The Analog is the monthly newsletter of the Central Texas Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc. New issues are published around the first of each month.  The deadline for inclusion of material is the 26th of the month.  Send submissions, comments, questions to John Purvis, Editor, john.purvis@ieee.org. Archives of The Analog can be found on the CTS web site here.


You can always check on all of the upcoming Central Texas Section activities here


Follow the Central Texas Section in Social Media
  • Join our LinkedIn group - this group is limited to IEEE members only
  • Follow us on Twitter, use the hashtag #IEEECTS
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Join CTS on IEEE Collabratec - an integrated online community where technology professionals can network, collaborate, and create - all in one central hub. While there are some "members only" features of Collabratec, it is open to the public to join.
  • Slack - Several CTS members have begun using Slack to exchange ideas and foster discussion. If you are interested in joining the CTS Slack Team send an email to Fabio Gomez ( fabio.gomez@ieee.org )

From the Central Texas Section Chair

Congratulations to our Communications Society (Austin) Chapter, which was just recognized as the 2017 Chapter of the Year –worldwide!!!   Congratulations to officers Fawzi Behman, Hanan Potash, Norma Antunano, Brad Wallace, Sunny Shahhaidar, Frances Freeman, Hema Ramaswamy, Eric Zavesky and Vinay Abburi.

And congratulations to James Mercier and Wang Xin (Wendy)!  James was selected as the Outstanding Chapter Chair and Wendy was selected as the Outstanding Student Branch Chapter Area Chair for the Industrial Applications Society!

One of the things most important to me is that we provide useful and meaningful opportunities for you to further your career Thank you to all the volunteers who work hard to prepare and host all these events!.  So, here are some of the upcoming opportunities!

July 11: Leadership Reading Group discussion of Emotional Intelligence (N. Austin)

July 12 Women in Engineering Book Club discussion of Negotiation (San Antonio)

July 12 Young Professionals Happy Hour (San Antonio)

July 18 Movie Night: Hidden Figures (Austin)


And save the dates for some upcoming opportunities for excellent conferences and events:

September 7 “2017 ComTech Innovation Summit in Health and Technology,” a one-day summit on technology related to health care and smart connected medical devices and wearables, remote monitoring and management, data analytics and AI. (Austin)

September 12 Work Without Stress: Building a Resilient Mindset for Lasting Success (Austin)

September 17-21 19th International Conference on Intelligent System Application to Power Systems (ISAP) (San Antonio)

September 27-29 Accelerated Stress Testing and Reliability Conference will include short sessions, tutorials and exhibits about accelerated testing, degradation methods, effective test, HALT and field reliability. (Austin)

September 30 Successful Consulting in 2017: An IEEE Workshop (Austin)

October 3 IEEE Day

October 23-26 Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction on the design of systems that can recognize, interpret, and simulate human emotions (San Antonio)

I hope to see you at some of these events!

Leslie Martinich
Chairman, Central Texas Section
lmartinich@ieee.org

Back to TOP


Membership Development

HALF PRICE IEEE MEMBERSHP

That’s right half price IEEE membership.  Join IEEE for the first time and pay only ½ annual dues.  If you have been looking to join, but waiting for a good excuse, now is it.  Go to https://www.ieee.org/join for details.

If you are currently unemployed or retired and have not renewed your membership for 2017, you can also renew your IEEE membership at ½ price.  Simply go to: https://www.ieee.org/renew.


Did you know about IEEE – myIEEE
Did You Know –

You can find the most current technology news from IEEE through your myIEEE account. By selecting the IEEE Newsroom link under the About tab in myIEEE, you will see the latest IEEE technology news including an in-depth technical reporting that you won’t get in the public media.  Log on now to see the latest Spectrum featured articles such as “The stories of the greatest and most influential microchips in history—and the people who built them”.

GO TO myIEEE now at https://www.ieee.org/myieee

Joe Redfield
CTS Membership Development Chair
Region 5 Membership Development Chair
J.Redfield@ieee.org
210-744-2968

Back to TOP


News of Interest to the Section

Managers interested in sharpening their employee development skills will find the answers to these, and many more questions in the IEEE-USA E-Book, Developing Your People: Commonsense Leadership in the Workplace--Volume 2: Employee Development Strategies. Veteran engineering professional and educator Harry T. Roman strongly believes that managers in charge of developing their employees have the greatest responsibility in the workplace. To help these managers effectively chart their course in producing the best employees possible, he provides dozens of approaches they can use to bring out their employees’ best talents, while also developing their business knowledge.

Roman explains that how you do something can often become as important as what you can gain by doing it.  In the Information Age, process has become as important as product, he writes, and “the first emphasis must be on quality in the process.” Roman notes that getting to market quickly, with inferior products and services is, at best, a waste of time and resources.

 Further, he maintains teaching process to employees is vital, underlying other basic skills to hone workplace success. Roman emphasizes that developing employee process is an invaluable discipline that yields real dividends repeatedly--for employers and employees--because it affects the way people approach and solve both basic and complicated problems.

In July, IEEE-USA E-BOOKS is offering this award winning, $7.99 e-book, free to IEEE members only.

Now through 15 August, IEEE-USA IEEE members can get a free download of this e-book by going to:

https://shop.ieeeusa.org/usashop/product/careers/244136.

Log in with your IEEE Web account, add the book to your cart, and use promo code JULFREE17 at checkout.

CALL FOR AUTHORS


IEEE-USA E-BOOKS seeks authors to write an individual e-book or a series on career guidance and development topics. If you have an idea you think will benefit members in a particular area of expertise, please email your proposal to IEEE-USA Publishing Manager Georgia C. Stelluto at g.stelluto@ieee.org.

IEEE-USA serves the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of nearly 190,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE.Free eBook from IEEE USA to IEEE Members


Dream Big:  Engineering Our World

    Dream Big is the first giant-screen film to answer the call of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiative, which aims to inspire kids of diverse backgrounds to become the innovators who will improve the lives of people across our entire planet as we head into the 21st Century and beyond.  For more information and to find a showing near you, visit
    https://www.dreambigfilm.com/.

How to Apply for PE Registration Videos

    Board staff recently developed a "How to Apply for a P.E. License" video series.  The 5 videos are all available in a public playlist on YouTube. Playlist Link:
    https://engineers.texas.gov/videos

The Mats  Järlström case

    The IEEE Institute On-line recently printed the case of Mats  Järlström, a Swedish EE living in Oregon but not licensed as a Professional Engineer.  When he attempted to present calculations that prove that the yellow lights on traffic signals were improperly timed, he was charged and fined for practicing engineering without a license.  The full story in The Institute and comments on the story may be read at:
    https://theinstitute.ieee.org/ieee-roundup/blogs/blog/does-having-a-license-make-you-an-engineer

    This story opens the questions of:
  •         What is engineering practice and what is mere opinion?
  •         Does the Engineering Practice Act forbid any unlicensed engineer such as an experienced technician from stating a personal opinion?
  •         Does the Engineering Practice Act forbid any citizen without engineering experience from stating any opinion?
  •         Did Mats Järlström violate the Texas Engineering Practice Act (had he lived here) by stating his opinion?
  •         Given the same circumstances as we understand them, how would the Texas P.E. Board have handled Mats Järlström?
  •         Could Mats Järlström or any unlicensed engineer present any evidence of a mistake or error without violating the Engineering Practice Act?
  •         Were Mats Järlström licensed, could he still give a traffic signal timing opinion without being an experienced Transportation Engineer?

