Pam Frost Gorder » Technology

Modeling the Human Equation

Pam — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:23:15 +0000

Born from a desire to predict the future, epidemiology has largely been limited to studying the past. Now,
computational epidemiology researchers are harnessing computing power to crack the complicated mystery of
how diseases spread. Full story (PDF)

Coming Soon: Research in a Cloud

Pam — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:57:54 +0000

A trend is taking shape in the computing industry that could significantly change the way academic research is done. A few years from now, researchers who work with massive data sets might stop processing their data locally and find themselves outsourcing the job to massive commercial data clusters. Full story

A Nanoscale Tractor Beam

Pam — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:18:08 +0000

A laser beam can push a nanoscale particle away with the pressure of its photons, but the particle may also be drawn toward the light when other particles are nearby–like the “tractor beams” of science fiction–according to a theory in the June Physical Review B. Full story

Launch Vehicle

Pam — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:39:02 +0000

Engineering alumni from the University of Dayton offer their perspectives on how NASA has changed with the times — and talk about how they’re personally contributing to today’s “space races,” including NASA’s new pushes toward Mars and the moon. Full story (PDF)

Disordered Design — A Profile of a Physicist

Pam — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:01:36 +0000

The next generation of electronics may rely on some quirky materials, including a type of silicon that dramatically changes its behavior when exposed to heat or light. One of the physicists at the forefront of this research is David Drabold. His unique way of looking at the world — including his use of a once-obscure statistical technique for predicting material properties — is pushing the development of these “disordered” materials forward. Full Story

Multicore Processors for Science and Engineering

Pam — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:00:55 +0000

There’s no question that multicore processors have gone mainstream. What advantages do they offer to researchers? Experts say that making the most of multicore systems will require new tools, new algorithms, and a new way of looking at programming. Full story (PDF)

Neural Networks Show Promise for Machine Vision

Pam — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:19 +0000

Computer scientists have discovered some creative strategies to help neural networks fulfill their potential in pattern recognition and artificial intelligence. Machine vision is his near-term goal, but the real prize could be insight into the human brain. Full story (PDF)

Digital Libraries Come of Age

Pam — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 05:00:42 +0000

A personal library that fits in your pocket—it will soon exist, if Michael Hart gets his way. Hart heads Project Gutenberg (PG), the Internet’s oldest digital library. On 4 July 2006, PG turned 35. Digital libraries in academia and commercial publishing are coming of age right along with it, driven by the latest technology. But to Hart and others involved in digital libraries, the technology is the least interesting part of the story. Full story (PDF)

3DESS: A Search Engine Enters the Third Dimension

Pam — Mon, 01 Nov 2004 05:00:16 +0000

A search engine that sorts through 3D images of manufacturing parts could give users an edge in today’s economy. Ultimately, it could aid other 3D tasks, from surgery to drug discovery. Full story (PDF)

Vortex Drive

Pam — Sat, 23 Oct 2004 05:00:35 +0000

A study of vortices may lead to ultra-maneuverable craft that can navigate beneath the ice, or even inside the human body. Full story (PDF)