By the Numbers – 2006-02-01

304 was the net gain in jobs, July 2004-June 2005, in the digital and robotics sectors for members of the Technology Collaborative (TTC), a Pennsylvania economic development organization that supports the state's growth of robotics, cyber-security, and digital technologies industries. The December announcement also pegged total member jobs created since 2000 at 1,324.

By Staff February 1, 2006

304 was the net gain in jobs, July 2004-June 2005, in the digital and robotics sectors for members of the Technology Collaborative (TTC), a Pennsylvania economic development organization that supports the state’s growth of robotics, cyber-security, and digital technologies industries. The December announcement also pegged total member jobs created since 2000 at 1,324. www.robobusiness2006.com

3 primary areas are the focus of the National Innovation Act of 2005, introduced in December 2005, and praised by IEEE-USA: 1) increasing basic research investment; 2) improving science and technology talent; and 3) developing a robust innovation infrastructure. Among provisions are establishing a President’s Council on Innovation; making permanent the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit; nearly doubling research funding for the National Science Foundation by FY 2011; authorizing funding for new and existing professional science master’s degree programs; and encouraging development of regional clusters of technology innovation. www.ieeeusa.org

5 five “New Technical Standards” were released by American Gear Manufacturers Association in 2005, including “Gear Nomenclature, Definitions of Terms with Symbols.” www.agma.org

20 greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century include electrification, automobile, airplane, water supply and distribution, and electronics in the top five spots. To see where Internet, imaging, petroleum, and nuclear technologies rank, go to www.greatachievements.org

1st order vibration frequency in rotating machines caused by shaft unbalance can be calculated in hertz by multiplying shaft revolutions per minute divided by 60. It’s also called 1x vibration. Additional orders, 2x, 3x, … 36x, etc., are caused by other mechanisms. www.vibrationandshock.com/glossary.htm

5 tips for creating strong passwords include use of at least eight numerals and symbols and avoiding common words; some hackers use programs that try all dictionary words. www.staysafeonline.org/practices/five.html

10,000 middle school teachers are encouraged to be involved in the new Engineers Week 2006 program, “Connecting Educators to Engineering,” which helps engineers interact with educators, provides learning materials, and creates an online forum for educator and engineer interaction. Engineers Week, a consortium of more than 100 professional and technical societies and major U.S. corporations, is Feb. 19-25, 2006. Now in its 56th year, it aims to increase interest in engineering and technology careers. Programs include: Executive All Stars; Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering; Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day; New Faces of Engineering; Future City Competition; and DiscoverE, an online and CD-based activities for elementary and secondary school students. www.eweek.org

$500 billion funding shortfall exists for fulfilling the Clean Water Act of 1972, according to EPA, as cited by The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which supports the Clean Water Trust Act of 2005 (H.R. 4560). The Clean Water Trust Act proposes to create a federal program to provide a long-term, dependable water-supply funding source and create a dedicated, deficit-neutral Clean Water Trust Fund (similar to federal transportation funding), among other provisions. www.asce.org

1945 was arguably the intellectual beginning of the Internet when computing pioneer Vannevar Bush outlined the Web’s core, hyperlinked pages. www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/tech