Orr's Observations

Swiss pilot demonstrates jet-powered wing

Joel — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:37:35 +0000

The AP (5/15, Jordans) reports that Yves Rossy, "[a] Swiss pilot, strapped on a jet-powered wing and leaped from a plane" at 7,500 feet "Wednesday for the first public demonstration of the homemade device, turning figure eights and soaring high above the Alps." After an initial free fall, Rossy "triggered four jet turbines and accelerated to 186 miles per hour, about 65 miles per hour faster than the typical falling skydiver."

The AP notes that Rossy has expressed interest in "fly[ing] hrough the Grand Canyon." However, "[t]o do this, he will have to fit his wings with bigger, more powerful jets to allow for greater maneuverability. The German-built model aircraft engines he currently uses already provide 200 pounds of thrust, enough to allow Rossy and his 120-pound flying suit to climb through the air." The New York Post (5/15, Goldsmith), the San Francisco Chronicle (5/14), the Detroit Free Press (5/15), the AFP (5/15), the BBC (5/15), FOX News (5/14), the U.K.'s Scotsman (5/15, Jordans) and the U.K.'s Telegraph (5/15, Gammell) also cover the story (or run photo galleries of the event.)
- ASEE

Columnist touts skills of engineers in today's society

Joel — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:29:04 +0000

In a Financial Times (5/15, Browne) column, Lord Browne, president of the British Royal Academy of Engineering, argues that "engineers have a unique set of skills and perspectives that should be used to create a better future." Referring to the Model T Ford., which "went into mass production" 100 years ago, Browne writes, "Engineers do not just build better cars, houses or mobile phone networks," they also "change the way we travel, the way we live, [and] how we communicate with one another."

Furthermore, "[t]he complex nature of engineering challenges means that engineers" need to engage more "with communities, politics, economic realities and environmental considerations." Browne concludes, "We must all work to ensure that the public...understand[s] the dynamic role of the professional engineer in shaping the future of society," and "must prepare students for real-world problems."

Newly Created Engineering Mechanics Organization to Host Inaugural

Joel — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:36:55 +0000

International Event Marks First Formal Activity of the American Society of
Civil Engineers' New Engineering Mechanics Institute

Reston, Va.—Marking the first major achievement since its formation in
October 2007, the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) Engineering
Mechanics Institute (EMI) will host its Inaugural International Engineering
Mechanics Conference at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis May 18-
21.

"EMI's mission is to serve the professional community by anticipating and
adapting to new challenges and creating an environment that facilitates
professional growth," said Wilfred D. Iwan, Ph.D., EMI president and California
Institute of Technology professor of applied mechanics, emeritus. "I can think
of no better way to meet that goal than to provide a forum where members
of the international mechanics community can gather to exchange new ideas
and findings."

Swiss develop soccer-playing nano robot

Joel — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:33:12 +0000

The BBC (5/14) reports, "A tiny [soccer]-playing robot has been developed by a team" at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology "in Zurich to spark young people's interest in nanotechnology -- and with the hope of leading to pioneering medical treatments." The robot, which is "made out of nickel and powered by magnetic fields, is just 300 microns wide -- about the width of three hairs," and plays soccer "with an even smaller ball, dubbed a 'nanoball.'"

The miniature robot "is able to dodge microscopic 'defenders' before slotting home into the world's smallest goal." The BBC points out that to the "naked eye, the robot looks like a very small speck of dust." Controlling the robot "involves watching through a camera, which tracks the robot through a microscope," and pressing "cursor keys on a keyboard." The robot's actions can also be "programmed in advance."

The Neuroscience of Leadership

Joel — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:38:33 +0000

Breakthroughs in brain research explain how to make organizational transformation succeed.

Mike is the CEO of a multinational pharmaceutical company, and he’s in trouble. With the patents on several key drugs due to expire soon, his business desperately needs to become more entrepreneurial, particularly in its ability to form internal and external partnerships to reduce time-to-market. Yet his organization has a silo mentality, with highly competitive teams secretly working against one another. How can Mike change the way thousands of people at his company think and behave every day?

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NISH National Scholar Award

Joel — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:44:40 +0000

The National Scholar Award for Workplace Innovation & Design was founded by NISH to encourage the development of creative technological solutions for barriers that prevent people with disabilities from entering or advancing in the workplace. The National Scholar Award is open to any college student or student team at the graduate or undergraduate level. The National Scholar Award program is a great service learning opportunity for engineering, computer science, industrial design, physical therapy and occupational therapy students.

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Book on learning through video games

Joel — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:40:16 +0000

My friend Doug Hall wrote me: I am wrapping up the following book and thought your readers might benefit from it:http://www.gadgetsgamesandgizmos.com/

It has some good stuff on making e-Learning courses interesting and the different mindsets between boomers and gamers, and some about the generations between them. He also talks about the knowledge boomers are retiring with and solutions on getting it to the gamer generation in an efficient manner.

The Mobile Future Conference 2008

Joel — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:41:49 +0000

They've posted slides and videos from many of the sessions of that conference I wrote about last week. I especially recommend David Pogue's presentation.

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Read "Breaking the Rules"

Joel — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:34:09 +0000

This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read! I just finished "Breaking the Rules," by Kurt Wright. (Go here to order the paper or electronic versions.)

This is the best book I have ever read about the power of asking "right questions"; about how judging is hurting you, and what to do about it; about finding your creative energy; about articulating your life purpose; about the power of questions as goals; about getting to effortless high performance; and so much more.

Highly recommended.

EETimes.com - 'Missing link' memristor created: Rewrite the textbooks?

Joel — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:45:09 +0000

Anyone interested in electronics owes it to themselves to understand this amazing invention/discovery (Thanks, Jon Peddie!)

- Joel

The long-sought after memristor--the "missing link" in electronic circuit theory--has been invented by Hewlett Packard Senior Fellow R. Stanley Williams at HP Labs (Palo Alto, Calif.) Memristors--the fourth passive component type after resistors, capacitors and inductors--were postulated in a seminal 1971 paper in the IEEE Transactions on Circuit Theory by professor Leon Chua at the University of California (Berkeley), but their first realization was just announced today by HP. According to Williams and Chua, now virtually every electronics textbook will have to be revised to include the memristor and the new paradigm it represents for electronic circuit theory.

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