    This story should excite serious reflection and concern by EE's living in Texas, especially those who are not P.E.'s but may want to contest a traffic ticket or merely comment on an issue or a problem.  Texas P.E.'s are aware of the Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules, but this is also an area of nuances and interpretation.  (PI)² will have Mr. David Daigle, P.E., the Director of Compliance and Enforcement for the Texas Board of Professional Engineers at it's July technical meeting.  (See however it is that we are listedin this issue).  He will present the usual P.E. Board Ethics, but will make time to answer the above questions and any others about the Mats Järlström case.  This meeting is not restricted to P.E.'s, non-P.E.'s are also welcomed to attend.

    If you want to learn more, attend the July PI^2 meeting.

Back to TOP


Volunteer Opportunities

Texas STEM Connections

Texas STEM Connections is a web-based tool that makes it easy for STEM professionals to connect with K-20 educators, classrooms, out of school time programs, and other volunteer opportunities. Professionals can share their skills and expertise to bring real-world, authentic learning opportunities to all our students helping to create the next generation of innovators. Through in-person matches and virtual sessions, professionals can help educators and program providers connect their students to the world of STEM. Together we can make a difference.


Webmaster/Social Media

Immediate opportunity is now available for Webmaster/Social media for the  upcoming two events in September 2017 (2017 ComTech Innovation Summit in Health and Wellness) and April 2018 (2018 IEEE GreenTech International Conference of Smart City) in Austin.

If interested, please contact Fawzi Behmann at f.behmann@ieee.org.

Other volunteer opportunities are also available.

Women could be just successful as men in any field. Smart, independent and hard working

Although the number of women engineers today is high compared to the last century, the percentage of female engineers is still14% as per U.S. Census data from February 2016. In the international women in engineering day last month, the society of women engineers shared recently a copy of historic rejection letters to women engineers from deans and professors in different schools in honors of the society founder’s day. The letters are directed to women engineering students who had contacted various universities about their interest in connecting with other women studying engineering. In one of the letters from an associate  professor in The University of North Carolina is saying: “We have not now, have never had, and do not expect to have in the near future, any women students registered in our engineering department.” “Multi generations damages” as one of my friend called it. In fact, before 20 years, if you asked me if I want any one of my daughters to be Engineer? my answer would be resounding NO. But now women proved to every one that they could be just successful as men in any field. Smart, independent and hard working.

Today, things are different and women are enrolling in engineering schools and their percentages is more than 50% but still there isn’t a strong network of females in engineering and we still as a society, expect women to prioritize family over career. Most women now try to balance work and family and often find themselves essentially working two full-time jobs.
Recently, I was amazed to receive a great comment from an engineer in UK who told me that when the time come that we will be called “An engineers who happen to be a Women” instead of “Women Engineers”, that is the time when I believe women will be accepted in engineering as much as men are. After this comments, I started asking myself what can we as engineers do to make a better environment for female engineers? There’s no reason why women should not work in engineering, and no real barriers except in the minds of some girls, parents, and teachers that this is a “man’s” profession. When people think about engineering, they often think about hard hats, steel beams, winches, long hours, relocation every few years, and instability.

There is a misunderstanding that engineering involves tedious or hard physical labor suitable for men only. Another reason, I think why we have less women in engineering is the lack of female mentors. The absence of a role model makes it harder to motivate the next generation of young women to enter the profession. Parents also sometimes act as obstructions against the career choice. Instead of encouraging their daughters to enter this successful field, they put up a gender barriers. As engineers and parents, we should all be calling for collaboration among employers, parents, schools, and teachers to address gender barriers and enhance technical education for girls. We should also encourage schools to bring in more female engineers to share their experiences with the next generation. It should be our goal and duty to make a place for women in engineering. We also need to encourage hosting female engineering  groups on schools, universities and in workplaces. It is a great way of encouraging the next generation to enter the engineering .



Contributed by Qusi Alqarqaz, IEEE Senior Member
https://qusialqarqaz.wordpress.com
qusi.alqarqaz.us@ieee.org

Call for Nominations

It's time for the nominating process to begin for section and chapter officers for next year.  If you are interested in nominating someone for a section officer position or one of the section committee chairs, contact the Nominations and Appointments Committee Chair, Kenny Rice.  His address is krice@ieee.org.  Self-nominations will be considered by the Nominations and Appointments Committee.

Nominations for chapters and affinity groups should go to the chairman of the group.

In the past, Central Texas Section officers have been elected for a two year term, and chapter officers in the section have been elected for a one year term   The MGA Operations Manual states that the section may have terms of office of either one or two years, and the Central Texas Section has documented the choice of two year terms for its officers.  

Recently, the MGA Operations Manual declared that sections must make a separate choice of terms of office for all of their chapter officers.    In the absence of a Local Operating Procedure on this topic, the Section Committee has decided that chapter officers must be elected every year, Chapter officers are limited to consecutive service of four years.  

The schedule for our elections is as follows.  This message constitutes the Call for Nominations.  The nominations committee will accept nominations from section members during the month of April, and will communicate a slate of nominees to the CTS Executive Committee by August 15th, for ratification at the Executive Committee meeting at the end of August.  The ratified slate will be published in the September Analog newsletter, and petition candidates will be accepted until October 15th. The modified slate will be announced to section members in the October Mid Month Reminder.   The election will be announced in the November Analog.  The elections will begin on November 1.  We intend to use the IEEE vTools election process for the election.

Chapter nominations and elections should follow a similar schedule and process at the chapter level, although the election itself may be held at the November chapter meeting instead of on line. 

Below is the section Elections process specified in the MGA Operations Manual (it can be found at https://www.ieee.org/societies_communities/geo_activities/operations_manual/index.html ).  The chapter process is substantially the same,  


G.    SECTION ELECTION PROCESS

Six months prior to the date of election, the Section Nominating Committee Chair shall issue a call for nominations for all positions elected at-large to all voting members of the Section through an appropriate medium. 


Section members shall submit nominations within one month of the call for nominations. 

The Section Nominating Committee shall verify the candidates’ eligibility and willingness to serve. A candidate must be a member of the Section to hold office in that Section. The Section Nominating Committee shall also gather position statements and biographies of the potential candidates, as appropriate. 


4    The Section Nominating Committee will select from all such submissions at least two but not more than three candidates for each position elected at-large, and submit the slate of candidates to the Section ExCom for ratification. In the case where the slate that is submitted for ratification consists of a single candidate, the Section ExCom may recommend to the Region Director the approval of proceeding with the election process with a single candidate slate.

  • The slate of candidates for elected office shall be communicated to the voting members of the Section not less than six weeks prior to the election date. In addition, provision shall be made in the communication for petition candidates for these offices. 

  • In addition to the candidates nominated by the Section Nominating Committee, individual voting members eligible to vote in such election may nominate candidates by petition. 
In accordance with IEEE Bylaw I-307.17, the number of signatures required on a petition shall be determined as follows. For all positions where the electorate is less than 30,000 voting members, signatures shall be required from 2% of the eligible voters. 
For all positions where the electorate is more than 30,000 voting members, 600 signatures of eligible voters plus 1% of the difference between the number of eligible voters and 30,000 shall be required.” 
The petition shall be completed at least 28 days before the date of the election. 

  • The entire slate of candidates for office shall be communicated to the voting members of the Section not less than two weeks prior to the election date. 

  • The election process shall be by secret ballot. 

  • The Section Chair shall submit the names of up to three members of the Section to serve as a Tellers Committee, to the Section for approval. After the tally of votes, the Tellers Committee shall report the results of the election to the Section Chair. The Section Chair shall inform each candidate for office of the results of the election prior to announcing the results to the Section membership. 


