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A House Journal of IEEE Kerala Section Volume 11 Number 01 January - March 2002
Dear Members, There were a couple of
occasions during the past month when I was faced with the question “Who is an
Engineer?” I was attending the Fifteenth Conference on Software Engineering
Education & Training in Cincinnati, USA. This is a focused conference
attracting about 120 academicians from around the world and a sprinkling from
industry. In many academic institutions, the question is whether Software
Engineering should come under the purview of the Engineering School, since
the contents do not have the “look” of an Engineering discipline. The federal
government in Canada administers an examination to license software
engineers. It is the same examination that other engineers (for example,
Environment Engineers) also take with a paper in Thermodynamics etc. Does
this make sense? As if by cue and courtesy
NT Nair, I came across a non-decrepit book with the title “The Engineer in
You” authored by faculty members of the Mechanical Engineering Dept. of SVU College
of Engineering, Tirupati. I learnt that the root of the word “Engineer” has
nothing whatsoever to do with Engines. The French origin of the word means
Ingenuity. Anyone who displays ingenuity in any field of activity is entitled
to be called an Engineer. The book goes on to discuss the issues in Design of
Engineering Systems. It is a “must read” for every student of Engineering and
every practicing engineer and is moderately priced at Rs.50. I was reminded
of the previous occasion when I chanced to buy from the roadside vendor a
veritable treatise on Estimation - techniques to get Rule-of-Thumb estimates
for complex problems. These are called Fermi problems after the famous
physicist Enrico Fermi. The book published by Gujarat Science Academy, Ahmedabad
is priced at a princely sum of one rupee. Acquiring worldly wisdom need not
be expensive! Coming back to the
Conference, the Keynote address by Dr FC Kohli made the audience sit on the
edge of their seats. They exhibited a feeling of having been transported to a
higher plane. They were listening to an Industry representative from the
non-Western part of the world enunciating a holistic process of creating
Software Engineers. After an extended interaction slot, the session chairman
(Yours truly!) closed the session when a Professor from UK asked the question
“Mr. Kohli, can you tell us how to clone great leaders like you?” For a
PowerPoint presentation of the address, log on to:
http://www.site.uottawa.ca/cseet2002/ I sign off by quoting
Sharon Lebell “Don’t just say you have read books. Show that through them you
have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective
person”. I am confident of passing the touchstone at least in respect of the
two books referred earlier. The Kerala Section is gearing
up for holding the Annual Seminar on “Knowledge Management”
and the All India Students’ Congress in Trivandrum during 25-27
July 2002. Philip John and Gopakumar need all your help in organizing
this twin event. The Region 10 Conference of IEEE is scheduled for 5-6
April in Bangkok. We have submitted all our reports on time, thanks
to the efforts of Unnikrishnan and PM Sasi. We are making good progress
in enrolling Senior members and opening new Student Branches. Let us
push Education activities to new heights during the year. Flood Gopalan
Nair with lots of contributions to your own Newsletter.
02-01-2002
“Encryption & Internet Security”, Philip John,MD,
Ushustech, Thiruvananthapuram. 05 to
06-04-2002 Region 10 Committee Meeting at Bangkok. Top Architectural Master Piece On 21-11-2001, S.S.
Kaimal delivered a speech on “Another Architectural Master piece”. This was
on the architectural value of the Guggenheim Museum building in New York,
which is considered the second best work of Frank Lloyd Wright. The
building, commissioned in 1959 after Wright’s death is an extraordinary
structure which is not divided into floors and rooms but is a continuous many
storeyed spiral providing continuous and smoothly flowing space for display
of exhibits. It may not be an exaggeration to say that more people come
to see the building than to see the exhibits displayed. The Speaker who
had an opportunity to visit the building recently shared with the audience,
information and impressions about the building. Creativity in Proactive Living “Creativity in Proactive
Living” was the topic of the talk by N.N. Panicker on 28-11-2001. He stated
that in the progression of human evolution we are entering an age where
success and peace would require living proactively. From response and
reaction as the primary mode of living that we are accustomed to, a transition
to a proactive mode is necessitated by the speed of change around us.
