight program is in limbo at a time when its space shuttle and space station are approaching the end of their projected operational life-spans.

The Waxman-Markey bill, promoting energy efficiency and reduction in pollutants thought to be responsible for climate change, narrowly passed the House in June, 219 to 212. What happens next?

Debate over biofuel usage is heating up. This article, the first in a series of six articles on the most contentious issues surrounding biofuels, provides an introduction to the basics of the major biofuels.

IEEE-USA held its first annual Energy Fly-In to help stress to legislators the importance of formulating energy policy that bolsters economic activity, better protects the environment and promotes national security.

Key members of Congress along with high-tech industry executives are voicing qualified support for President Barack Obama’s cybersecurity initiatives, particularly his decision to establish a new White House office headed by a so-called “Cybersecurity Czar.”

A new National Research Council report says the United States should establish clear national policy on resorting to cyberattack, while at the same time continuing to develop cyberwarfare capabilities in this sensitive area.

Plans for upgrading the electric grid and adding renewable energy resources got a boost with the stimulus package, which includes $4.5 billion for low voltage smart grid pilot projects and $6.5 billion for existing wiring repair and maintenance — a total of $11 billion.

IEEE-USA’s efforts to advocate greater use of modern IT in America’s health care system are in substantial alignment with initiatives being mapped out by the Obama Administration, which is aiming to computerize the country’s health records within five years.

President Barack Obama’s appointees to key science and technology positions, along with his issuance of an official memorandum directing that the integrity of federal S&T activities be carefully safeguarded, have been drawing strong praise from the policy community, including IEEE-USA leaders.

Today, energy is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. The issue dominates political, economic and social debate—garnering the kind of attention not seen since the energy crises of the 1970s. The economic emergence of China, Brazil, Russia and other large players in world markets have pushed energy prices to unprecedented levels, having widespread impact on global economies, and forcing governments to take action.

Sarah Rovito, our new Student's Voice editor, recalls how a WISE internship two summers ago helped lead to her current work, and how it whetted her appetite for using her engineering expertise to influence public policy decisions.

The growth of high-density commercial wireless systems has increased harmful interference to 700-800 MHz public safety communication systems (such as police, fire and emergency rescue). To cope with this, the FCC in July 2004 adopted a comprehensive plan to reconfigure the band, using digital television (DTV) to increase both capacity and quality.

Expert witnesses, including two IEEE members, testified before the House Science and Technology Committee to voice support for draft legislation to assist federal efforts aimed at scoping out and devising strategies for dealing with serious challenges posed by e-waste.

In November 2008, hundreds of engineers, economists, public policy experts, and citizens gathered in Atlanta for the IEEE Energy2030 Conference on Global Sustainable Energy Infrastructure.

IEEE-USA's 2009 president discusses his path to becoming an engineer, his family, his hobbies, and what he's looking forward to accomplishing on behalf of the IEEE's U.S. members during his term.

A newly released National Academies report, prepared by a high-powered ad hoc study committee, contends that America’s Cold War-era systems of national security export controls and visa restrictions on foreign scientists and engineers are broken and need to be substantially revamped.

While Congress prepares a renewed focus on government programs to assist science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, several major American corporations are pumping sizeable amounts of money into schools around the country to provide further support for initiatives to strengthen STEM education.

IEEE-USA editor for technology policy George McClure looks at the prospects for technology, energy, climate change, work force, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy in the new year.

n theory, globalization is supposed to equalize global wages and raise the global standard of living. Everyone is supposed to benefit. So, what's the problem?

The public is asking for the modern presidency to tap into the potential of all Americans by means of searchable online databases of government information, full-scale interactivity, and the distributed problem solving that comes with social networks, to become more accessible, more transparent, and more effective.

Sarah Rovito writes about the summer of 2007, which she spent in Washington, D.C., as one of three IEEE-sponsored WISE interns.

In August, the IEEE Central Indiana Section hosted “Biofuels in Indiana: Technology, Public Policy and Future Direction,” a day-long conference which examined and assessed Indiana's biofuels progress, as well as the future of renewable energy sources.

Smart grid will bring tremendous energy, efficiency and environmental benefits … but consumers are not yet onboard.

Over the next few years, the United States will face tough questions regarding the future of telecommunications, including spectrum sharing, broadband Internet, delivering services to rural areas, and the impact of peer-to-peer networks. One man helping to answer these and other questions is an IEEE member: Prof. Jon M. Peha, the FCC's new chief technologist.

As oil nudged $140 per barrel, there was a ground swell of interest in more offshore drilling. But other options — including smart grid and nuclear power — warrant consideration when it comes to ensuring the nation's future energy supply and independence from foreign oil.

The November / December 2008 issue of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine which will focus on protecting the health care & public health critical infrastructure.

The history of initiatives to conserve energy use is as long as the history of energy use itself. Humans have always attempted to do more with less. But it was not until the energy crises of the 1970s that the desire to conserve became great enough to infiltrate federal-level policy. Where do we stand today, and what can we do in our own homes to help?

Smart grid initiatives are almost entirely industry-driven. People based in academia will be hard-pressed to find an institution from which they can learn all there is to learn about smart grid in one single helping.

In mid-August, IEEE-USA President Russell Lefevre joined with more 250 other national science and technology leaders who converged on the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to participate in the first National Science and Technology Summit.

Intellectual property is rarely on the minds of today’s young engineers — but it should be. Some may be familiar with patents, which grant an exclusive monopoly to the patent holder for a period of 20 years, but fewer are familiar with copyrights.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) has introduced legislation in Congress that will dramatically change America’s skill-based immigration system. Her bills will make it significantly easier for non-Americans with advanced education and skilled to become citizens.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the Broadcast Flag regulation — beyond the MPAA’s influence, the disregard for fair use, and muzzled innovations — was the way the FCC overreached its authority. Despite its repeal, the regulation has had long-lasting consequences.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during April-May 2008.

The nation's elderly are wealthier, healthier and more numerous than ever before. However, the positive population and financial trends among the elderly population are contrasted by negative trends in the their transportation options.

