The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, have announced the setting up of centre’s of excellence in nanoelectronics on each of their campus’ to undertake state-of-the-art research in the subject, train manpower in the field of nanoelectronics and create facilities to be used by researchers all over the country
The project will be funded by the ministry of communication and information technology (MCIT) at a cost of Rs 99.8 crores to be spread over five years and shared equally by both the institutions. Nanoelecronics is considered to be one of the most advanced of the nanotechnologies that deals with nano-devices used for electronic circuits and systems.
"This project represents the first collaborative effort between two leading academic institutes in the country, to carry out a joint programme in an important emerging area," said chief investigator for the project, Prof. Ramgopal Rao from IITB.IISc will focus on the materials aspects of nanoelectronics devices, while IITB will focus more on the devices and circuits aspects of nanoelectronics.
"This collaboration will ensure that several major equipment do not have to be replicated at the two centres, thus leading to considerable cost saving and will ensure that the complementary expertise of the two teams are effectively used," added the professor.
IT sector pitches for free service trade pact with US
February 28, 2006, 9:48 am
As the countdown begins for US President George W. Bush’s visit to India, the domestic dollar-spinning IT sector is keenly awaiting some positive signal on inking a free trade pact with the US in the services sector.
The US is the biggest market for India’s software services and business process outsourcing firms, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the total exports that is likely to touch a staggering $24 billion in the year ending March 31.
With just a couple of days to go before President Bush arrives in India on Wednesday, hopes are soaring that the US administration would also raise the visa limit for entry of Indian tech professionals in the world’s largest economy.
"A free trade agreement with the US in the services sector will be a win-win situation for both the countries," said Kiran Karnik, president of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom)."It (the agreement) will complement both the economies. While their strength is the vibrant venture capital and marketing skills, the Indian IT industry is known globally for its vast and skilled manpower base," Mr Karnik said.
"Despite the Indian IT firms’ foray into new geographical locations, the US continues to be the biggest and rapidly growing market. A free trade agreement in services will greatly boost the bilateral business relations."The service sector accounts for a little more than half of India’s gross domestic product.
The US is the biggest market for India’s software services and business process outsourcing firms, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the total exports that is likely to touch a staggering $24 billion in the year ending March 31.
With just a couple of days to go before President Bush arrives in India on Wednesday, hopes are soaring that the US administration would also raise the visa limit for entry of Indian tech professionals in the world’s largest economy.
"A free trade agreement with the US in the services sector will be a win-win situation for both the countries," said Kiran Karnik, president of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom)."It (the agreement) will complement both the economies. While their strength is the vibrant venture capital and marketing skills, the Indian IT industry is known globally for its vast and skilled manpower base," Mr Karnik said.
"Despite the Indian IT firms’ foray into new geographical locations, the US continues to be the biggest and rapidly growing market. A free trade agreement in services will greatly boost the bilateral business relations."The service sector accounts for a little more than half of India’s gross domestic product.
Looking ahead: Microsoft’s Xbox 360
February 27, 2006, 10:00 am
When Microsoft launched its Xbox 360 in November last year, it signalled the transition to the next generation of consoles. With its custom triple core central processor unit (CPU) and 500 MHz graphics processor (GPU), the Xbox 360 represents the next step in Microsoft’s attempt to develop a living room entertainment hub. The console includes integrated Media Centre Extender capability to connect it to a Media Centre PC, allowing the user to play video, pictures and music resident on the PC through the entertainment cluster in the living room.
Sony and Nintendo have yet to launch their next generation machines, but they are due later in 2006. Sony has announced an ambitious console, the PlayStation 3 (PS3), to be centred on the Cell processor, developed with IBM and Toshiba. The specs of the machine are impressive, including a 550 MHz GPU that supports 1080p high definition video. The PS3 will also include Blu-Ray DVD playback, a high-definition format that is central to Sony’s corporate strategy, according to In-Stat, a market research firm. Nintendo has announced some details on its next generation console, the Revolution.
Central to Nintendo’s console is a new type of controller that allows the user’s arm movement to affect the movement of game characters. Nintendo is pursuing innovative ideas in next-generation gaming rather than trying to battle it out technologically with its much larger rivals.
"In the current generation of consoles, Sony expanded its domination in 2005. In an unprecedented occurrence, Sony shipped its second largest volume of PlayStation 2 (PS2) consoles in 2005. In the back-end of the product cycle, when shipments typically decline year-over-year, Sony shipped 19.98 million consoles worldwide, over 8 million more than its 2004 total. And we expect that Sony will continue to ship the console through 2010, which would match the 11-year product cycle of the recently discontinued PlayStation, or PSOne," In-Stat says.
Online music The past year was a breakthrough year for digital music. The Internet is now a key distribution channel for legitimate digital music sales; and the mobile phone is also evolving into an important channel for digital music. As a result, in 2005, online sales of digital music represented almost 6 per cent of the total worldwide music market. This figure is up from virtually zero per cent in 2003, another In-Stat study says.According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, paid-for digital single downloads reached 420 million in 2005.
Sony and Nintendo have yet to launch their next generation machines, but they are due later in 2006. Sony has announced an ambitious console, the PlayStation 3 (PS3), to be centred on the Cell processor, developed with IBM and Toshiba. The specs of the machine are impressive, including a 550 MHz GPU that supports 1080p high definition video. The PS3 will also include Blu-Ray DVD playback, a high-definition format that is central to Sony’s corporate strategy, according to In-Stat, a market research firm. Nintendo has announced some details on its next generation console, the Revolution.
Central to Nintendo’s console is a new type of controller that allows the user’s arm movement to affect the movement of game characters. Nintendo is pursuing innovative ideas in next-generation gaming rather than trying to battle it out technologically with its much larger rivals.
"In the current generation of consoles, Sony expanded its domination in 2005. In an unprecedented occurrence, Sony shipped its second largest volume of PlayStation 2 (PS2) consoles in 2005. In the back-end of the product cycle, when shipments typically decline year-over-year, Sony shipped 19.98 million consoles worldwide, over 8 million more than its 2004 total. And we expect that Sony will continue to ship the console through 2010, which would match the 11-year product cycle of the recently discontinued PlayStation, or PSOne," In-Stat says.
Online music The past year was a breakthrough year for digital music. The Internet is now a key distribution channel for legitimate digital music sales; and the mobile phone is also evolving into an important channel for digital music. As a result, in 2005, online sales of digital music represented almost 6 per cent of the total worldwide music market. This figure is up from virtually zero per cent in 2003, another In-Stat study says.According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, paid-for digital single downloads reached 420 million in 2005.