Technological advances and their speed make it difficult for us to cope with
them through response and reaction. Anticipation of trends and events
and planning of action to meet the developments become necessary and feasible
with the technological changes and the tools at our disposal. The challenge to manage
the future would be best met by designing sand creating it. In leading
people, the first stage of progress would be to rouse them from inertia to
responsiveness and reaction. The next stage would be empowerment for
detaching from the direct path of action reaction cycle through imagination
and creativity. Such an application of creativity would lead to
proactive living. This was discussed in the prevailing context of
terrorism and counter measures. Multi Satellites Deployment Mission S. Ramakrishnan, Project
Director, PSLV/VSSC, presented the topic “Multi Satellites Deployment Mission
by PSLV-ISRO’s Operational Launcher” on 12-12-2001. On 22nd October 2001,
10.23 hrs, PSLV-C3 lifted off from Sriharikota launch range, carrying the
Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) of ISRO and two more auxiliary
satellites viz,’PROBA, from M/s. DLR, Germany. This was the third
operational flight for PSLV the medium lift launcher of ISRO, and its second
multi satellite mission. The previous flight PSLV-C2 in May 1999
launched the Indian OCEANSAT (IRS-P4) along with ‘KITSAT-3’ of South Korea
and ‘TUBSAT’ from DLR, Germany. Both these missions were unqualified
successes ushering India into commercial; launch service market. ISRO’s launch vehicle
development, which began in the seventies with SLV-3, has matured through
subsequent ASLV, PSLV and GSLV programmes and today India has a robust and reliable
operational launcher in PSLV. With a string of five successful missions
in a row, PSLV is a crucial element in attaining self-reliance in the
national remote sensing programme and is making its presence felt among the
space faring nations. While covering the
details of PSLV-C3 mission, the talk in general addressed the basic
technology involved in launching a satellite and the attributes, which made
PSLV an operational launcher. Specific issues related to
multi-satellite missions were highlighted. The strategic and commercial
importance of access to space and the current international trends in this
vital area were outlined. Bluetooth Communication Technology “Bluetooth communication
Technology”, was the topic presented by K.N. Ramachandran on
19-12-2001. He commenced his presentation by explaining the significance of
the term - Bluetooth. This is named after the tenth century Scandinavian King
who united the feuding factions of nomadic Vikings. Blue tooth is a
technology that facilitates interconnection among various devices surrounding
a communication terminal. By an ingenious application of short range,
microwave wireless links, the cumbersome cabling and interfacing problems are
conveniently eliminated in this system. Blue tooth communication
technology is a low power 2.2 GHz wireless link which can be used for
interconnection of local devices in transmitting data, voice, video etc.
“Bluetooth” can be applied for domestic, office, automotive, medical,
security, and transport uses. The “Smart Home” concept can become a
reality by adopting “Blue tooth technology” in cars, PDA (Personal digital
assistant) phone, fase, alarm system and in home appliances such as microwave
oven, washing machine, home entertainment systems, camera and videos.
Software development is required in 3G(Third Generation) telephony, WCDMA
(Wide band Code Division Multiple Access) EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global
Evolution), WAP (Wireless application protocol) and VoIP (Voice over Internet
protocol). Unlimited Power of Human Being Johnson Peter presented a
talk on “ The unlimited power of Human Being” on 26-12-2001. The subject of
the talk, ‘The unlimited power of human being’ reveals how the synchronized
action of body, mind and brain brings ultimate success. Johnson Peter
took keen interest in understanding the human mind and its unlimited
capabilities in controlling, motivating and enhancing the wealth and
happiness of life. He shared his experiences and knowledge in
understanding the triggering mechanism within self-involving passion, belief,
and strategy and explained how to communicate and solve problems in life and
unroll ‘What is success in life’. CHAPTER ACTIVITIES A talk held at SCT
College of Engineering, on 24th January 2002 as part of the
membership drive programme in the SCT College of Engineering to
enable the students to form their Student Branch. It was
organized by the GOLD and the Computer
Society Chapters of the IEEE- Kerala Section. The speaker
was K. Kesavasamy, Senior Member-IEEE & Sr. Consultant, Tata
Consultancy Services, on 24th January 2002. The venue was
SCT College of Engineering, Papanamcode, Trivandrum.
The topics dealt with
were “Software Engineering” and “Why IEEE”.
IEEE members A. K. Sheju, Aju Thomas Abraham Kollarayam, Koshy P.