Tips, Tools and Gadgets

If you like Science Fiction there is a tremendous amount of fan generated video published on YouTube in this genre, particularly in the Star Wars universe.  I have posted about some of these Fan Films in my blog.

I also came across a nice slide show on YouTube commemorating D-Day. We are a month past that anniversary now, but we did just celebrate July 4th so I think it is still an appropriate subject. I posted about this video on my blog as well. If you like reading about this period of history you may be interested in the "Dunkirk Week booksale". More than 40 authors of novels set during World War II will make their books available at a discount during July 21-27. For more information visit https://alexakang.com/dunkirk-book-sale/. If you are on Facebook, you may also want to check out the Facebook Second World War Club.

If you are totally in to the digital life that most now live, you might be interested in Atlas Recall. Atlas Informatics is a startup in Seattle with the goal to redefine search as we know it. Atlas Recall, the company's first product, provides a searchable photographic memory that helps you find EVERYTHING you have seen across all of your devices, apps and cloud services. As they say on their web site:
Atlas Recall gives you a photographic memory for your digital life. Your searchable index of everything you see across all your devices and apps.

Stop wasting time searching through browser histories, email accounts, social media, and chat messages. Atlas works in the background, saving and organizing your content so you can quickly get back to whatever you were working on. With Atlas, anything you see on your desktop is instantly available on your phone. With Atlas, your content is automatically saved in a secure cloud, so you can stop worrying about misplacing your files or emails.

This App (now in Beta and free) is currently available for the iPhone and macOS, with Windows 10 coming. While this is a little too much for me regarding my digital life, there may be many who want to embrace the opportunity to have their entire digital life searchable.

If you have comments, or suggestions as to something I should mention in a future issue, please let me know at john.purvis@ieee.org.  I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions. 

John Purvis III IEEE LSM, P.E.
john.purvis@ieee.org
https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com
Past Section Chair, Analog Editor

Continuing Education


IEEE Provided
Spectrum Tech Insider Webinars
Learn from industry experts about latest technology advances via our free Tech Insider Webinars. This page lists upcoming and available 'on demand' Tech Insider webinars. All the live webinars are archived and are available on demand for 12 months. IEEE members can also earn PDH certificates for each webinar.

More Than 400 Courses Now Available on IEEE Xplore
It’s easier to find IEEE’s more than 400 online courses now that they’ve been added to the IEEE Xplore Digital Library. Known as the eLearning Library, these interactive online classes can be found in the library’s Courses section. Based on tutorials and workshops presented at IEEE conferences, the courses were developed and peer-reviewed by experts in their fields. Read more . . .
Computer Society Webinars
Register now for our latest free live technical webinars. Or check out our past webinars at your convenience.  See this site  more information.
Computer Society 2014 Professional Development Courses
Expand your knowledge base by taking a professional development course in your area of technical interest. Half-day webcast formats (3.5 hours) enable you to quickly get up to speed in a specific technology area without leaving your desk. And each are at a low cost of $49. For a limited time, sign up for three courses and receive the fourth one for free.  See the list of training courses.
ComSoc Training
See this calendar  for a list of upcoming courses.
Other learning opportunities
IEEE e-Learning Library
IEEE Online Education Portal
IEEE-USA Webinars (attendees can earn professional development hours -- PDHs)
Other Sources
CodeAcademy
Learn to code interactively for free

Corsea.org
A web site that provides an aggregate of university course offerings. Their tag line is "Take the World's Best Courses, Online, For Free." They have 16 course categories, most in technology areas from 16 major universities. 

MIT Open Courseware
MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity. More can be learned here.

Saylor.org: Free Education
The tag line of the Saylor website is "Harnessing Technology to Make Education Free." Although Saylor.org does not grant degrees, students can download a certificate of completion for successfully passing the exam at the end of each course. There are thirteen areas of study that visitors can choose to explore, including Computer Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Mechanical Engineering.

University of Texas Professional Development
UT Center for Lifelong Education provides several courses (these are NOT free). The list can be found here.

Back to TOP


Career

CTS Job listing
The Central Texas Section receives job postings from time to time. These are posted on the Section Web site. If you have a job to post to the site, send the information to cts-webmaster@ieee.org

IEEE ResumeLab
IEEE members have a new tool to help gain a competitive edge in the employment process. IEEE ResumeLab is a new online service that allows IEEE members to develop a resume or curriculum vitae using specialized tools tailored for each step of the job seeking process. This new product is added to the list of offerings that assist members as they find jobs and develop their careers.

The IEEE Job Site
The IEEE Job Site has undergone a makeover with new features and easier navigation to better serve IEEE members. Its still easy for IEEE members or IEEE member job seekers to conduct job searches or create and upload a resume, but with the use of HTML5 technology, the site boasts a cleaner layout and crisp contemporary design making the IEEE Job Site more user-friendly.

The IEEE-USA Career Manager is organized into eight categories designed to help you manage and advance in your career:

* Career Management Interactive Workshop
* Salary Service
* Consulting and Entrepreneurship
* Professional Development Webinars
* Employment Assistance and Job Search
* IEEE Online Distance Learning
* E-Book Library
* IEEE.tv


Student Branches and Activities

St Mary's University - San Antonio (https://engineering.stmarytx.edu/ieee/)

Faculty Adviser: Wenbin Luo, email: wluo@stmarytx.edu
Branch Chair: Jorge Padilla, email: jpadilla4@mail.stmarytx.edu

Texas State University - San Marcos

Faculty Adviser: Larry Larson, email: Larry.Larson@txstate.edu

Branch Chair: Alison Chan, email: c_c457@txstate.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TXST.IEEE



Trinity University - San Antonio
Faculty Adviser: Farzan Aminian, email: faminian@trinity.edu
Branch Chair: Sang Choi, email: schoi1@trinity.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrinityIEEE



University of Texas at Austin (https://ieee.ece.utexas.edu/)

Faculty Adviser: Sriram Vishwanath, email: sriram@ece.utexas.edu
Branch Chair: Haley Alexander, email: chair@ieeeut.org

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ieeeut



University of Texas at San Antonio (https://ieeeutsa.com/)

Faculty Adviser: Paul Morton, email: PaulMorton@utsa.edu
Branch Chair: Mark Pena, email: Mark.W.Pena@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ieeeutsa


Back to TOP


Useful IEEE Links

IEEE

IEEE-USA

IEEE Region 5

IEEE Central Texas Section

What's New at IEEE

SocietyNews from IEEE

IEEE Regional News

     

Call Papers

IEEE Standards Association

IEEEXplore - full text access to IEEE Publications

The Spectrum Online - The Magazine for Technology Insiders

IEEE: The Bridge - IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN)'s signature publication, an interactive digital magazine published three times a year.

IEEE Member Newsletter https://theinstitute.ieee.org


Other Region 5 Section Newsletters


Local Conferences, Meetings and Events

Search for IEEE conferences

2017


July



25




SysAdmin Day
https://sysadminday.com


September



6




Texas Board of Professional Engineers Ethics Webinar
Registration links will be posted 30 days prior to the event at: https://engineers.texas.gov/webinars.html.




2017 ComTech Innovation Summit in Health and Wellness
The ComTech Innovation  one day Summit provides vision,  breakthrough in innovation, technology impact & regulatory challenges related to health with smart connected medical devices and wearables, remote monitoring & management, data analytics and AI and assess impact and influence towards precision and personalization.