On 17 January, IEEE-USA, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Westinghouse Electric Company jointly participated in a Congressional Research and Development Caucus briefing on emerging nuclear technology. IEEE-USA coordinated the briefing to assist House members with a shared interest in promoting technical innovation in the United States.

Early adopters are valuable to those who introduce innovative high-tech products. These early customers may be either individuals or corporations. It is estimated that perhaps 10 to15 percent of the individual purchasers of a product fall into the early-adopter category.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in the first quarter of 2008.

Henry Ford and Rudolph Diesel’s initial efforts to fuel their fledgling automobiles involved ethanol and peanut oil, respectively. However, they soon discovered that refined petroleum was a far more efficient source for gasoline and diesel fuel. Are biofuels ready to make a comeback?

In the short term, forecasting is hard to do, matching a development with a timeline. That said, IEEE-USA's government relations editor George McClure provides an overview of changes and trends in eight categories that are likely to affect all of us, in one way or another, in 2008: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy.

The topic may seem dull, but technology export controls are vital to U.S. security and competitiveness. Technology that could help other nations compete with the United States if released — or that could be useful to terrorists — is subject to export controls. The rub comes in weighing the needs of U.S. innovators for greater sales versus the harm to the national interest if the technology is divulged.

According to some, engineering is the most essential profession in the world. Engineers mold the very foundations of almost every device, mechanism, system and substance on which the world's population relies. So, if the United States is suffering from an "engineering gap," where will the nation's future engineers come from?

The dearth of women in IT and programming, and declining numbers of women enrolling in undergraduate computer science majors in the United States has many causal factors, and has been studied extensively since the 1980s. Yet the underlying causes are so intertwined that it is difficult to separate them. Some sociologists suggest that many of these causes may reflect the pervasive effect of the gender system. Confounding the issue are technological and cultural changes.

The following is a recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in January-early February 2008.

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?

Historically, American transportation systems have been plagued with problems of congestion, pollution and safety. Should transportation systems give people what they want or what they need?

A long, dismal history of election fraud, in both rural areas and big cities, tells of the election process' legacy of susceptibility to corrupt elements. So, will e-voting make things better — or worse?

Perhaps not well known by many IEEE members, Golden was described as “a main architect of American science policy in the 20th Century” in his New York Times obituary, an acknowledgment of his influence in defining the federal government’s expanded role in science and technology after World War II.

Ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the top internships in the country, the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) gives IEEE student members a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

U.S. ports handle more than 2 billion tons of domestic and import/export cargo per year, $1.3 billion worth of goods move in and out of U.S. ports every day. Interference with their function would be disruptive to the U.S. economy. However, terrorist activity could destroy port facilities or use them as a channel to move materials into the United States for other destinations.

In an effort to drive critical thinking on the U.S. electric power grid and its well-publicized reliability issues, Luis Kun, Senior Research Professor of Homeland Security at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., and Professor Robert Mathews, Distinguished Senior Research Scholar in National Security Affairs and U.S. Industrial Preparedness at the University of Hawaii, are writing a series of white papers on problems caused by uninteroperability in the nation's critical infrastructures. First up: the electric power grid.

A glut of business methods patents is clogging the patent review system's arteries. Is the system broken or badly in need of an overhaul?

On 2 August, Congress passed landmark legislation designed to enhance U.S. competitiveness and innovation by increasing funding for basic research and improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. President Bush signed the bill into law on 9 August.

Items highlighting new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in recent months.

Intellectual property — original creations whether in hardware design, software engineering, or art (literary works, musical compositions, trademarks, or performance art) — is a key to national competitiveness. However, respect for intellectual property rights, and their duration, varies around the world.

Earlier this year, a diverse bipartisan group of senators introduced the National Energy and Environment Security Act of 2007 (S. 6), which seeks to reduce national dependence on foreign oil and expand non-petroleum transportation options. Shouldn't the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) have included such measures?

To help IEEE members learn to innovate, IEEE-USA is launching a new Innovation Institute geared at training current and future business, academic and government employees responsible for the innovation of new products and services.

In early June, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing to explore the roles that technology could play in reducing the illegal file-sharing of intellectual property on university and college campuses.

Few could foresee, when radio-telephony was in its infancy, the extent to which the mobile telephone (the name applied when the electronics was so bulky that a vehicle was required to carry it) would evolve into the personal cell phone and then the revolution in other applications for the service.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an emerging technology that is providing excellent career prospects for electrical engineering students, as well as experienced engineers looking for new opportunities.

There is general agreement that the secret to maintaining U.S. competitiveness is innovation. Commodity manufacturing will move offshore but, the reasoning goes, if the United States is first to market with new technology, it will maintain a leading position among its competitors. But are we doing enough?

Surveys indicate that older adults want to remain in their homes as they age despite disabilities that may compromise safety. Maintaining older individuals in their homes is also financially preferable — 40 percent of elder adults cannot even afford to live in an assisted care facility.

Electrical, mechanical and automotive engineers are working feverishly to bring these cars to the market. Since many of these engineers are IEEE members, it makes sense for us to strongly support the development of plug-in hybrids.

The FCC and Congress have signaled a willingness to step into the breach on the network neutrality issue. Legislation was tabled in 2006, but new bills are already making the rounds on Capitol Hill.

The IEEE-USA Board of Directors formally approved in their last meeting of 2006 the CIPC as an official IEEE-USA committee, effective 1 January 2007.

Marconi and Tesla’s bitter race to own the patent for radio seems almost quaint compared with the blatant exploitation on today’s IP landscape.

On 15 February, President Bush signed into law a stop-gap spending measure that will keep the government running for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Given the unparalleled potency of the nuclear power, control over the entire infrastructure is very closely guarded, and few opportunities exist for ordinary citizens to be involved. So, why does this matter?

In 2006, IEEE-USA Government Relations volunteers and staff focused on getting Congress to implement the provisions of the National Academy of Engineering report Rising Above the Gathering Storm that matched our legislative agenda. Have our prospects improved with the new Congress?

