There's nothing quite like being there... live and in-person. Trade shows are great for learning from others, taking technology 'test drives,' as well as for making and renewing relationships.

It's no secret that travel and exhibitor budgets remain tight. So it's even more important for your job success that we take you there through Control Engineering, Control Engineering Europe , Control Engineering Online , and our e-mailed newsletters-all via www.controleng.com.

Editors Frank Bartos, Dick Johnson, Dave Harrold, Gary Mintchell, Jim Montague, Vance VanDoren, and I covered developments during ISA 2002, Oct. 21-24, in Chicago. Jeanine Katzel helped get the news online, in some cases, minutes after it happened; Mary Nasiri and Carol Davies helped get it on paper. Admittedly, seeing it through our eyes isn't as good as being there live. Nonetheless, here's a small sampling:

• 'Dick Morley's Last Retort' panel encourages industry activism, with comments from John Berra, Ken Crater, Shuzo Kaihori, Dick Morley, and Jim Pinto.
• 10 system integrators form Automation Alliance Group;
• Control Engineering 's Vance VanDoren edits advance control book;
• Dolch shows wireless display and fully sealed PC;
• Entivity partners with Phoenix Contact; Posco touts $6.25-million savings;
• FDT Group demonstrates universal field device interface;
• Fieldbus Foundation growing by leaps and bounds;
• GE Fanuc updates software, hardware; (Separately, GE Fanuc announced its intent to acquire Intellution from Emerson Electric; more on this and other news in this issue.)
• OPC Foundation demonstrates OPC Data eXchange, to help industrial Ethernet protocols communicate;
• Photo highlights from the show;
• ProSoft introduces wireless modem solutions;
• Smar Research debuts HART-compatible modems; and
• Vaisala launches handheld humidity, temperature meter.

More from ISA and other shows continues to enhance our coverage, through contacts and notes made during the event. That's another reason I like being there; the value extends well beyond the visit.

Mark T. Hoske, Editor-in-Chief
mhoske@reedbusiness.com