Suggested Topics:
  • Global healthcare challenges, vision, roadmap to smart connected healthcare system for personalized services.
  • Monitoring, diagnostics, surgical, emergency care
  • Preventive and Precision Medicine
  • mHealth Innovations
  • Healthcare innovations: Wireless devices, systems, services
  • Use of technology such as sensors, Wireless, LTE-5G,  IoT,  virtualization, cloud-based big data/analytics and security in delivering ecosystem solutions
  • Medical and Healthcare Data Communication, Security, Privacy
  • Regulatory challenges
We welcome your participation and support. If you wish to present or help, please send a quick message to f.behmann@ieee.org.



16




Central Texas Section Semi-Annual ExCom Meeting



17-21




2017 19th International Conference on Intelligent System Application to Power Systems (ISAP)
ISAP is a unique forum where two scientific communities meet: power systems and intelligent systems, and also where scientists and engineers and economists working in the industry align their vision on the needs and demands of the power industry. The Conference welcomes papers on Intelligent Systems Application to Electric Power and Energy Systems (Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Markets, Operations, and Planning)

Westin Riverwalk
420 W. Market Street
San Antonio, TX, USA

https://2017isap.tamu.edu/



17-22




2017 ACM/IEEE 20th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems (MODELS)

The annual Models conference brings together an international audience of researchers and practitioners to discuss all aspects of modelling in software engineering, including modelling for requirements, process modelling, design modelling, quality modelling, user interface modelling, test modelling and product-line modelling. It covers modelling languages, meta-models, standards, code generation, modes of process and all related topics. It also covers modelling education. Anything related to modelling is welcome including pragmatics of modelling, industrial use of modelling, uses of models in any software context, transformation of models or to models, reverse engineering to models, standardization involving models, blending models and programs, etc. case studies, empirical studies and all other forms of papers are welcome.

Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol
701 East 11th StreetAustin, TX, USA

Full Paper Submission deadline: 10 Mar 2017
Final submission deadline: 09 Jun 2017
Notification of acceptance date: 09 Jun 2017

https://www.modelsconference.org/




26-28




2017 IEEE Accelerated Stress Testing & Reliability Conference (ASTR)
Austin, TX
Full Paper Submission deadline: 10 Mar 2017
Final submission deadline: 09 Jun 2017
Notification of acceptance date: 09 Jun 2017



27-29




2017 Accelerated Stress Testing and Reliability (ASTR) Conference
The event is co-sponsored by IEEE and ASQ
The 2017 Accelerated Stress Testing and Reliability (ASTR) Conference is focused on highlighting cutting-edge methods to deliver maximum cost-benefits from reliability testing. ASTR 2017 is relevant to manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, defense, medical, telecommunications and other industries where reliability is a key driver of operational and business success. If your company needs to improve product testing with a goal to improve reliability, reduce warranty costs, improve profits, gain market share, and be more competitive, then the 2017 ASTR Conference is for you.

September Conference – 09/27-29/17

Accelerated Stress Testing and Reliability (ASTR) Conference

ASTR Logo

Sept. 27-29 in Austin Texas

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ASTR is co-sponsored by ASQ-Reliability Division and IEEE Reliability Society.

ASQ Logo 2

IEEE Logo

Exceeding Customer Expectations through Accelerated Reliability Testing

The 2017 Accelerated Stress Testing and Reliability (ASTR) Conference is focused on highlighting cutting-edge methods to deliver maximum cost-benefits from reliability testing. ASTR 2017 is relevant to manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, defense, medical, telecommunications and other industries where reliability is a key driver of operational and business success. If your company needs to improve product testing with a goal to improve reliability, reduce warranty costs, improve profits, gain market share, and be more competitive, then the 2017 ASTR Conference is for you.

You’ll Use What You Learn at the 2017 ASTR Conference

Accelerated stress testing is a key tool within a well-structured development program—enabling timely opportunities for product improvement and delivering assured product performance.

ASTR 2017 will be comprised of short sessions, tutorials and will feature exhibits. Topics will include Accelerated testing, degradation methods, effective test, HALT, and field reliability.

Who should attend?
  • Anyone who determines how to test for reliability, experts and novice
  • A Reliability Development Managers
  • A Sensor Manufacturers
  • A Test Equipment Manufacturers
  • A Senior Reliability Engineers
  • A Test Engineers
  • A Test Lab Managers
  • A Quality Engineers
  • A Reliability Engineers
  • A Systems & Development Engineers
  • Engineering students & faculties interested in Accelerated testing or Reliability

Reliability Topics:
  • Product and Process Reliability in the Medical arena
  • Availability, Maintainability & Reliability synergies
  • Design of Experiments and Reliability–case studies
  • Risk & Reliability connections
  • Explaining Risk to Management
Location:
Austin Downtown Hilton Garden Inn
500 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd
Austin, TX 78701

https://www.ieee-astr.org


October



3




IEEE Day
Details of how CTS will celebrate TBD



5




Austin Tech-Security Conference
The Austin Tech-Security Conference features 40-60 vendor exhibits and 8-12 educational speaker sessions discussing current tech-security issues such as cloud security, email and social media security, VoIP, LAN security, wireless security, USB drives security & more. Numerous door prizes such as iPads, Kindles, $25, $50 and $100 gift cards and lots more!  You'll come away with advice and knowledge so you can start proactively protecting your environment from the latest security breaches.  Your registration will include your breakfast, lunch, conference materials and entrance into the conference sessions and exhibit area. THIS CONFERENCE QUALIFIES FOR CPE CREDITS.  Scroll down to view the full conference agenda.

https://www.dataconnectors.com/event/austin-10-5-17/



10




Austin (CTEA) Expo & Tech Forum
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Location: Norris Conference Center
2525 West Anderson Lane
#365
Austin, TX

Plan now to join us for free technical sessions, free lunch and the chance to network with leading suppliers to our industry!
Norris Conference Center Location

Free Technical Program & Schedule:
Exhibit Hours:
Tuesday, October 10th, 2017
10:00AM - 3:00PM

https://www.smta.org/expos/#austin



26-27




LASCON 2017 (8th Annual Lonestar Application Security Conference)
LASCON 2017 will be held again at the Norris Conference Center, with the conference dates to be Thursday and Friday, October 26-27, 2017. Training will also be offered,

The Lonestar Application Security Conference (LASCON) is an OWASP conference held annually in Austin, TX. It is a gathering of 400+ web app developers, security engineers, mobile developers and information security professionals. LASCON is held in Texas where more Fortune 500 companies call home than any other state and it is held in Austin which is a hub for startups in the state of Texas. At LASCON, leaders at these companies along with security architects and developers gather to share cutting-edge ideas, initiatives, and technology advancements.

https://lascon.org


December



6




Texas Board of Professional Engineers Ethics Webinar
Registration links will be posted 30 days prior to the event at: https://engineers.texas.gov/webinars.html.



11




Workshop on Fuzzy Similarity
IEEE CTS ComSoc/SP/CS/EMBS is collaborating with Texas State University,  School of Engineering on Senior Design Activity event  at San Marcus and offer a workshop on Fuzzy Similarity.

For the recent decades, we have seen rapid progress on hardware and intelligent applications. These bundled systems are widely dependent on traditional Artificial Intelligence techniques such as neural nets and deep learning. However, with a chip that can contain a billion of transistors, it is time to build a "massively parallel array processor" on such a chip. The massively parallel array processor can be used to implement the nearest neighbor (most fuzzy similar) classifiers for the recognition and classification problem, and the function computation model. That is, fuzzy similarity measurements can be used to find the nearest neighbor.