IEEE-USA's Technology Policy Editor George McClure dons his prognosticator's hat to provide a look at the year ahead. He shares insights on eight topics that may affect your career in 2007: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economic outlook.

No matter what station your life is in, U.S. science and technology policy can affect you and your career. IEEE-USA undertakes substantial activities in advocating technology policies of interest to the U.S. membership. IEEE-USA Vice President for Technology Policy Cliff Lau provides an overview of IEEE-USA's tech policy committees.

In his fourth and final installment of the series, Patrick Meyer divulges his lessons-learned and offers some insight as to what can be done to manufacture a communication bridge between engineers and policy makers.

Today's alternative energy sources enjoy a state of tremendous appeal to power producers and consumers alike. The beginnings of commercially available alternate energy, however, were very modest by today’s standards.

Medicare is the 800-pound gorilla in the room that people ignore, when looking at the smaller problem of future funding for Social Security. The aging of our population, as birth rates decline and life expectancy increases, is the most significant demographic force that will shape our economy and society in the coming decades. How well we deal with the funding issue will affect the extent to which we push costs forward to future generations. Saving more now can reduce their future burden.

IEEE members take note: Your mega-organization recently increased its activities in radio frequency identification (RFID) with a multi-pronged approach. Reflecting the fragmented nature of the RFID technologies industry, as well as research and development, IEEE interest in RFID is found in pockets among technical societies, such as Communications, Computer and Microwave Theory & Techniques.

A secure, affordable, sustainable energy supply, with limited environmental impact, is critical to ensuring enduring prosperity in the United States. The nation faces major challenges in meeting projected energy demand in an increasingly energy-hungry world and in developing the necessary next-generation workforce to support energy delivery.

As globalization advances, it has become commonplace (possibly even fashionable) to voice concern over the steady erosion of U.S. prominence in science and engineering. The concern is particularly centered in the physical, computer, and engineering sciences.

With just days to go before the October 1 start of fiscal year (FY) 2007, Congress finalized an FY 2007 Department of Defense (DOD) budget that contains a record-breaking $76.8 billion for research and development (R&D) spending.

Sobering conclusions about the dangers of night driving are leading researchers to develop solutions that involve infrared cameras to augment the drivers ability to see, and displays — both heads-up and head-down flat panels — to let the driver see what the sensor sees.

A flow of information between engineers and policy-makers exists, but in many cases the information flows from engineers in “engineer-speak” and is received by policy-makers who are accustomed only to “political-speak.” This absence of a common lexicon can result in differing interpretations. How can we engineer a solution?

Stakeholders including manufacturers, retailers, recyclers and environmental organizations, whose views are presented in a recently released Commerce Department report, “agreed that a uniform national system of electronics recycling is preferable to a patchwork of differing state systems.”

Last fall, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) launched a program to identify best practices for improving the retention and success of freshman and sophomore EE students. More than 40 schools applied for program grants, five of which were awarded $20,000 grants each to fund their programs. More than 400 students were affected, with all of the schools are reporting positive results.

According to a recent Harris Interactive Poll, Americans count engineers among the top 10 most admired professionals. Not bad, considering all of the professions out there. But in his latest column, IEEE-USA President Ralph Wyndrum explains why it would be even better if more people remembered that the doctors, nurses, scientists and military officers who garnered the most admiration would be hard-pressed without the instruments engineers conceived and designed.

Allegheny Energy's recovery following the turbulent days of the energy trading market is an outstanding example of an internally driven revitalization. While the volatility in energy trading has moderated, and most utilities have shown only moderate performance since the onset of deregulation, Allegheny Energy has set itself apart, outpacing competitors since 2003.

Dr. James E. Gover believes that if hybrid vehicles are to be adopted widely to gain the benefits of fuel efficiency, more needs to be done in R&D and in educating the new generation of automotive engineers.

When the heat is on, the transmission grid is tested. And it passed without serious incident during the unseasonably hot temperatures in mid July. But, reserve margins in some parts of the United States took a dip, emphasizing the need for new and modern forms of generation that can be sent over a robust transmission system.

The National Science Foundation is set to launch a major reorganization of its Directorate for Engineering, including the addition of cyber systems to the division of Electrical and Communications Systems, as well as creation of a new crosscutting Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation.

Mary Lou Jepsen's humanitarian mission to develop and mass produce a $100 laptop to be used by the world's children is nearing fruition. The ambitious project's CTO describes how a 10-minute interview with MIT Media Labs' Nicholas Negroponte for a faculty position turned into a three-hour discussion about the need for a low-cost computer and the sort of organization that could make it happen. Jepsen shares a progress report on the organization and the computer that promises to transform education around the globe.

Congress is embroiled in a major debate over immigration reform, with a spate of bills currently under consideration. Central to this debate is Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-Pa.) bill (S. 2454). Because Sen. Specter is Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over immigration issues, his bill is currently the most likely to be acted upon.

Congress is considering sweeping changes to patent law, as well as legislation that would reinstate the "broadcast flag" on all new digital media. Where does IEEE-USA stand, and what is the organization doing to protect the intellectual property rights of inventors?

In March, the IEEE's Houston and Galveston Bay Sections held a joint meeting with Rep. Tom Delay, where he listened to their concerns and shared some of his views on issues affecting U.S. IEEE members, including space exploration, the nuclear power industry, and immigration.

"Innovation" and "competitiveness" aren't just empty buzzwords in Washington these days — they've garnered very real bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress and the White House, and have yielded a number of promising legislative initiatives. In Part II, this article examines the National Academies Report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm.

"Innovation" and "competitiveness" aren't just empty buzzwords in Washington these days — they've garnered very real support from Congress and the White House, and have yielded a number of promising legislative initiatives. This two-part article examines two reports that crystallized this movement, beginning with the Council on Competitiveness report Innovate America.

Get to know a little bit more about 2006 IEEE-USA President Ralph Wyndrum.

During the summer of 2005, RIT graduate student Patrick Meyer interned with IEEE-USA's Energy Policy Committee, analyzing the progress of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. As Student's Voice editor for Today's Engineer, Meyer hopes to help bridge the divide between engineers and policy-makers.

