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Capturing Lost Revenue: 5 Steps for Semiconductor Companies
June 12, 2013 3:16 pm | by Chanan Greenberg, senior director of business development at Model N Inc. | CommentsThe global economy is on the upswing in 2013, which means semiconductor companies have a great opportunity to reap the benefits. According to analyst firm IHS, revenue is expected to grow 6.4 percent this year after two straight years of decline. As a result, semiconductor professionals are asking themselves two questions: How can we take advantage of this growth, however brief it might be? And what happens if the economy takes a plunge...
Drones: The New Cold War
June 3, 2013 11:21 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsOne of the most hotly debated topics in politics has a direct vein into the engineering community, drones (the hottest debated topic, unless of course you’re talking about 3D printed guns). As recently reported by NBC News, a company known as Denel Dynamics, out of Pretoria, South Africa, is preparing to test armed drones, which it intends to sell to governments around the world.
Fire Human Resources
May 24, 2013 10:06 am | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | CommentsManagement Consultant Dave Logan at CBS Moneywatch is warning companies to avoid falling in love with company policy. He talks about a company that wanted to hire a very disruptive genius. But HR said it wasn't possible because they had no job description for the function envisioned.
The U.S. Market & Design for Test
May 23, 2013 4:10 pm | by W. Scott Fillebrown, President & CEO of ACD | CommentsBecause many high-volume printed circuit assemblies are sent outside the United States, it is challenging to test the lower volume/high turnover assemblies domestically. But this does not need to be a problem — some simple planning and the right contract manufacturer (CM) can solve this issue.
The Future of Google Glass
May 20, 2013 4:32 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | CommentsThere has been a lot of talk about Google Glass lately, mostly due to the prototype debut, but one interesting aspect of that public viewing is that developers –outside of GoogleLand—can take a crack at coming up with interesting uses for the technology. By allowing new voices into the conversation, the world is seeing even more possibilities for Google Glass.
How to Avoid the Cost and Security Pitfalls of M2M
April 29, 2013 11:29 am | by Dan Rudich, Senior Vice President, Tangoe | CommentsOver the last few years, we have seen explosive growth in the adoption of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology — the technology that enables automated wired or wireless communication between mechanical or electronic devices. In fact, predictions...
Taking the B.S. Out of Bill Shock
April 25, 2013 10:19 am | by Martin Morgan, Marketing Manager, Openet | CommentsIt seems that everywhere you look, there’s a story of a wireless subscriber opening up his or her monthly mobile bill and seeing numbers that would make most people’s jaws drop. This is the case of bill shock, the unwanted (but not uncommon) trend that continues to plague the mobile data-driven world...
Smartphone Shakes
April 23, 2013 1:53 pm | by Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD | CommentsI recently attended a concert in Madison, WI. I placed my phone in my back pocket to avoid carrying a purse and to have it easily accessible when I wanted to update my status and snap a few photos. Unfortunately, after a visit to the facilities and a horrifying plop, I knew that I was in trouble.
The Earth is Eating People
April 9, 2013 9:47 am | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, WDD | CommentsI’m not sure if it was the first photos of the “freak geological incident” to surface, or news of the golfer who plummeted deep into an 18-foot cavern that has made it impossible for me to make it through a full night without living through vivid nightmares in which a sinkhole opens up beneath me and the earth pulls me into oblivion.
Looking Forward on Ethernet's 40th Anniversary
April 2, 2013 8:31 am | by John D’Ambrosia, Chairman and Board of Directors, Ethernet Alliance Chief Ethernet Evangelist, CTO Office, Dell | CommentsEthernet this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and anniversaries are typically the time to celebrate the past. But with so much innovation and development percolating across the global Ethernet ecosystem, there is little time for the technology’s vast array of stakeholders to look back on its successes.
NASA’s Technical Reports Server Shuts Down
March 26, 2013 9:56 am | by Karl Stephan, Consulting Engineer, Texas State University, San Marcos | CommentsFor most of its existence, the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) could be termed the fishbowl agency. Unlike the Department of Defense or nuclear-related branches of the Department of Energy, virtually everything NASA did, built, or planned has been publicly available to anybody who asked.
The Feminine Pad (A Tablet for Women)
March 25, 2013 11:42 am | by Melissa Fassbender, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsJust as I was about upgrade to the LeapPad2, Eurostar Group has released the new ePad Femme Tablet for Women. "The Tablet comes preloaded with applications so you can just turn it on and log in to cooking recipes or yoga," says Mani Nair, Associate Vice President for Marketing at Eurostar Group.
The New Kid
March 22, 2013 9:04 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD | CommentsI feel like the new kid at school again: A bit shy, reserved, and somewhat intimidated by the veterans. But, at the same time, I am extremely excited for the change and the new adventures that lay ahead. If you’re still wondering why Janine changed her hair, let me put your minds at ease.
With Patient Health at Stake, Medical Equipment Industry Needs to Improve Supply Chain Visibility
March 21, 2013 9:21 am | by Armin Meissner | CommentsThere are few industries as tightly interwoven with life and death issues as medical equipment. Getting everything right; from adherence to regulations to on-time product deliveries to perfectly performing products, is paramount. Complete transparency throughout the medical equipment supply chain is an absolute necessity.
Lady Brains: Dumbing Down Technology for Women
March 20, 2013 9:27 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsManufacturers are constantly trying to find ways to appeal specifically to women. The justification is often that their product—be it pens, cars, or toys—sells with men, but they’re trying to attract more women. It’s a logical thought process...