The modern CPU's "functional programming model" is limited by the need to build functions that are denoted by expressions. The fuzzy-similarity-based function computation model is different. Given x, it searches the most fuzzy similar neighbor m of x and takes the function value f(m) of m as the function value f(x) of x.  This computation model is fundamentally a table-look-up approach. Previously, we did not try this model because a computer CPU is limited. Now, a chip can contain a billion of transistors. Also, we have seen the tremendous growth in silicon photonic circuits.  Therefore, it is time to try this function computation model.

Topics in the 2017 International Workshop on Fuzzy Similarity include but are not limited to the following:

·      Feature Extractions and Fuzzy Similarity Measurements.

·      Applications of   Fuzzy Similarity in image recognition, moving object detection, image description, time data classification, function computation model, self-driving car, natural language processing,  health care, genome, virtualization, and big data analysis.

·      Hardware and Platforms: Massively Parallel Array Processor, FPGA, IC Chips with a massive number of transistors, and OpenCL for heterogeneous computing platforms.

·      MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) or Silicon Photonic circuits for massively parallel processors.

We welcome your participation and contribution. If you wish to present, please send a quick message to Dr. CL Chang nicesoft2009@gmail.com  or  f.behmann@ieee.org
2018


March



4-8




2018 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC)
APEC focuses on the practical and applied aspects of the power electronics business. The conference addresses issues of immediate and long term importance to practicing power electronics engineer.

henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX, USA

https://www.apec-conf.org/


April



4-6




2018 IEEE GreenTech International Conference of Smart City"

The GreenTech of Smart City conference provides a forum with government, industry and researchers and startups to collaborate and innovate on future frameworks, plans and technological solutions in moving towards smart green cities.

For example, moving to a smarter grid will reduce emissions by allowing greater integration of renewables and more efficient use of the energy they produce, integration of smart vehicles which can act as storage devices to reduce transmission losses and promote cleaner transport and the introduction of demand response mechanisms to reduce demand.

By improving people’s experiences on the road, in the air, at stores and at work, technologies are moving us all toward a better life and a better world.

Suggested Topics:
  • Smart cities impacted by Green Technology empowered by IoT, wireless, virtualization and  Analytics/AI technologies
  • City’s environmental challenges (emissions, waste water management, recycling)
  • Smart Energy Consumer-Grid: Appliances, smart homes, building, transportation, industrial, distribution, transmission monitoring, Reliability, Efficiency, creative billing, and sustainability
  • Regulatory considerations, Policies, Economics and Sustainability
  • Climate change adaptation & resiliency / Climate risk and adaptation strategy
  • Micro-grids: ac/dc systems, control and optimization, energy management, storage
  • Energy Efficiency and Consumption: business models, incentives, markets, policies and frameworks, and smart customers, loads and meters
  • Electric Transportation and Smart Grids: electric vehicle charging/discharging strategies, grid interface and impacts, resilience, sustainability
  • Power Transmission & Distribution (e.g. Remote communication and control of T&D assets, Distribution System Reliability)
  • Next Generation Control Centers: generation, T&D control centers and system operators and applications (big data analytics, visualizations, situational awareness)
Case Study: Pecan Street Project

Case Study: Autonomous Vehicles

End Users: Industrial, Transportation, Building Technologies

We welcome your participation and support. If you wish to present or help, please send a quick message to  f.behmann@ieee.org




7-8




IEEE R5 Annual Meeting

Austin, TX
Sponsor: IEEE USA, R5 and CTS



May



13-18




2018 IEEE International Workshop Technical Committee on Communications Quality and Reliability (CQR 2018)
Reliability & Quality of Communication Networks

AT&T Conference Ctr
1900 University Ave
Austin, TX, USA

https://www.ieee-cqr.org/


June



10-13




2018 IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference (EIC)
This conference papers are dealing with application, development, analysis, testing, and service experience with electrical insulation in electrical and electronic equipment around but not limited to the following themes: rotating machines, transformers, cables, variable speed drives, testing, outdoor insulation, nanodielectrics, switchgear, new materials, etc.

San Antonio, TX, USA

https://ieeedeis.org/eic


July



27-29




IEEE Future Leader Forum
2019


July



8-12




2019 IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference (NSREC)
Conference offers a one day "Short Course" and 3.5 days of Tehchnical sessions consisting of 8-10 session of contributed papers. The material presented is completely related to the radiation environment and its impact on electrical components and materials

San Antonio Rivercenter Marriott
101 Bowie St
San Antonio, TX, USA

https://www.nsrec.com/


October



27-30




2019 IEEE Sensors Conference

Austin, TX
Sponsor: IEEE CTS and Sensors Society
Conference Bid  deadline: 30 Aug 2016
Notification of Venue selection: October, 2016


Back to TOP

Local Chapter Activities

The IEEE is organized into Societies and Special Interest Groups.  The full list as well as a link to join each can be found here.  The Central Texas Section has several Society and  Special Interest Group Chapters with their own local activities as listed below. Note that some Joint Chapters represent more than one Society.

You can subscribe to an RSS feed of all Central Texas Section meetings that have been scheduled through vTools here

Click Meetings to see the next 180 days of planned CTS activity.

ALL of the Chapter Technical meetings are open to the public!!!

The Central Texas Section Chapters

AP Antennas and Propagation Society
AESS Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society
CAS Circuits and Systems Society
CEDA Council on Electronic Design Automation
COM Communications Society - Austin | San Antonio
CN Consultant's Network
CPMT Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology Society
C Computer Society - Austin | San Antonio
ED Electron Devices Society
E Education Society
EMB Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society - Austin | San Antonio
EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility Society
GOLD GOLD has been rebranded as the Young Professionals
IA Industry Applications Society
IE Industrial Electronics Society
IM Instrumentation and Measurement Society
PHO Photonics Society
LM Life Members - Austin | San Antonio
MTT Microwave Theory and Techniques Society
PEL Power Electronics Society
PE Power & Energy Society - Austin | San Antonio
PSE Product Safety Engineering Society
SC
Sensor Council
SMC Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society
SP Signal Processing Society - Austin | San Antonio
SSC Solid-State Circuits Society
TMC Technology Management Council - Austin | San Antonio
WIE Women in Engineering
YP
Young Professionals

Antennas & Propagation/Microwave Theory and Techniques (AP/MTT)

Chapter Web site

The EMC and MTT/AP Society Chapters are Jointly sponsoring an Antenna Workshop on September 27. See IEEE Events for details.

Topic/Title

No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Cost


Reservations


Location


Notes




Back to TOP


Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA)

Chapter Web Site

NOTE: Being a member of the following IEEE Societies makes you eligible to be a member of CEDA: AP, CAS, C, ED, MTT and SSC. However, you need to go to the IEEE web site and sign in to be added as a FREE member of CEDA. See this PDF for detailed instructions.

Topic/Title

No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Cost


Reservations


Location


Notes




  Join CTS CEDA on LinkedIn

The CEDA chapter normally meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month. This meeting is open to the public and interested parties. Additional details will be posted at the website. If you have any questions about this meeting or this group, please contact zhuoli@ieee.org.

Back to TOP


Joint Circuits and Systems/Solid-State Circuits (CAS/SSC)

Chapter Web Site


Topic/Title

LED-Based Visible Light Communication Systems – Driver SoC Design and Practical Applications

Speaker

Prof. C. Patrick Yue (S’93–M’98–SM’05–F’15) received the B.S. degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992 with highest honor and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1994 and 1998, respectively.