A disconnect seems to exists between the arcane and esoteric realm of basic research — conducted in secretive labs by cloistered engineers and scientists — and the familiar and ubiquitous technologies we take for granted today. But the fact is, many of the technologies we utilize daily were born in those very same labs.

Responding to a troubling National Academies report and a broad industry initiative, President Bush and Congress have recently proposed competitiveness initiatives that are designed to help the United States maintain its leading edge in science and technology.

IEEE-USA needs your help advancing a model law to establish reasonable limits for employment agreements, and help clarify when intellectual property belongs to an employee and when it can be claimed by an employer.

Some of the more notable science and technology quotations that appeared in the American Institute of Physics (AIP) FYI Newsletter in 2005

Despite lean R&D budgets and hurricane-ravaged facilities, NASA plans to move ahead with its ambitious goals to develop a new Crew Exploration Vehicle that will return manned crews to the moon and later to Mars.

In November 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a study detailing an investigation of the issues surrounding offshoring of services, including those specifically associated with high-tech jobs.

Now that we're four years past the end of the last recession, what lies ahead in 2006? TE examines changes and trends in eight categories that are likely to affect all of us in one way or another in the new year: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economic outlook.

The deadline for the transition to digital television has been pushed back to April 2009, giving lawmakers and the FCC more time to decide what to do with the analog spectrum that will be returned shortly after the transition is complete.

Washington State legislator Rep. Toby Nixon is an IEEE member and a project manager at Microsoft. He recently sat down with IEEE-USA's Russ Harrison to discuss how engineering and politics intersect.

IEEE-USA's vice president of member activities is the ECE department chair at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also loves barbeque and thinks he may be overusing the expression "cool." Read on about one of IEEE-USA's key volunteers.

The Board governs on behalf of the organization's owners or members; it is accountable for an organization's performance and integrity. How does it affect you?

Partnerships, cooperation and sharing lessons learned were key watchwords during a two-day government-industry workshop bringing together dozens of representatives from regional, state and local initiatives across the United States that aim to help promote and support the development of nanotechnology.

As mandated by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the U.S. Copyright Office has opened rulemaking proceedings to determine when it is okay to circumvent technological measures designed to protect copyrighted works.

When it comes to IPv6, Europe and Asia are leaving the United States in the dust.

IEEE-USA Today's Engineer asked two electric power engineers experienced in storm damage and service restoration for their thoughts on the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, and what power engineers are doing, and will need to do, to restore electric service in affected areas, returning Gulf Coast residents to some semblance of normalcy.

Olin College is on the cutting edge of engineering education.

Two significant, IEEE-USA-supported provisions make it into the final law.

Troubling trend: falling unemployment coincides with falling employment among EEs.

Spokane is wired and wireless like very few other cities. They should take note.

Whether it’s characterized as globalization, offshoring, trade in services, competitiveness or Thomas Friedman’s "world flattening," U.S. engineers are facing unsettling new challenges and asking what needs to be done not only to preserve their own career vitality, but also to maintain a strong U.S. engineering workforce and keep engineering an attractive career path for future generations.

IEEE-USA and the IEEE Computer Society Task Force on Information Assurance sponsored a 26 July forum to discuss a February 2005 Report by the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee.

Most engineers deal with intellectual property (IP) issues on a daily basis. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're familiar with IP basics and how they might affect their careers. Take this simple quiz to test your knowledge of IP legal basics.

Nearly 20 years after the Hudson Institute's workforce 2000 report called for the creation of one million new high-tech jobs for people in low-income neighborhoods, the nation is mired in a jobless recovery. For far too many Americans, the dream of economic prosperity that comes with growing numbers of high-skilled, high-wage jobs has been postponed or abandoned. The African-American community has been particularly hard hit.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates full implementation of the IEEE Interconnection Standard (IEEE 1547), increasing electricity supply diversity and ensuring the reliability and safety of the American electric power system.

In his 2003 State of the Union speech, President Bush announced the creation of a new Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Two years later, what progress has been made toward implementation of the Hydrogen Economy?

Patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office are the primary protection inventors can employ to derive compensation from their inventions, and are therefore a primary driver of innovation. Lawmakers are considering changes to some of patent law's most basic tenets. Where do you stand on the proposed changes?

Engineers around the country are working together to develop standards that should help make sure that focus continues to be on vote counts, rather than the way votes are entered and tabulated.

Some estimate that our petroleum stores will run out in approximately 20 years, while others predict a supply that will last at least one 100 years more. Prognostications and arguments aside, it is reasonable to assume that someday energy usage will have to shift from petroleum to alternative sources. What are those alternatives?

The IEEE Power Engineering Society (PES) and IEEE-USA’s Energy Policy Committee joined forces on 23 May to bring PES’ educational course, “Power System Basics for Non-Engineering Professionals,” to Capitol Hill for the benefit of congressional staff.

With the unrelenting flow of energy-related information coming from Capitol Hill, many engineers, policy-makers and ordinary citizens are wondering how the Energy Policy Act of 2005 will change the way things work. In this case, confusion may be warranted: FERC is given unprecedented authority; PUHCA is repealed despite warnings that consumers will face higher energy prices; and a Renewable Portfolio Standard is implemented in states in which it may be technically impossible to meet such requirements.

While NASA has slowed its space flight program, private companies and investors, spurred by high-stakes competitions like the Ansari X Prize, are pushing ahead with their commercial space programs toward the promise of even greater payoffs.

The Supreme Court handed down its much-anticipated decision in the MGM vs. Grokster file-sharing case on 27 June. The decision will affect the public's access to the Internet and the development of future technologies, as well as determine how Americans receive their entertainment, according to IEEE-USA experts.

Before 9/11, airport security consisted of a ticket agent asking you if you packed your bag yourself, if it had been in your continuous custody since you packed it, and whether you had been given anything to carry aboard by an unknown stranger. Today we wait longer and must endure additional scrutiny, but what has really changed? And are we safer?

IEEE-USA and other major professional technical organizations, together with key members of Congress and prominent computer scientists and engineers, have criticized the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for cutting back its support of basic, open-ended, “blue-sky” computing research at U.S. universities.