Vaidhyan and Mahesh M. V. all from the Kerala Section, also
attended this meeting. The college staff from various departments
and students turned out in large numbers. It was happy to note that
there were about 150 attendees in all. K. Kesavasamy brought out the
various aspects of “Software Engineering” and “Why
IEEE” in a very clear, structured and precise manner. He
also encouraged the students to increase their IEEE
activities, win awards and highlighted Aju Thomas
who was awarded from IEEE, New York, for
Outstanding Leadership and Service to his
Student Branch at Hindustan College of Engineering (1995-1996).
A. K. Sheju then informed the gathering about the upcoming events
of IEEE, Kerala Section, especially the
All India Student Conference and encouraged the
participation of the SCT College of Engineering for the
same. It was heartening to see the enthusiasm of the participants and
we wish them all the best in forming their branch. We are confident
that, as a follow up of this well received event, the IEEE Student
Branch at SCT College of Engineering will be formed soon. Knowledge
is Power Get a Powerful
Experience
Through the
National Conference on Knowledge
Management K-ware
2002 25 July 2002 Programme Outline 09.00 - 09.30 Registration 09.30 - 10.30 Inauguration and Keynote Address 10.45 - 17.00 Technical Session 17.00 - 17.15 Concluding Session AISC
2002 All India Students Congress 26 - 27 July 2002 Venue Hotel Residency Towers Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Organized by IEEE Kerala Section ICPWC – 2002
Dec 15-18, 2002 New Delhi, India. INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON PERSONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 2002
Sponsored by: IEEE AES/COM/LEOS India Council
Chapter Last date to submit papers: May 15, 2002. Website for details http://www.ece.iisc.ernet.in/-icpwc2002 Editorial
‘Like attracts like’ . Whatever we think about, will draw,
attract and generate emotion similar to the thoughts in our mind from the
surroundings. It is a principle we always experience in our daily life and is
appropriate and relevant for our discussion. When we think of
unfavourable incidents or events around us or harsh relationship with others,
the negative emotions arise, amplify and multiply abundantly. This is true
with other aspirations and assignments in connection with our life. The
strife developed in the work place is also another related example. Its
repercussion will last long and intensify frequently when we brood over it.
Everywhere the mind becomes a repository of all these thoughts, which lead to
enormous emotive excitements. However, we call the
above situation by a famliar term "stress". Tension and stress - a
condition causing hardship, is common phenomenon among human beings. Stress
causes a great deal of damage to the immune system in the body. Studies made
on this, at various levels all over the world, reveal the genuinity of this
principle. When we feel sad, we get
depressed, we call this condition as ‘mood down’, ‘out of mood’, and so on.
The more unhappy we are, the more worse we feel. Talents and capabilities
fade off and the victim loses peace and harmony in life. Besides, stress will, in
fact, induce illness and becomes a contributory factor of many diseases. Once
it exceeds limits, the consequences will be unpredictable and triggers
it. Further, the positive
thoughts stimulate the immune system by changing the disease producing
mechanisms to engendering mechanisms creating a healing environment in the
body. All these elevate the basic need to eradicate stress by strengthening
the interaction between the endocrine and immune systems of the body and by
their link to the brain. For releasing tension and
stress, one has to seek a gentle form of mind-body medicine. As a
practitioner in this area, I would suggest two simple methods to change the
emotional pattern. The first is to change the environment to a place filled
with pure energy. Fresh and clean outdoor or its indoor equivalent is
preferred. A brisk walk or any other form of physical exercise is also
advisable. This will throw out negative energy from our energy body and
replaces it with the energy available from the environment. This will help to
calm the mind. Either a professional or
a student can focus and hold this simple principle in life. Perhaps,
you may be one among them looking for relief from such vulnerable condition
of mind and keen to attain security and success in life. You’ll
really appreciate and acquire ample abrupt result through this simple,
comfortable and non-conventional or alternate curative principle.
Predictions - An extract from APJ Abdul Kalaam’s Speech I have three visions for
India. In 3000 years of our history People from all over the world have
come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. From
Alexander onwards, The Greeks, the Trucks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the
British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over
what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation. We
have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture,
and their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them.