He has been a Professor in Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) since 2010. Between 2014 and 2015, he served as the Associate Provost for Knowledge Transfer. He is also the Founding Director of the HKUST-Qualcomm Joint Innovation and Research Lab and the Center of Industry Engagement and Internship in the School of Engineering. His current research interests focus on system-on-a-chip design for high-speed fiber-optic communication, visible light communication, and wireless power transfer for bio-implants.

In 1998, Prof. Yue cofounded Atheros Communications (now Qualcomm-Atheros). While working in Silicon Valley, he served as a Consulting Assistant Professor at Stanford. In 2003, he joined Carnegie Mellon University as an Assistant Professor. In 2006, he moved to University of California Santa Barbara and was promoted to Professor in 2010. He has contributed to more than 130 peer-reviewed papers, 2 book chapters and holds 14 U.S. patents. He has served on the committees of IEEE Symposium on VLSI Circuits (VLSI-Circuits), IEEE European Solid-State Circuits Conference (ESSCIRC), IEEE MTT-S International Wireless Symposium (IWS), IEEE RFIC Symposium (RFIC), IEEE Asian Solid-State Circuits Conference (A-SSCC) and other IEEE-sponsored conferences. He was an Editor of the IEEE Electron Device Letters and IEEE Solid-State Circuit Society Magazine. He was a co-recipient of the 2003 International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) Best Student Paper award and the 2016 IEEE International Wireless Symposium Best Student Paper award. He is an Elected AdCom Member of the IEEE Solid-State Circuit Society. In 2016, Prof. Yue received the 11th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Youth Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). Prof. Yue is an IEEE Fellow and a Senior Member of Optical Society of America.

Abstract

This talk presents two advanced visible light communication (VLC) modulator system-on-chips (SoCs). The first is an IEEE 802.15.7 PHY-I standard compliant VLC transmitter. The second is an active matrix LED microdisplay driver SoC with embedded VLC function.

Using ordinary LED lights for VLC has received a great deal of research interest over the past decade due to a number of novel applications including location-based wireless broadcasting through LED lightings, signs with LED backlights and digital LED displays. Most of the VLC SoCs development has focused on wireless optical receiver design including custom CMOS imager whereas VLC transmitters have been predominately based on discrete implementation until recently. More importantly, the power consumption of dedicated VLC transmitters is prohibitively high with bit efficiency in the 100 nJ/bit range. To overcome these issues, this work demonstrates the first fully integrated VLC transmitter SoC compliant with the IEEE 802.15.7 standard embedded with a built-in 8-W LED driver. Excluding the power consumed by the LED driver, the SoC achieves a record VLC transmission efficiency of 5nJ/bit.  On the other hand, the miniaturization and integration of inorganic LED display modules have attracted significant research efforts due to their superior brightness and reliability compared to organic LED microdisplay. Combining these two technology trends, this paper also describes an active matrix LED (AMLED) driver SoC with built-in VLC modulation capability to demonstrate a WQVGA smart microdisplay featuring 1.25-Mb/s VLC for enabling LED digital signage as location-based information broadcaster and indoor positioning beacons. 

Date/Time

04 August 2017
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Cost


Reservations

https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/45069

Location

201 East 24th St
Austin, Texas
United States 78712
Building: POB
Room Number: 2.402

Notes

Occasionally you might find street level parking for free -- but watch out for the parking signs and restrictions. Another place to park is SJG, the San Jacinto Garage -- after 6PM, it is $7 to park all night.

The joint Circuits & Systems/Solid State Circuits Societies normally meet on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. This meeting is open to the public and interested parties. Additional details will be posted at the website. IIf you have any questions about this meeting or this group, please contact zhuoli@ieee.org.
Back to TOP

Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology (CPMT)

Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title

No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Cost

Reservations


Location


Notes


Back to TOP



Joint Austin Computer Society (C) and Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMB) Chapter

Chapter Web site


Topic/Title NEXT GENERATION BIOMETRIC SENSING IN WEARABLES
Speaker Dr. Colin Tompkins, Silicon Labs
Colin Tompkins is a Director of Applications Engineering at Silicon Labs in the Internet of Things products group, where he leads an engineering team focused on developing solutions and software for sensors.  After joining Silicon Labs in 1999, Colin worked in applications engineering leadership and product management roles on several of Silicon Labs’ breakthrough products, including the silicon DAA, FM radio, and voice communications products. Since 2012, he has led the sensors applications engineering team, responsible for environmental and optical sensing applications engineering.   Prior to Silicon Labs, he held applications engineering positions with National Semiconductor in California and Austin, Texas.  Colin is a founding officer of the Central Texas MEMS & Sensors IEEE Chapter, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Abstract Attendees will learn considerations of adding biometric sensors to wearable hardware designs, including optical and skin temperature sensor selection, placement, signal quality, optical overlay design, fit, electrodes, and ambient light blocking considerations. The presentation will cover some of the tradeoffs for performance versus power consumption and cost of their solution. We will discuss the impact of ambient light noise on performance and optical blocking techniques. The presentation will also cover methods to reduce noise due to motion artifacts, including band design, skin contact, and use of an accelerometer to mitigate noise in the system.
Date/Time 26 July 2017
6:00 p.m. Networking and Gathering
6:20 p.m. Call to Order, Announcement
6:30 p.m. Presentation
7:30 p.m. Q&A
8:00 p.m. Meeting Survey Feedback, Networking
Location 9505 Arboretum
Austin, Texas
United States 78729
Building: AT&T Labs
Room Number: #220
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46083
Notes
Seat are limited. Please RSVP

Joint meeting with Austin Computer/Engineering in Medicine and Biology and Communications/Signal Processing Chapters

Back to TOP


San Antonio Computer Society (C)

 Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title

 No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Location


Cost


Reservations


Notes


Back to TOP


Central Texas Consultants Network Affinity Group

Chapter Web Site


Topic/Title TDB
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time 26 July 2017
6:00 to 6:30pm -- Networking
6:30 to 8:30pm -- Business and Program
Location 2121 West Parmer Lane at Lamplight Village Ave.
Austin, Texas
United States 78727
Building: PoK-e-Jo's Smokehouse
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46120
Notes

Do a friend a favor. Bring your colleagues to grow the Consultants Network.

More information on Consultants Networks

Back to TOP


EducationSociety (E)

Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Location
Cost
Registration
Notes

Back to TOP


Electromagnetic Compatibility Society (EMC)

Chapter Web Site

The EMC and MTT/AP Society Chapters are Jointly sponsoring an Antenna Workshop on September 27. See IEEE Events for details.

Topic/Title

No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Refreshments


Reservations


Location


Notes


Back to TOP


Electron Devices Society (ED)

Chapter Web Site


Topic/Title

No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Location


Cost


Reservations


Notes


Back to TOP


Engineering in Medicine and Biology (EMB)

(see Austin Computer Society for information on Austin EMB Chapter activities)

Chapter Web Site San Antonio

Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Cost
Reservations
Location
Notes

Back to TOP



Young Professionals (YP/GOLD) Affinity Group


Topic/Title IEEE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HAPPY HOUR!
Speaker
Abstract Come say hello and share free apetizers with IEEE members in San Antonio at our next happy hour on July 12th. You will learn about all of the great benefits of being an IEEE member including access to confrences, workshops, and networking events.

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your network!