Funding for health sciences has doubled within five years, but the physical sciences and engineering have not been nearly as fortunate in increasing R&D funding. How will the Department of Energy's 18 national labs — which constitute 40 percent of the total national funding for physics, chemistry, materials science and other areas of the physical sciences — fare in the coming years?

Restructuring is sweeping the electric power industry and changing the role engineers must play in achieving a reliable supply of electricity.

The United States is now more than 15 years into an experiment to deregulate and restructure its electric power industry. Has the change benefited industrial and commercial users, ordinary consumers and the nation's economy?

At the 3rd Annual Engineering R&D Symposium, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) underscored the urgent need for U.S. engineers to become politically active to protect their interests or risk losing their dominance to a quickly emerging, foreign high-tech industry.

A recently released report, the National Innovation Initiative (NII), is helping policy-makers set an agenda that will help the country maintain its leadership position in innovation.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing, Grokster, Kazaa and copyright inducement have been in the news the past year. What's it all about, and how does it affect you?

In the early 1990s, there was growing optimism that the burgeoning European Union (EU) would become a driver of productivity growth around the globe. Today, however, the outlook is less optimistic.

The United Nation’s millennium development goals (MDGs) are an ambitious set of goals (see Table 1) aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of people living in the world's least developed countries. What role can engineers expect to play in accomplishing these goals?

While the payroll tax for Social Security is bringing in more money than is being paid out now, by 2018 that situation is expected to reverse as fewer workers contribute and more retirees draw benefits. Everyone's talking about it... but what's getting done?

If nothing is done, the Hubble will likely fail catastrophically by 2008. Although it has led to some of the most significant discoveries in recent history, NASA has no current plans to send either a manned or a robotic rescue mission to extend Hubble's life. Does it really matter?

Since becoming House Science Committee chair in January 2001, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert has emerged as an outspoken champion of science and technology programs on Capitol Hill. TE recently sat down with Boehlert, to discuss his thoughts on the S&T budget, the Hubble space telescope, outsourcing of U.S. high-tech jobs, and other issues.

IEEE Senior Member Massoud Amin, who coined the term "self-healing grid" during his tenure at the Electric Power Research Insitute (EPRI), responds to a piece on electric power industry reliability that appeared in last month's Today's Engineer.

2005 IEEE-USA President Gerry Alphonse is an IEEE Fellow, an accomplished engineer and a highly respected leader in technical and professional communities. He recently sat down with Today's Engineer to share some of the more personal defining moments in his remarkable life.

Long-term comparisons of the household savings rates of Europe, Japan and the United States reveal that, although all three have been trending downward, the Japanese are saving twice the amount — Europeans four times — as the United States. Given the questions swirling around the future of Social Security, and facing a declining number of traditional employer-maintained defined benefit pension plans, are we saving enough for retirement?

A new strategic plan for the National Nanotechnology Initiative sizes up the first five years of the government's R&D effort as a success, and lays out an ambitious agenda for continuing development of nanotechnology over the next five to 10 years. The new strategic plan includes facilitating transfer of new technologies into products for economic growth, jobs and other public benefit.

The United States is doing well with energy conservation. Data for the most recent three years show that growth in electric energy demand has been only half the growth in Gross Domestic Product. But reliability improvements have lagged behind, resulting in increased incidence of blackouts.

Late last year, Congress passed bills that rescinded the project that dedicated $100 million in H-1B employer funds to training programs. If the project gets scuttled, only a little more than $9 million will be left for training in areas identified as having shortages of highly skilled American workers.

Cuts in the Federal Aviation Administration budget are threatening to delay the implementation of new air traffic control equipment at a time when the number of planes in the air is projected to increase substantially.

When Burt Rutan and the crew of the privately funded SpaceShipOne took home the $10 Million Ansari X Prize for successfully reaching space twice in a two-week period, they stoked interest in and support for the quest to open the final frontier to tourism and other commercial endeavors.

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) 148 member countries established a General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in hopes that it will encourage liberalization of trade in service markets, including engineering services. The goal is to stimulate economic growth, but definitions remain fuzzy and many proposals — including the U.S. proposal — aren't available for public review. What implications could GATS have on the careers of U.S. engineers?

In October, several experts outlined and discussed the myriad factors involved in this new era of energy distribution at an IEEE-USA-cosponsored seminar at Notre Dame University on "Ethics and the Changing Energy Markets." Though early attempts to let open markets define the industry bordered on disastrous, many believe that things can settle down and run smoothly.

Of the estimated 8 million to 10 million illegal aliens in the United States today, nearly 40 percent are here because they overstayed their non-resident visas. In 1986, Congress issued an amnesty window, giving nearly 3 million illegal aliens legal immigrant status. Advocates are calling for another such amnesty. Might a “blue card” program be more effective?

Funding decisions made by the new Congress will spark debate in the electronics industry in coming months. Some believe federal R&D funding should drive the emergence of exciting new technologies, but others view such federal grants programs to be nothing short of welfare for corporations.

Employers began offering health care insurance as an employee benefit during World War II, in response to imposed wage and price controls, which limited employers’ ability to attract desirable employees by offering them more salary. They could afford the costs for these benefits when the costs rose only as quickly — and in proportion to — the general inflation rate. The burden, however, is now shifting to employees.

The demand for Internet gambling continues to grow, perhaps as a result of people love for gambling. Determining whether this gambling form should be made legal or not, however, is somewhat ambiguous. While many are stepping up efforts to prohibit Internet gambling, proponents believe it could be a revenue source for states and the federal government…

The debate over funding for public transit versus funding for highway projects is not new. Monies for both are scarce, and the demise of projects designed to promote mobility improvements, operational efficiencies, cost effectiveness and environmental benefits may come soon, when the 2005 Transportation-Treasury spending bill cuts projects it determines have no tangible benefit…

Voice over Internet Protocol is expected to ramp up quickly, possibly claiming more than 10 percent of worldwide telephony revenues in just five years. And while the government doesn't expect to be involved significantly in the transition, it will almost certainly have to get involved with the tax, law enforcement and regulatory issues that accompany the change.

