"MATERIALS: Plastic electronics fab time cut"

Fabrication time for flexible electronics ranging from disposable displays to plastic solar cells could be reduced from 48 hours to 30 minutes, according to researchers at the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN). By switching from temperamental block co-polymers to easier-to-use polymer blends, the researchers claim their nanoscale templates can more quickly pattern flexible electronics applications as diverse as biosensors, photovoltaics, displays and semiconductor nanolithography.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212700318
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjPlastic-08-12-31.mp3

"NANOTECH: Nanotubes shown to boost neuron signals"

A team of researchers in Italy and Switzerland found carbon nanotubes to be a biocompatible material that can be attached to specific neurons to enhance their natural signal-processing capabilities. Many studies over the last few years have demonstrated that carbon nanotubes can improve the health of neural networks by promoting cell attachment, differentiation and growth. But the current report is the first to provide an experimentally supported explanation for how carbon nanotubes enhance the efficacy of neural signal transmission. Namely, that they form a mechanical and electrical superstructure which enhances the natural function of individual neurons.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212700093
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjNeural-08-12-29.mp3

"ENERGY: LED lighting to save $1.8 trillion, study says"

Solid-state lighting that replaces incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with light-emitting diodes can reap enormous savings in energy cost, natural resources and pollution, according to a recent study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. RPI's Troy, New York-based Smart Lighting Engineering Resource Center claims that over the next 10 years savings of more than $1.8 trillion will eliminate the need to burn almost a billion barrels of oil in power plants that would otherwise produce 10 gigatons in carbon dioxide emissions.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501712
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjLED-08-12-23.mp3

"PODCAST: Week in Review, Dec. 19, 2008"

This week my top stories include how IBM claims the fastest carbon-based graphene transistor, how Argonne National Labs' supercomputer went green, how some markets will continue to grow in 2009, and how Gibson crafted the world's most advanced robot guitar.
Text: http://nextgenlog.blogspot.com/2008/12/podcast-week-in-review-dec-19-2008.html
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/NextGenLog-08-12-19.mp3

"CHIPS: IBM claims fastest graphene transistor"

IBM Research is claiming the world's fastest graphene field-effect transistor (FET), operating at 26 GHz. Researchers at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) predicted that the higher electron mobility of carbon will eventually propel the material beyond the reach of silicon into the terahertz range greater than 100 GHz.

BOTTOM LINE: Silicon-based electronics runs out of steam when clock frequencies are raised much above 10GHz, however new materials like graphene and carbon nanotubes will extend the reach of electronics into the THz range.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501276
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjGraphene-08-12-19.mp3

"ENERGY: Argonne supercomputer goes green"

Operators of the supercomputing center at Argonne National Laboratory used innovations in both computer architecture and cooling methods to achieve over $1 million in annual energy savings for its IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer. Supercomputers typically consume multiple megawatts of electricity. At 557 teraflops, Argonne's Blue Gene/P is one of the fastest supercomputers in the world, but uses as little as one-third the power consumed by other supercomputers.

BOTTOM LINE: Going green can be a matter of degree, and was achieved here by tuning the design of this supercomuter facility rather than adopting expensive new technologies.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501170
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjArgonne-08-12-18.mp3

"MARKETS: Healthcare, wireless may still thrive in 2009"

While almost all segments of the electronics industry will be flat or decline in 2009, a few exceptions are possible, according to ABI Research, which predicts that video surveillance and telepresence will continue to "grow explosively" next year. Likewise, the use of Wi-Fi technology for healthcare will continue to expand and RFID technology could even benefit from the tough economic times, since RFID tags increase operational efficiency and boost profits. ABI also forecasts that GPS will continue to grow, especially personal navigation devices, and the smart phone market also will continue to grow in 2009.

BOTTOM LINE: The doom and gloom over next year's markets will not be universal, since there will be some segments that continue to grow despite tight credit, low consumer confidence and oversupplies.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501007
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjABI-08-12-17.mp3

"ALGORITHMS: Dark Fire robot guitar debuts"

Dark Fire, a new "robot guitar" based on Gibson's Les Paul, features improved automatic tuning functions plus a novel approach to adjusting its tone. Gibson's Chameleon Tone Technology combines digital signal processing with single-pole (P-90), double-pole (Hummbucking) and a piezoelectric (acoustic) pickups, permitting complex sonic profiles to be dialed in. An included Firewire-based computer interface permits supplied software to sculpt the sonic character of the guitar's tone.

BOTTOM LINE: Dark Fire is the most advanced marriage of digital electronics with the guitar's musical heritage. However, Gibson may be too far ahead for many guitarists, since Dark Fire's most advanced features require that players route the guitar's signal through their own PC.

Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212500689
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjDarkFire-08-12-16.mp3
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