SRI International Digest #17 - Winter 2006 Subscribe to the SRI International Digest, our quarterly e-newsletter, or view previous issues. In 2006, independent research institute SRI International celebrates 60 years of meeting important R&D challenges for clients. In this edition of the Digest, learn about new studies for NASA, the role of genetics in nicotine addiction, new technologies to combat "phishing", and much more.
Product News
Space News Energy News Health/Biotech News
Cyber Security News
PRODUCT NEWS Artificial Muscle, Inc. Ships First Commercial Products Artificial Muscle, Inc. (AMI), which spun off from SRI in 2004, has announced availability of its initial commercial products: the world’s first line of standard electroactive polymer actuators. AMI's Universal Muscle Actuator (TM) product line can replace conventional actuators used in millions of pumps, valves, and linear actuators, among many other applications. Ohio Police Use Phraselator for Instant Handheld Speech Translation The Clark County Sheriff's office in Springfield, Ohio, will be the first police department in the state to implement the VoxTec Phraselator(R) P2, a voice-activated mobile translation device, as part of a broad effort to improve communication with the increasing local Latino population. Initially developed for military with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Phraselator device includes DynaSpeak(R) speech recognition software under license from SRI. The devices have also been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. More information SPACE NEWS
NASA’s Outer Planets Research Program recently awarded two grants to SRI’s Molecular Physics Laboratory to conduct laboratory experiments relevant to Jupiter’s ammonia ice clouds and the photodissociation (the breakdown of molecules into their smallest components by radiation) of carbon dioxide and water in the atmospheres of comets. More information: spaceref.com; Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal ENERGY NEWS Novel Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Technology SRI VP of Physical Sciences Dr. Lawrence Dubois and SRI senior research engineer Dr. Iouri Balachov recently introduced SRI's direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) technology to the fuel cell research community. DCFCs convert the chemical energy in coal directly into electricity without the need for gasification. SRI's technology can produce electricity at a competitive cost from a variety of fuels, including coal, coke, tar, biomass and organic waste. It is also two times more fuel-efficient than today's coal-fired power plants, resulting in reduced carbon dioxide emissions. More information here. Also, listen to a KQED radio interview (MP3 file) with Dr. Dubois. Meet Energy Researcher Iouri Balachov Iouri Balachov researches clean energy generation technologies such as direct carbon fuel cells. His work could make a real difference in the quest for U.S. energy independence through transition to next-generation fuels. Read more about Iouri. HEALTH/BIOTECH NEWS What Role Do Genetics Play in Nicotine Addiction? SRI Forms Centers of Excellence in Computational Biology and Infectious Disease/Biodefense Biotech Veteran Joins SRI Board of Directors Meet Our New Executive Director of Drug Discovery SRI Biosciences at Major Conferences SRI's Biosciences Division will showcase its drug discovery and development and medical product development services at the American Association of Cancer Research Annual Meeting (April 1-5 in Washington, D.C.) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) annual convention (April 9-12, in Chicago). Contact biosciences@sri.com if you'd like to schedule a meeting with an SRI representative at either event. Intuitive Surgical Lists on Nasdaq 100 SRI pioneered minimally invasive robotic surgery technology in the 1990s. Our spin-off Intuitive Surgical (Nasdaq: ISRG), today the market leader in surgical robotics, will be listed on the Nasdaq 100 Index on February 1. The company currently has a market cap of $4.72 billion. More information In the News In "Minding the Drug Development Gap" (The Scientist, November 2005), SRI's Ted Spack reports that some technology transfer offices are struggling to support drug patent prosecution costs. SRI has initiated partnerships with universities to develop collaborative responses to challenges in translational drug development. SECURITY NEWS How Can We Combat "Phishing"? New Report Available The report is available for download at no charge. Intended for technical practitioners, researchers and security executives, the report offers a comprehensive survey, developed by independent research organization Radix Labs, and analysis of counter-phishing technology. The report details technologies used by online identity thieves, or “phishers,” and explores technologies that could dramatically reduce financial losses and consumer distrust. More information U.S.-Canada Experiment Assesses Secure Wireless Data Communication Enhancements Events alert: SRI's capabilities in homeland security and national defense technology will be on display at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space Exposition (April 4-6, Washington, D.C.) and the Homeland & Global Security Summit (April 11-12, Washington, D.C.) In the news:
============= For more information on SRI's innovations and how we can help you, contact SRI Digest editor Marty Mallonee at marty.mallonee@sri.com. The SRI Digest welcomes your feedback. Please send suggestions or comments to newsletter@sri.com. Start or discontinue a subscription by sending an email to newsletter@sri.com. Read the Fall 2005 edition of the SRI Digest in Japanese.
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