Ethical debate, research restrictions, a lack of research funding, migration abroad of experts and the absence of a clear strategic plan continue to constrain the full scientific potential of stem cell research and tissue engineering. These constraints have contributed to the loss of jobs for U.S. scientists, engineers and physicians, as well as to a loss of leadership in this health care field.

More and more, companies hoping to improve their bottom lines are taking advantage of lower labor costs offshore. In fact, high-tech job outsourcing has become a staple in today’s corporate environment. How much do employers really gain, and what effect is this trend having on engineers and other high-tech professionals?

Software piracy in this country is relatively uncomplicated; companies and consumers simply load a few more copies of programs on their PCs than they paid for. And while this onshore piracy adds up to significant lost revenue, larger-scale piracy occurring overseas concerns software producers far more.

Delays in the visa process affect companies financially. IEEE-USA president John Steadman joined other organization leaders in urging the federal government to streamline the current visa application process by alleviating repetitive security checks, improving the renewal process, and establishing priority processing for some applications.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an appropriations bill that earmarks $2 million for an independent study on the effects of offshore outsourcing. IEEE-USA Career and workforce Policy Committee Chair Ron Hira had met earlier with Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) to discuss offshoring and high-tech employment, prompting Wolf to add a provision to the FY 2005 Commerce, State and Justice Departments appropriations bill for an offshoring study.

The IEEE’s Code of Ethics has retained the fundamental principles detailed in the Code first adopted by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) in 1912. Meanwhile, business practices have changed, society’s needs have changed, and engineers’ roles in business have changed. In light of the world in which we live and work today, could it be time to consider modifications?

IEEE-USA is among several groups working closely with elementary, middle and high schools, getting students interested in math, science and technology, with the hope that they will encourage more youngsters to pursue engineering in college. Contests and mentoring programs are among the most popular tools, and many corporations are joining the effort, sponsoring the programs with money, time and people.

The weak U.S. dollar is making American goods less expensive — and therefore more attractive — to international markets. This export environment should provide benefits for American companies and could benefit U.S. workers in the process.

Beyond agreeing on broad technology issues, President George Bush and Senator John Kerry differ significantly on many of the specific government programs and initiatives in place or needed to reap maximum benefits from advanced technology development. How do their stands compare with IEEE-USA’s positions?

Early prototypes of programmable walkers, “smart toilets”; monitoring devices with disembodied voices reminding people about daily tasks; emergency detection and response devices; passive sleep and gait monitors; and a robot named “Pearl” are just a few of the technology efforts that engineers have designed and are testing to help the elderly age with dignity and grace, according to speakers at a workshop on geriatric healthcare on 4 June at Mitretek Systems in Falls Church, Va.

DARPA’s first Grand Challenge failed to produce a clear-cut “winner,” but the technology presented and publicity generated were more than enough to convince DARPA managers that the event was a success. In fact, they are already planning a second race that promises an even larger prize.

This is the year for electronic voting. Whether the systems that ultimately will be used will be web-based or touch-screen systems, critical issues such as security, auditing, resources and computer literacy will surely surround them. Many states and the federal government have proposed or enacted legislation to deal with these issues.

Technologies exist that could allow the nation's aging population to remain independent longer, saving substantial amounts on assisted living. But who will foot the bill? And who will be liable, should the systems fail?

Increased demand for high-tech personnel with security clearances and a growing backlog of security clearance investigations has brought attention to the lengthy clearance process. Is going through the time-consuming process worth it?

The National Science Board (NSB) considers U.S. strength in science and engineering as being in “potential peril.” NSB has endorsed an imperative for the federal government to ensure the adequacy of the U.S. science and engineering workforce, partly by increasing the number of Americans pursuing science and engineering studies and careers. Is this strategy really the way to go?

Hybrid vehicles are growing in popularity, but questions remain about their general acceptance and their overall impact on tighter government regulations for fuel economy and low emissions.

The 2003 "Northeast Blackout" left more than 50 million people in the dark last August. What happened? The IEEE Power Engineering Society and IEEE-USA sponsored a “Blackout 101” forum for members of Congress and their staffs, to educate them on how North America’s electric power system works; what can go wrong; and how we can prevent future large-scale power blackouts.

The refueled debate over immigration has some thinking that corporations may press Congress for another H-1B increase. With the H-1B visa limit now set at 65,000, concern is growing about companies that seek talent from other countries misusing the L-1 visa program to make up for the smaller H-1B pool. Professional organizations and interest groups are divided on the visa caps issue.

Late last year, President Bush signed into law the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, allocating $3.7 billion in federal funding for many aspects of molecular-level R&D over the next four years — and giving the United States an apparent edge over international competitors.

As the nation’s population continues to grow, increased traffic density on our roads and highways is contributing to longer travel times, increased pollution and more accidents. In addition to mass transit systems, one possible solution that is quickly gaining attention is Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which integrates users, transportation systems and vehicles through state-of-the-art synergistic information and communications systems.

Heavy trucks consume billions of gallons of fuel each year, much of which gets burned by powerful engines left idling to run heaters or air conditioners for their cabs. Can new technologies and legislation keep truckers comfortable while reducing fuel consumption and improving air quality?

When the electric system delivers energy to the bulk of customers within accepted standards, and in the amounts desired for a reasonable price, then it is said to be reliable. But when the potential for security breaches and even large-scale terrorism gets added to the already present weather factors and equipment failures, the reliability scenario becomes far more complex…

Position statements serve as the basis for IEEE-USA’s legislative agenda and represent the authority for the policies advocated on behalf of IEEE’s U.S. members. How does a position become one? And should we limit policy advocacy to technology issues only or do career policy issues still deserve our voice?

The ramp up of smart card technology in this country has been slow. Lately, however, government agencies and other organizations have picked up the pace, using smart cards for employee identification, payment options and fraud protection. What’s more, groups are forming partnerships that allow users to use the same cards for very different purposes. Find out what and who has been behind the step up in smart card use.

