Using smart people to form future mobile wireless networks

The concept of a body-to-body network, where smart communicating devices carried or worn by a person are used to form a wireless network with devices situated on other nearby persons. New innovations in this area will see the form factor of smart devices being modified, so that they may be worn on the human body or integrated into clothing, in the process creating a new generation of smart people. Applications of body-to-body networking will extend well beyond the support of cellular and Wi-Fi networks. They will also be used in short-range covert military applications, first responder applications, team sports and used to interconnect body area networks (BAN). Security will be a major issue as routing between multiple nodes will increase the risk of unauthorized access and compromise sensitive data. This will add complexity to the medium access layer (MAC) and network management. Antennas designed to operate in body centric communications systems may be broadly categorized as on- or off-body radiators, according to their radiation pattern characteristics when mounted on the human body.

A web-based overview of semiconductor photochemistry-based current commercial applications

The major current commercial applications of semiconductor photochemistry promoted on the world wide web are reviewed. The basic principles behind the different applications are discussed, including the use of semiconductor photochemistry to: photo-mineralise organics, photo-sterilise and photo-demist. The range of companies, and their products, which utilise semiconductor photochemistry are examined and typical examples listed. An analysis of the geographical distribution of current commercial activity in this area is made. The results indicate that commercial activity in this area is growing world-wide, but is especially strong in Japan. The number and geographical distribution of patents in semiconductor photocatalysis are also commented on. The trends in the numbers of US and Japanese patents over the last 6 years are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

ARE ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETS AS SMART AS A RAT

The origins of artificial neural networks are related to animal conditioning theory: both are forms of connectionist theory, which in turn derives from the empiricist philosophers' principle of association. The parallel between animal learning and neural nets suggests that interaction between them should benefit both sides.