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January 2010

FOR THE TECHNOLOGY INSIDER

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January 2010 Issue

Careers Feature

IEEE Spectrum Takes Aim at 2010’s Technology Winners & Losers

Which technologies will be the next Googles and Priuses? And which will be the Betamaxes?

31 Dec 2009

3 min read

Features

In-depth articles from top experts, Spectrum editors, and contributors

Energy Feature

Can HelioVolt Challenge First Solar?

HelioVolt has devised a thin-film manufacturing technology that saves on time and energy while controlling better for solar absorption

07 Jan 2010

7 min read

Transportation Feature

Loser: Why the Chevy Volt Will Fizzle

General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt hybrid car is a courageous design, but it won’t make money

01 Jan 2010

5 min read

Computing Feature Spectrum Collections Top Tech to Watch

Winner: Pixel Qi’s Everywhere Display

Pixel Qi’s screen gives you color when want it, power when you need it

31 Dec 2009

8 min read

Computing Feature Spectrum Collections Top Tech to Watch

Winner: Intrinsity’s More Cerebral Cortex

Intrinsity boosts the brainpower of a cellphone chip to the level of a PC

31 Dec 2009

8 min read

Computing Feature

Loser: D-Wave Does Not Quantum Compute

D-Wave Systems' quantum computers look to be bigger, costlier, and slower than conventional ones

31 Dec 2009

5 min read

Semiconductors Feature Spectrum Collections Top Tech to Watch

Winner: NanoGaN’s Crystal Method

NanoGaN’s substrates will grow better, cheaper lasers

31 Dec 2009

9 min read

Semiconductors Feature

Loser: Dim Prospects for NanoUV’s Bright Light

NanoUV’s unproven light source won’t shine in the next-gen lithography market

31 Dec 2009

5 min read

Transportation Feature

You Tell Us 2010

It’s usually not hard to spot technology’s clear-cut winners and outright dogs. But every year IEEE Spectrum’s editors cross rhetorical swords over a few candidate projects. In the name of peace, we thought we’d let you decide

31 Dec 2009

2 min read

Computing Feature Spectrum Collections Top Tech to Watch

Winner: IBM Helps Reinvent Russia's Railroad

IBM overhauls Russian Railways' software infrastructure

31 Dec 2009

9 min read

Computing Feature Sensors

Loser: Grassoline’s Dark Side

DuPont-Danisco and other advocates are touting biofuels derived from switchgrass, but the environmental benefits are highly questionable

31 Dec 2009

4 min read

Computing Feature Spectrum Collections Top Tech to Watch

Winner: Google Chrome, the Conqueror

Google's new online operating system could be the Windows killer

31 Dec 2009

9 min read

Aerospace Review

Book Review: Antimatter, by Frank Close

A useful tutorial about antimatter hides inside a book that promises a lot more than it delivers

21 Jan 2010

2 min read

Telecommunications Review

Book: The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement

Is Facebook making us narcissists?

31 Dec 2009

1 min read

Careers Review

Book: Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age

A computer scientist uses the laws of fractal patterns to predict the end of the world

31 Dec 2009

1 min read

Careers Profile

Robotics' Wild Kingdom

An engineer looks to nature to make robots that slither through pipes and climb walls

31 Dec 2009

2 min read

News

Insight and analysis on the latest advances in technology

Computing News

Making Smartphones Power-Smarter

New Android app highlights a trend toward power-aware programming

28 Jan 2010

3 min read

Telecommunications News

Hams in Haiti

Low-tech often wins in a disaster--but it still needs operators

27 Jan 2010

4 min read

Semiconductors News

Plasmonic Waveguide Makes Silicon Shine

Electrically pumped light emitter could be compatible with CMOS

27 Jan 2010

2 min read

Telecommunications News

Engineers Help NGOs Get Online After Haiti Quake

More satellite and wireless service coming

22 Jan 2010

3 min read

Aerospace News

FIRST Robotics Competition Kicks Off Worldwide

Robotics game Breakaway unveiled to audience of high schoolers

19 Jan 2010

5 min read

Opinion

Spectrum editors and columnists comment on major tech trends

Telecommunications Opinion

Reflections: Driven to Distraction

Engineers created the problem of cellphones in cars, but they may not be able to solve it

31 Dec 2009

3 min read

Departments

Articles on DIY projects, engineering careers, and tech history

Semiconductors News

Optical Lasers in a $100 Cable. Really

As homes go high definition, copper will give way to active optical cables

31 Dec 2009

3 min read

Computing News

Back Story: What's Your Superpower?