Why? Because we respect the freedom of others. That is why my
first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got its first
vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of Independece. It is
this freedom that we must protect and nurture and build on. If we are
not free, no one will respect us.
Top
Do you ever think road driving
is a marvellous experience? The drive through national highways or hills and
valleys through countryside, the enjoyment is more sensational and exciting.
The spectacular panorama will open new vista in your mind. Meanwhile, we
couldn't always keep in mind the hazardous accidents that may occur at any
moment. Every day the media bring
you the horrible and perceptive news on the collision and smashing of
automobiles on roads. It is a common fact that every minute, on an average,
at least one person dies in a crash. Auto accidents will also injure at least
10 million people every year, two or three million of them seriously. The
cost of losses and other damages of property are incredibly exorbitant.
At this juncture, we
could think of the fast changes in technology. To keep pace with these
changes is the most denoting challenge of this era. Today, Electronics and
Computers have become the dominant technology that pervades other branches of
technology besides that they define and decide the way people live. The
influence of 'e' is a common phenomenon everywhere. Obviously, we must know
the application of modern technology in automobile industry, especially in
the design and R&D programmes. A recent innovative measure is how to
incorporate active safety technology in automobiles to avoid collision
largely futuristic in cars, the 'e-safety', and to make driving a
completely automated experience, the 'e-driving', to prevent
collisions together! Prevailing safety measures Lidar and Radar systems Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) system is a new technology implemented to improve safety.
Sensors are equipped in vehicles to detect motion and obstacles, coupled to
processors that respond instantly to whatever is detected. ACC system uses
lidar (light detecting and ranging - the laser beam) or radar to measure the
distance from the vehicle they are in to the car ahead and its speed relative
to theirs. The laser-based system was introduced by Toyota and then Nissan
followed the radar-based system to suit for ACC. Jaguar, Benz, General
Motors, Ford, Opel, Saab, Volvo are a few companies who joined with the ACC
movement. Several automotive electronics firms like Seimen, Delphi, etc have
built ACC systems for these companies. The principle of ACC
system is, if a vehicle crosses into the lane ahead and the distance of the
vehicle ahead at the time of crossing is now less than the preset minimum,
the system applies the brakes. This results in slowing the vehicle that is
crossing with a maximum deceleration of 3.5m/sec2 until it comes back to the
desired preset distance. If the leading vehicle speeds up, or moves out of
the lane, the system of the trailing vehicle opens its throttle until the
vehicle has returned to the cruise control speed set by the driver. The lidar is inexpensive
to produce and easier to package but performs poorly in rain and snow.
Radar-based systems, on the other hand, can sense at least 150 metres ahead
in fog or rain heavy enough to cut the drivers ability to see down to 10
metres or less. Radar system employs a variety of sensing and processing
methods to determine the position and speed of the vehicle ahead. The beams
are wide enough to ensure that each overlaps those adjacent, providing a
combined 12-degree field of view. Also the radars typically operate in the
millimeter-wave region at 76-77GHz. Typical automotive radar is roughly the
size of two-stacked paper pack books-just 14 by 7 by 10 cm. Trucks are equipped with
the collision-warning system having sensors on the bumper and below of each
door. The other components are kept inside the cabin. It displays
warning to the driver on frontal and side collisions. Its central processor
is kept just above the engine block. Forthcoming know-how As a processor controlled
collision avoidance system becomes sophisticated and popular, the role of the
driver will change. Within a decade or so, the drivers of the most advanced
cars will only have to steer. The 'Intelligent Vehicles' traveling nearby at
speeds above 100 km/h would be in constant communication and they act cooperatively
with other vehicles on the road. Eventually, we could hope that such
automobiles offer mobility and autonomy thereby save enormous cost and
precious human lives. Let's remain and set eyes on, till the ideas and
prototypes come into reality! IEEE Kerala Section - Year 2002 Office
Bearers
Executive Committee
student
activities
computer
society chapter
Power
Engineering society chapter
Members
-at-large
Printed and published by K.Gopalan
Nair, T.C.5/1637, Ambalmukku, Peroorkada, Trivandrum - 695005 on behalf
of IEEE, Kerala Section. Typesetting: Akshara Offset, Trivandrum. Phone: 471174, 473470 Editor: K. Gopalan Nair E-mail:
kgnairs@eth.net phone: 437449 |
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