It’s not the Great Race or even the Cannonball Run, but when the Pentagon’s “blue sky” R&D organization invites “trailblazers and pioneers in a wide range of fields” to develop unmanned vehicles to compete in a 300-mile race across the Mojave Desert for a $1 million prize, things could get interesting. Take a look at DARPA’s Grand Challenge, and how it's changing the government’s approach to finding innovative solutions to technological challenges.

IEEE-USA is co-sponsoring a series of briefings for Congressional staff designed to raise awareness of key policy issues, such as our nation's electrical power grid reliability and the importance of federally funded research and development.

E-mail in-boxes around the world are being inundated with spam, today's most popular form of junk mail. Analysts estimate that 70 percent of e-mail is junk that is costing businesses and consumers nearly $9 billion a year in wasted time and spam-fighting tools and efforts. But even with all of the time and money spent, are we getting any closer to an effective solution?

The Help America Vote Act has prompted many state governments to consider moving to electronic voting technologies. Some experts believe that, eventually, this trend will involve the Internet. Are we improving the voting system or opening a can of worms?

Gathering information by looking for hidden relationships in data is generating considerable debate both on Capitol Hill and among the public. With so much information gathered and stored by companies and the government, how can we retain our privacy?

In an unusual turn of events, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) put the Democrats' version of the energy bill to a vote, knowing this version would have a better chance of passing before Congress' August recess. What are the differences between this version and the Republicans' version? What happens from here?

The employment market hasn't rebounded as quickly as unemployed and underemployed engineers have hoped, but layoffs have slowed. While professionals are looking for the upturn, they remain concerned about the impact changes in the global marketplace will have on this "jobless recovery."

While The Patriot Act and other laws enacted to secure our nation have garnered their fair share of criticism, they all acknowledge the role technology will play in tightening up security in the United States. Biometrics and x-ray technology will lead the effort, while other systems are poised for future implementation.

According to IEEE-USA testimony presented on Capitol Hill in June, the presence of guest workers in the United States on H1-B and L-1 visas has accelerated the incidence of outsourcing high-tech work and jobs. Hearing participants discussed whether the nation could continue to lose such white-collar jobs to offshore competition and still prosper.

While still faced with a funding crisis, Amtrak keeps rolling along. Can the national rail system generate a profit? What changes may be in store in the near future and how will they affect the organization and its passengers?

The United States faces considerable challenges in maintaining leadership in the worldwide nanotechnology movement, as other countries are investing heavily in related research. IEEE-USA and others recently sponsored a congressional briefing to highlight the status and future of nanotechnology.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s recent push to acquire and implement updated technology that will modernize the country’s outdated air traffic control system follows suggestions made last year in an IEEE-USA position paper. Changes will take about a decade, and will bring some much-needed funding to the battered high-tech industry.

With the glory days seemingly behind the U.S. aerospace industry, should we continue to invest in funding and talent? The President’s Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry thinks so, and it outlined several recommendations to strengthen the weakened sector.

Medicare’s precedent-setting decision to approve coverage for alternative communication devices for people with disabilities has had wide implications across the medical technology field. How quickly will other technologies follow suit?

While trademarks don’t replace other forms of software protection, they can protect against both piracy and incidental copying. What is a trademark and when is it most effective?

Unless Congress says otherwise, come 1 October, the 195,000 temporary (H-1B) guest worker visa quota will revert to its original level of 65,000 per year. What does this mean for U.S. engineers and scientists — and the public?

IEEE-USA was among six engineering societies that sponsored a two-day symposium in March to review federal R&D plans and budgets, to carry a message to Congress about the need for more R&D funding. Many participants visited federal agency leaders to talk about issues. Find out what they had to say.

Engineers and executives who continue to downplay the impact electronic products have on the environment had better join in the green movement quickly. Tough new environmental regulations are changing the way engineers approach new product design and apply alternative materials to existing products.

Do you find yourself having to prove you are who you say you are at every turn? As security measures continue to tighten and identification rules expand, some say it’s time to create a national identification system. The issues are far-reaching and the debates are strong.

It’s not likely the popularity of fuel-guzzling SUVs will ebb anytime soon, but rising oil prices have put energy-saving technologies back onto the front burner. Among them, many are pushing hard for fuel cell development, which could reduce both gasoline consumption and vehicle pollution. Will the latest push actually make fuel cells real options for consumers? more

We have come to take for granted the availability of a safe and sophisticated aviation transportation system. But as federal support for aviation research has declined in the United States, foreign governments are increasing support for their programs. Leading-edge technology will determine the winners in the global competition, and technology advances will depend on national will, available capital and specific investments... more

Lee Hollaar draws on his unique experience in the field of computer science and the law to present a comprehensive and practical analysis of patent and copyright law in the electronic age. What types of legal protection can be used, what do they protect and what they do and don’t protect, and why — it’s all covered

President Bush’s budget proposal for FY 2004 includes $122.5 billion for research and development, a 4.4 percent increase over FY 2003 funding levels. But with most of the increases going toward weapons systems development and research at the new Department of Homeland Security, what happens to the rest of the money?

The Bush Administration’s National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace offers a framework for “organizing and prioritizing efforts.” But without the legislation to back it up, even some who helped craft the strategy openly question its efficacy...

A recent agreement between the cable and consumer electronics industries that would enable HDTV sets to receive HDTV signals over cable without a set-top box has captured the attention of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which, thus far, has been more concerned with the industry’s phase-in of digital tuners to accommodate digital television...

The tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia dramatizes problems that have long existed in the aerospace industry. Faced with an aging orbiter fleet, canceled R&D programs and eroding business opportunities, what does the future hold for NASA?

The stock market may have begun to turn around, but employment has not rebounded at the same rate. Are we experiencing a "jobless recovery"?

It’s a decade late, more than eight times the projected cost, and will have reduced capacity. The International Space Station illustrates the flaws of our civilian space program. Is there time to win back support and public confidence to save the future of human space flight?

As Internet use continues to increase, so too, does web-based criminal activity. One particularly distressing crime on the rise is cyberstalking. What is cyberstalking, who are the victims, and how can virtual stalkers be stopped?

