This press release is copyrighted by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). Its use is granted only to journalists and news media. Embargo date: 26 December 2001, 5:00 p.m. ET.
In the course of daily events, engineers are often preoccupied with the myriad details of moving their inventions from concept through development to production. The challenges they face are often couched exclusively in technical terms, though many of the problems their work will ultimately be applied to have important, even overwhelming, social and political elements.
To understand how technology fits into this larger world view, IEEE Spectrum editors examined nine critical challenges.
Since 11 September, security issues have topped this list of challenges. In "A Call to Disarm," Jean Kumagai maps out the obstacles to the abolition of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction. She finds that the technology for monitoring and tracking the dismantling of nuclear warheads is already in hand--what's missing is a firm conviction among nuclear states that they should disarm. For chemical and biological weapons, the protection of proprietary information through the use of so-called blinding software could ease the fears of manufacturers that secret formulas might be revealed when their plants are inspected.
"Making Intelligence Smarter," by Glenn Zorpette, examines why Western intelligence agencies need to change to be able to anticipate and thwart modern terrorist activities. Granted, useful spies are few and far between. But technical challenges loom large, too, not the least of which is handling the mountains of data being collected from electronic eavesdropping devices.
Violence in schools and in the workplace, as well as last September's terrorist attacks, has led to increased surveillance of such public places as schools, office buildings, and airports. In "Improving Security, Protecting Privacy," Stephen Cass and Michael J. Riezenman ask whether technology can improve public safety without sacrificing individual privacy.
Another kind of challenge is infrastructure problems, typified by the issues surrounding deregulation in the U.S. airline, communications, and electricity industries. Rolling blackouts and price spikes plagued California much of last summer; airlines were losing money even before 11 September; and in the telecommunications industry, business collapsed.
To learn more about the good, the bad, and the incomprehensible of deregulation, William Sweet and Elizabeth A. Bretz interviewed Alfred E. Kahn, the father of airline deregulation. In "How to Make Deregulation Work," Kahn defends the concept, discussing what has gone wrong and how deregulation can be made to work better.
The environment and health and safety issues form the last set of challenges. Perhaps the most serious is the steady rise in average world temperature, known as global warming. In "Capturing Climate Change," Tekla S. Perry describes the computer simulation being used to test explanatory theories and to predict the consequences of increased temperature. By and large, the experts she interviewed have concluded that it is too late to stop global warming, but technology can be used to anticipate and mitigate its effects.
Improving access to healthcare is the challenge examined by Samuel K. Moore in "Extending Healthcare's Reach." He details three projects in which telemedicine brings medical expertise where it is needed, even though the experts may be thousands of miles away. Each project depends on modern high-speed communications and could be applied to great advantage in many parts of the globe.
Technology to preserve the purity of ground water in farming areas while supplying electricity to the farms themselves is outlined by Harry Goldstein in "Waste Not, Pollute Not." He discusses the development of innovative uses for what was once considered "waste."
In "Clear Skies Ahead," Elizabeth A. Bretz describes new navigational systems that give pilots and ground controllers more precise information about terrain, weather, and of course the location of aircraft. These tools will make flying through congested areas easier, enhancing air travel safety.
Finally, Willie D. Jones, in "Building Smarter Cars," looks at how automobile travel is being "foolproofed" through novel ways of guarding against collisions.
Contacts:
"A New Course for NASA" by Christopher C. Kraft, Contributing Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 14-15: Alfred Rosenblatt, 212 419 7550, [email protected].
"Futility of a Toothless Treaty" by Christopher Aston, Contributing Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 15-16: Alfred Rosenblatt, 212 419 7550, [email protected].
"A Call To Disarm" by Jean Kumagai, Senior Associate Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 30-43: Jean Kumagai, 212 419 7551, [email protected].
"Improving Security, Protecting Privacy" by Stephen Cass, Associate Editor, and Michael J. Riezenman, Senior Engineering Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 44-49: Stephen Cass, 212 419 7754, [email protected].
"How to Make Deregulation Work" by William Sweet, Senior News Editor, and Elizabeth A. Bretz, Senior Associate Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 50-56: William Sweet, 212 419 7559, [email protected].
"Capturing Climate Change" by Tekla S. Perry, Senior Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 58-65: Tekla S. Perry, 650 328 7570, [email protected].
"Extending Healthcare's Reach" by Samuel K. Moore, Associate Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 66-71: Samuel K. Moore, 212 419 7921, [email protected].
"Waste Not, Pollute Not" by Harry Goldstein, Senior Associate Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 72-77: Harry Goldstein, 212 419 7573, [email protected].
"Clear Skies Ahead" by Elizabeth E. Bretz, Senior Associate Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 78-81: Elizabeth A. Bretz, 212 419 7552, [email protected].
"Building Safer Cars" by Willie D. Jones, Assistant Editor, IEEE Spectrum, January 2002, pp. 82-85: Willie D. Jones, 212 419 7564, [email protected].
For faxed copies of the complete articles or to arrange an interview, contact: Nancy T. Hantman, 212 419 7561, [email protected].
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