Google engineers debate the best superhuman abilities

31 Dec 2009

2 min read

Consumer Electronics News

The Rare-Earth-Metal Bottleneck

China produces most of the world's rare earth metals, and soon it will need all that it produces

31 Dec 2009

2 min read

Consumer Electronics News

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About IEEE Contact & Support Accessibility Nondiscrimination Policy Terms IEEE Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences Ad Privacy Options

© Copyright 2024 IEEE — All rights reserved. A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Topics

Sections

More

For IEEE Members

For IEEE Members

IEEE Spectrum

Follow IEEE Spectrum

Support IEEE Spectrum

Enjoy more free content and benefits by creating an account

Saving articles to read later requires an IEEE Spectrum account

The Institute content is only available for members

Downloading full PDF issues is exclusive for IEEE Members

Downloading this e-book is exclusive for IEEE Members

Access to Spectrum 's Digital Edition is exclusive for IEEE Members

Following topics is a feature exclusive for IEEE Members

Adding your response to an article requires an IEEE Spectrum account

Create an account to access more content and features on IEEE Spectrum , including the ability to save articles to read later, download Spectrum Collections, and participate in conversations with readers and editors. For more exclusive content and features, consider Joining IEEE .

Join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to all of Spectrum’s articles, archives, PDF downloads, and other benefits. Learn more →

Join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to this e-book plus all of IEEE Spectrum’s articles, archives, PDF downloads, and other benefits. Learn more →

Access Thousands of Articles — Completely Free

Create an account and get exclusive content and features: Save articles, download collections, and talk to tech insiders — all free! For full access and benefits, join IEEE as a paying member.

January 2010 Issue

Which technologies will be the next Googles and Priuses? And which will be the Betamaxes?

HelioVolt has devised a thin-film manufacturing technology that saves on time and energy while controlling better for solar absorption

General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt hybrid car is a courageous design, but it won’t make money

Pixel Qi’s screen gives you color when want it, power when you need it

Intrinsity boosts the brainpower of a cellphone chip to the level of a PC

D-Wave Systems' quantum computers look to be bigger, costlier, and slower than conventional ones

NanoGaN’s substrates will grow better, cheaper lasers

NanoUV’s unproven light source won’t shine in the next-gen lithography market

It’s usually not hard to spot technology’s clear-cut winners and outright dogs. But every year IEEE Spectrum’s editors cross rhetorical swords over a few candidate projects. In the name of peace, we thought we’d let you decide

IBM overhauls Russian Railways' software infrastructure

A quixotic U.S. government new security system seeks to look into your soul

DuPont-Danisco and other advocates are touting biofuels derived from switchgrass, but the environmental benefits are highly questionable

Google's new online operating system could be the Windows killer

A useful tutorial about antimatter hides inside a book that promises a lot more than it delivers

Is Facebook making us narcissists?

A computer scientist uses the laws of fractal patterns to predict the end of the world

An engineer looks to nature to make robots that slither through pipes and climb walls

New Android app highlights a trend toward power-aware programming

Low-tech often wins in a disaster--but it still needs operators

Electrically pumped light emitter could be compatible with CMOS

More satellite and wireless service coming

Spiral over Norway latest in string of failures

Robotics game Breakaway unveiled to audience of high schoolers

Engineers created the problem of cellphones in cars, but they may not be able to solve it

As homes go high definition, copper will give way to active optical cables

Google engineers debate the best superhuman abilities

China produces most of the world's rare earth metals, and soon it will need all that it produces

Your giant LCD uses just as much energy as your old CRT. That's about to change

Explore more issues

Download this issue