We would love to meet you! If you are intereseted, please sing up!! It's FREE.
Date/Time 12 July 2017
Time: 07:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location 9715 San Pedro Ave
San Antonio , Texas
United States 78216
Building: Rosario's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge.
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/45969
Notes



Follow the Young Professionals on Facebook

More information on YP/GOLD 

Back to TOP


Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IM)

Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Location
Cost
Reservations
Notes


Back to TOP


Photonics Society (PHO)

Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Location
Cost
Reservations
Notes

For more information, contact Mikhail Belkin

Back to TOP


Life Members (LM) Affinity Group

Life members must be at least 65 years of age and have been a member of IEEE or one of its predecessor societies for such a period that the sum of his/her age and his/her years of membership equals or exceeds 100 years. When an individual achieves Life member (LM) status, their basic membership dues and Region assessments are waived on 1 January of the year following attainment of LM status.

More information on LM

Austin Life Members Affinity Group


Topic/Title TBD
Speaker
Abstract TBD
Date/Time Tuesday July 18
2-4PM
Location Pok-e-Jo's
2121 West Parmer Lane at Lamplight Village Ave.
Austin, Texas
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46149
Notes



The Austin Life Members Group meets monthly. Except when meeting jointly with other groups, the Life Members meet on the third Tuesday each month. Meetings usually begin with informal networking from 2:00 to 2:15 p.m., followed by presentations from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. by experts in topics of interest to IEEE Life Members.

Back to TOP


San Antonio Life Member Affinity Group

Topic/Title AUTOMATION AND COMPUTER FACILITIES AT WITTE MUSEUM
Speaker Kenny Placido
Kenny Placido over 15+ years’ experience in the IT Field. His career spans 12 years of the US Air Force ranging from tier 1 support to tier 3 support. After the military, he pursued dual Master’s Degree is Management Information Systems and Project Management. He is currently working at the Witte Museum.
Abstract The Witte Museum has undergone a $100 Million dollar renovation with the latest in interactive exhibits and network infrastructure. Kenny Placido will give a tour and description.

Meet in the Witte Museum at 11AM.  Tour and description of museum's computer automation.  Optional lunch afterwards at Paloma Blanca 5800 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209.
Date/Time  18 July 2017
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Location 3801 Broadway St
San Antonio, Texas
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46084
Notes



Topic/Title MICROPROCESSOR TOOLS AND KITS SUITABLE FOR EDUCATION
Speaker James Brakefield
James Brakefield holds a BS-Applied Math from University of Wisconsin and Masters of Science (Computer Science and EE) also from UW.  His professional career includes work in the Avionics, Semiconductor , Life Sciences and Communications industries as well as Image Processing and video.

He has experience in assembly language programming on over a dozen processors usually in the context of hard real-time embedded systems.  He has done FPGA projects: small, medium and not that large.  He does circuit board design and systems architecture including microprocessors, FPGAs, power supply, analog and data conversion.

James is a Life Senior Member of the IEEE.
Abstract Considerable variety exists in the small microprocessor kits targeted towards the “educational” market.  Examples of each genre will be shown.  There appears to be some consolidation around the Arduino IDE (Interactive Development Environment) with it supporting several programming language and several microprocessor families in addition to its original AVR and C++ targets.
Date/Time 20 July 2017
11:30   Call Meeting to Order
12;00   speaker Introduction
 1:00    Adjourn
Location 842 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, Texas
United States 78216
Building: Lion & Rose
Room Number: The Dungeon
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46028
Notes

Back to TOP


Austin Power and Energy Society (PE/PEL/IA/IE)

Chapter Web Site


Topic/Title THE MATS JÄRLSTRÖM CASE; ENGINEERING ETHICS
Speaker Dave Daigle, Director of Compliance & Enforcement, Texas Board of Professional Engineers of Austin Energy

Mr. Daigle joined the Texas Board of Professional Engineers in August 2016 as Director of the Compliance & Enforcement Division. As the Director, Mr. Daigle manages the day-to- day operations of the division to include policy advisory opinions, compliance reviews of continuing education audits, seal imprint approvals, investigations of enforcement cases against violators, and providing outreach programs to educate the public and licensed engineers on engineering matters pertaining to the Board and the Engineering Practice Act. Mr. Daigle is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas.

Before joining the State of Texas, he served in the U.S. Navy from July 1991 until he retired in 2016. During his military service, he achieved the enlisted rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1999 while serving as an Electronics Technician for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. He was selected to attend Old Dominion University in 2000 where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Engineering Management. He is also achieved certification as a Naval Nuclear Engineer. As a Naval Officer he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander and served as the Engineer on the nuclear submarine USS Alaska and for the Submarine Squadron Twenty.

Mr. Daigle has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), and served on teams that have earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards) and Battle Efficiency “E” (three awards). While the Engineer on the Alaska, her Engineering Department was awarded the Engineering “E” for Excellence from the Commander of Submarine Squadron Twenty.

Dave and his wife Erika reside in Austin and have four grown children.
Abstract The IEEE Institute On-line recently printed the case of Mats Järlström, a Swedish EE living in Oregon but not licensed as a Professional Engineer. When he attempted to present calculations that prove that the yellow lights on traffic signals were improperly timed, he was charged and fined for practicing engineering without a license. The full story in The Institute and comments on the story may be read at: https://theinstitute.ieee.org/ieee-roundup/blogs/blog/does-having-a-license-make-you-an-engineer

This story opens the questions of:

  • What is engineering practice and what is mere opinion?
  • Does the Engineering Practice Act forbid any unlicensed engineer such as an experienced technician from stating a personal opinion?
  • Does the Engineering Practice Act forbid any citizen without engineering experience from stating any opinion?
  • Did Mats Järlström violate the Texas Engineering Practice Act (had he lived here) by stating his opinion?
  • Given the same circumstances as we understand them, how would the Texas P.E. Board have handled Mats Järlström?
  • Could Mats Järlström or any unlicensed engineer present any evidence of a mistake or error without violating the Engineering Practice Act?
  • Were Mats Järlström licensed, could he still give a traffic signal timing opinion without being an experienced Transportation Engineer?
This story should excite serious reflection and concern by EE's living in Texas, especially those who are not P.E.'s but may want to contest a traffic ticket or merely comment on an issue or a problem. Texas P.E.'s are aware of the Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules, but this is also an area of nuances and interpretation. (PI)² will have Mr. David Daigle, P.E., the Director of Compliance and Enforcement for the Texas Board of Professional Engineers at its July technical meeting. (See however it is that we are listed in this issue). He will present the usual P.E. Board Ethics, but will make time to answer the above questions and any others about the Mats Järlström case. This meeting is not restricted to P.E.'s, non-P.E.'s are also welcomed to attend.
Date/Time 25 July 2017
Check In - 6:30 to 7:00 PM
Social & Business Meeting - 7:00 to 7:30 PM
Program - 7:30 to 8:30 PM
Location 2700 West Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas
United States 78757
Building: Cover 3
Cost We ask that all attendees order at least $15 in food and drink or consider this to be a cover charge.
Reservations If you plan to attend, please RSVP via e-mail to "pi2-secretary@ieee.org".

https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46039
Notes

Back to TOP


  San Antonio Power and Energy Society (PE)

Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Location
Cost
Reservations
Notes

Back to TOP


Product Safety Engineering Society (PSE)

Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title No meeting in July. Next meeting is August 15th.
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Cost
Reservations
Location
Notes

Back to TOP


Austin Joint Signal Processing/Communications Society (COM/SP)

Chapter Web Site

Recognized as the 2015 ComSoc Chapter of the Year and a 2015 Chapter Achievement Award Winner