Software copyrights offer limited protection against some types of 'pirates.' Find out what you need to know about copyright protection, registration and ownership…

Futurists foresee a time when patients will be able to talk to medical experts over the Internet. But how soon will it happen?

Concern that unwanted e-mail — also known as spam — will have a huge negative impact on Internet use. What are the technical challenges associated with reducing spam? Will new laws help?

People have debated the impact people migrating to North America have had on this society since the 1700s. As the world has become more interconnected, the debate has shifted to globalization and a trend termed 'virtual migration'...

Illegal copying poses a constant threat to software companies. Fortunately, businesses have several legal tools to combat copiers. What are they and how should they be applied? more

Broadband use has grown from 3.5 million to 15 million homes since 2000, and this growth rate is expected to continue as applications continue to require higher speeds. Can alternative broadband technologies compete with existing cable or satellite connections?

As the telecommunications industry continues to make broadband technologies available to more users, government leaders in Washington, D.C., are addressing some of the critical issues that will affect the future of America's Internet infrastructure. Will government actions open up or limit competition, and will consumers' rights be protected?

Cyber terrorism can take many forms, and cyber threats are real and potentially devastating. How can the United States - and the world - protect itself from digital rogues?

World leaders gathered in Kananaskis Alberta, Canada in July to discuss several global concerns. They left having made agreements, developing recommendations, and helping to create an environmental legacy in the host community…

With the increased ease of manipulating digital media has come the increased potential for illegal distribution of that media. Is there a solution that will stem piracy without restricting fair use?

Prior to 1980, federal R&D expenditures exceeded those of industry. Since the end of the Cold War, however, federal R&D spending has declined while industry expenditures have nearly doubled. Is R&D supported adequately, and is it still a driving force behind the nation's economy?

In May, the Supreme Court ruled on Festo, ultimately adopting a solution proposed by IEEE-USA. The New York Times said the ruling "may be the most significant Supreme Court patent decision in two decades."

What does the future hold for U.S. intelligence-gathering agencies? What will change — and how much will it cost?...

Some 200 members of the U.S. science, engineering and technology community participated in the 7th SET Congressional Visits Day (CVD), on 5-6 March. CVD is a great way for U.S. IEEE members to get involved in the legislative process...

America’s ability to monitor conversations and track people down is widely admired. But when that technology is used to eavesdrop on people inside U.S. borders, many people’s views change quickly. Who draws the line between security and privacy? How much access should law enforcement have?

The Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry has been charged with giving long-term direction to civilian and military avionics and space programs. Just how great is this task?

America's 'Big Three' automakers have participated in a government-sponsored, cost-share program to develop cost-effective, viable alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. To date, none offer such a vehicle on the market. Should taxpayers continue to fund such efforts indefinitely?

In light of the 11 September terrorist attacks, the United States' concern for citizen safety has prompted many to rethink the need for a National Missile Defense (NMD) system. What can IEEE-USA members do to contribute to making the NMD successful?

In terms of terrorist acts, doesn't every one threaten our public health? Why, then, are health care and public health not considered in discussions of our "critical infrastructure"? Click here to read one expert's views.

Do You Have a Future in Patents? — Are you interested in making a change in your career — but want to stay close to the latest technological innovations? Have you considered becoming a patent examiner?

The health care industry is undergoing significant change, and with the change are significant ethical and policy issues, for which there are no easy answers. What are some of the hot issues and how are we dealing with them?

A decision that will be made in 2002 could end the life of Amtrak's intercity passenger rail service in the United States. Can Amtrak pull itself out of trouble at the eleventh hour? Should the federal government play a role in Amtrak's survival?

While a recent appeals decision was designed to clarify the scope of patents — and therefore protection to patent owners — it instead gives competitors greater ability to copy patented inventions and reduces patent owners' abilities to prove infringement. What is IEEE-USA doing about it?

In an effort to increase our nation's technical workforce, the Senate and House have introduced companion versions of the "Tech Talent Bill." What is it all about and how would it work?

Until 1995, the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) served Congress as a bipartisan authority on science and technology issues. Since then, members of Congress have had to rely on a host of other organizations to provide much-needed knowledge. Is it time to reestablish OTA?

With many of our nation's metropolitan area road infrastructures bursting at the seams, perhaps its time travelers and commuters consider an alternative with environmental and economic benefits — rail.

State action on the Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act has stalled. While this is good news for IEEE-USA, much work still needs to be done.

Three engineering students will have much to tell when they're asked what they did on their "summer vacation."

Responding to the question of "who is going to leave the lights on," a group of industry experts are touting the merits of an Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). What is an ERO, and will it work?

Today's engineering workplace is comprised of four distinct generations of workers. Which group will fare best in our volatile economy?

Because our Senators and Congressmen make decisions on our behalf, it behooves us to voice our opinions directly to them on the issues we consider important. Find out how to plan and carry out successful congressional visits, both in Washington, D.C. and at home…

Deregulation of the electric power industry has drawn both cheers and jeers. What are the benefits and what are the costs? What do consumers ultimately want? What do you think about the issue?

The effects of U.S. domestic policies are often felt around the globe. What will the emerging U.S. National Energy Policy mean for our neighbors to the north? And what can we learn from them?

When President Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act into law, U.S. taxpayers were assured of a series of retirement security and portability provisions that will support the needs of our nation's workforce. Get the details.

Internet privacy issues have surfaced en masse as the worldwide web has become more and more developed. What are the issues and how do they fit the fundamental expectations most people have of personal privacy? More

IEEE-USA unveiled its Congressional Advocacy Recruitment Effort (CARE) during the 2001 IEEE-USA Workshop in late April. Find out how you can get more involved in the policy-making process... More

April Policy Perspectives feature by Richard Gomez offers a candid assessment of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)... More

Three IEEE members have left their hometowns and headed to Washington, D.C. for the year to assist Congress with a host of critical technology issues, including aviation safety, national electric restructuring, and renewable energy... More

Aviation issues continue to be a major focus on Capitol Hill. After five years of continuously reducing funding for aviation research, things have now reached crisis proportions... More