Topic/Title NEXT GENERATION BIOMETRIC SENSING IN WEARABLES
Speaker Dr. Colin Tompkins, Silicon Labs
Colin Tompkins is a Director of Applications Engineering at Silicon Labs in the Internet of Things products group, where he leads an engineering team focused on developing solutions and software for sensors.  After joining Silicon Labs in 1999, Colin worked in applications engineering leadership and product management roles on several of Silicon Labs’ breakthrough products, including the silicon DAA, FM radio, and voice communications products. Since 2012, he has led the sensors applications engineering team, responsible for environmental and optical sensing applications engineering.   Prior to Silicon Labs, he held applications engineering positions with National Semiconductor in California and Austin, Texas.  Colin is a founding officer of the Central Texas MEMS & Sensors IEEE Chapter, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Abstract Attendees will learn considerations of adding biometric sensors to wearable hardware designs, including optical and skin temperature sensor selection, placement, signal quality, optical overlay design, fit, electrodes, and ambient light blocking considerations. The presentation will cover some of the tradeoffs for performance versus power consumption and cost of their solution. We will discuss the impact of ambient light noise on performance and optical blocking techniques. The presentation will also cover methods to reduce noise due to motion artifacts, including band design, skin contact, and use of an accelerometer to mitigate noise in the system.
Date/Time 26 July 2017
6:00 p.m. Networking and Gathering
6:20 p.m. Call to Order, Announcement
6:30 p.m. Presentation
7:30 p.m. Q&A
8:00 p.m. Meeting Survey Feedback, Networking
Location 9505 Arboretum
Austin, Texas
United States 78729
Building: AT&T Labs
Room Number: #220
Cost
Reservations https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46083
Notes
Seat are limited. Please RSVP

Joint meeting with Austin Computer/Engineering in Medicine and Biology and Communications/Signal Processing Chapters


Back to TOP


San Antonio Joint Signal Processing/Communications Society (COM/SP)

Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Location
Cost
Reservations
Notes

Back to TOP


Sensor Council (SC) - MEMS & Sensors Chapter

Chapter Web Site

Membership in the Sensor Council is free if you are already a member of one of the sponsoring IEEE Societies. Those Societies are: AES, AP, BT, CAS, COM, CPMT, C, DEI, ED, EMB, EMC, IE, IA, IM, MAG, MTT, OE, PE, PHO, RA, SP, SSC, UFFC, and VT.

Topic/Title

NEXT GENERATION BIOMETRIC SENSING IN WEARABLES

Speaker

Collin Tompkins
Colin Tompkins is a Director of Applications Engineering at Silicon Labs in the Internet of Things products group, where he leads an engineering team focused on developing solutions and software for sensors. After joining Silicon Labs in 1999, Colin worked in applications engineering leadership and product management roles on several of Silicon Labs’ breakthrough products, including the silicon DAA, FM radio, and voice communications products. Since 2012, he has led the sensors applications engineering team, responsible for environmental and optical sensing applications engineering. Prior to Silicon Labs, he held applications engineering positions with National Semiconductor in California and Austin, Texas. Colin is a founding officer of the Central Texas MEMS & Sensors IEEE Chapter, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Abstract

Attendees will learn considerations of adding biometric sensors to wearable hardware designs, including optical and skin temperature sensor selection, placement, signal quality, optical overlay design, fit, electrodes, and ambient light blocking considerations. The presentation will cover some of the tradeoffs for performance versus power consumption and cost of their solution. We will discuss the impact of ambient light noise on performance and optical blocking techniques. The presentation will also cover methods to reduce noise due to motion artifacts, including band design, skin contact, and use of an accelerometer to mitigate noise in the system.

Date/Time

19 July 2017
6:30-7:00 arrival & networking
7:00-7:50 presentation
7:50-8:00 Q&A

Location

Sherlock's Baker St. Pub & Grill
9012 Research Blvd
Austin, Texas

Cost

Food & beverage will be available to purchase from facilities menu.  $5.00 donation suggested to support chapter activities.  Meeting is open to IEEE and non-IEEE members.

Reservations

https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46078

Notes


Back to TOP


Joint Systems, Man & Cybernetics Society (SMC) & Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS)

AESS Chapter of the Year Award 2016 for US-based chapters

Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title

No meeting scheduled at this time

Speaker


Abstract


Date/Time


Location


Cost


Reservations


Notes




Back to TOP


Austin Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEM)

Chapter Web Site

Topic/Title Discussion Topic: How can you improve your Emotional Intelligence?
Speaker
Abstract Join us for a snacks, beverages,  good company and a fantastic discussion group, focused on developing your leadership skills.

At July's meeting we'll discuss Emotional Intelligence.  Watch Daniel Goleman's 5-minute TED Talk on Emotional Intelligence. Or watch the animated summary of Goleman's Book.  (Watch the TED Talk now, we'll discuss it at the event.) Or, if you want to take a deeper dive, read Goleman's book, Emotional Intelligence. 

How can you improve your emotional intelligence and take your career to the next level?  You will leave with new ideas for yourself!

 No charge for the event. Bring a friend!  And make new ones!
Date/Time 11 July 2017
6:30 Snacks and networking
7:00 Discussion
8:00 Adjourn
Location Microsoft Store at the Domain
3309 Esperanza Crossing #104
Austin, Texas
Cost
Registration https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46026
Notes

Contact Leslie Martinich (lmartinich@ieee.org) for more information about the Austin TMC.

Back to TOP


San Antonio Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEM)

Chapter Web Site


Topic/Title No meeting scheduled at this time
Speaker
Abstract
Date/Time
Location
Cost
Registration
Notes

Back to TOP


Women in Engineering Affinity Group (WIE)

Chapter Web site

Topic/Title TURN ON YOUR CREATIVITY
Speaker
Abstract SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN THE TECH INDUSTRY: A Monthly Meeting for Women in Engineering in the Central Texas Section (San Antonio)

Join us for snacks, beverages,  good company and a fantastic discussion, focused on Creativity.

We'll discuss two Ted talks "Creative thinking - how to get out of the box and generate ideas" and "A crash course in creativity" And perhaps we'll try some practice conversations!

No charge for the event. Bring a friend!  And make new ones!
Date/Time 12 July 2017
6:30 Snacks and networking
7:00 Discussion
8:00 Adjourn
Location Microsoft Store
San Antonio, Texas
United States 78256
Building: 15900 La Cantera Parkway
Room Number: Suite 6560
Cost
Registration https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/46137
Notes Co-sponsored by Microsoft



Topic/Title Special viewing of the movie "Hidden Figures"
Speaker
Abstract Join us for snacks, a glass of wine, good company and a fantastic book club, focused on SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN THE TECH INDUSTRY.

At this special meeting of the Book Club we'll watch the movie Hidden Figures and then discuss its impact. What message resonates with you?  Will it change the way you approach your work environment?

Free parking is available at on West St. after 6PM.  (Meeting is at the NW Corner of 7th and West) .  No charge for the event. Bring a friend!  And make new ones!
Date/Time 18 July 2017
6:00 Snacks and networking
6:15 Hidden Figures
8:15 Discussion
9:00 Adjourn
Location Cirrus Logic
800 W. 6th St.
Austin, Texas
United States 78701
Building: Way at the back!
Cost
Registration https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/45324
Notes


Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month at Cirrus Logic, 800 W. 6th St. Austin, TX 78701

Contact Leslie Martinich (lmartinich@ieee.org) for more information about WIE.

Back to TOP