NewsFlash is a monthly email of press items featuring our College's researchers. For a more complete and regularly updated list of COE media coverage, see In the Media.
Click on a headline to read that article on the web. Some links may require a subscription or no longer be active.
NewsFlash is a service of the UW College of Engineering and the UW Office of News and Information. If you have a newsworthy result about one month from publication, presentation or demonstration, please contact Michelle Ma at mcma@uw.edu@uw.edu or (206) 543-2580.
2012: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2011: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2010: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2009: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2008: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Sep | Oct | Nov
2007: Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
NewsFlash, February 2011
Feb. 16, 2011 | MSNBC
Game device adapted for robo-touch
 |
Visiting electrical engineering PhD student Fredrik Ryden spent $150 and one weekend designing a way to give surgeons tactile feedback during robotic surgeries. Now that the feat has been publicized on YouTube, in the blogosphere and beyond, it seems as if everyone is trying to do it, said electrical engineer Howard Chizeck. |
Engineering students hack Kinect for surgical robotics research
Feb. 21, 2011 | Gizmodo
The full power of Microsoft Kinect is about to be unleashed with an SDK for all
 |
Microsoft's going to release a full software development kit for Kinect on Windows 7 that lets developers come up with even wilder, more sophisticated Kinect apps. UW electrical engineers' work to use the Kinect for robotic surgery is mentioned. |
Engineering students hack Kinect for surgical robotics research
Feb. 01, 2011 | Wall Street Journal: Digits blog
Researchers hope sharing costs will spur optical chips
 |
Combining electronic and optical components on silicon chips is a promising idea at an early stage, akin to the semiconductor industry 40 years ago. UW electrical engineer Michael Hochberg plans to emulate a tactic that proved pivotal in keeping development going in those bygone days. |
New center aims to dramatically lower barrier to making silicon photonic chips
Feb. 03, 2011 | The Seattle Times
Tech pioneer describes birth of PC revolution
 |
In a speech Tuesday night at the University of Washington, computer pioneer Carver Mead shared all sorts of anecdotes about early days in the microelectronics industry that led to the PC revolution and today's pocket computers. |
New center aims to dramatically lower barrier to making silicon photonic chips
Feb. 07, 2011 | The Seattle Times
UW foundry changes economics of research as it works on ushering in new generation of chips
 |
Last week's announcement of a silicon photonics foundry led by UW electrical engineer Michael Hochberg was interesting, but the really cool stuff will start happening a few years from now. |
New center aims to dramatically lower barrier to making silicon photonic chips
Feb. 12, 2011 | The Seattle Times
Hwy. 99 tunnel would be prepared for potential disasters
 |
The notion of a Highway 99 tunnel raises its own set of fears among the public. What about fire, earthquake, tsunami or crashes? In the case of a major Seattle earthquake, says civil engineer Steve Kramer: "The tunnel would probably be the least of our concerns." |
Feb. 21, 2011 | Philadelphia Inquirer
GreenSpace: Not as sweet as it first seemed
 |
Clorox is coming clean. The cleaning products giant announced recently that it was expanding the list of ingredients disclosed on its website, including ingredients used in fragrances. Research by UW civil and environmental engineer Anne Steinemann is noted. |
Scented consumer products shown to emit many unlisted chemicals
Feb. 22, 2011 | The New York Times: Well blog
Cellphone use tied to changes in brain activity
 |
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have found that less than an hour of cellphone use can speed up brain activity in the area closest to the phone antenna. Bioengineer Henry Lai, who wrote the editorial accompanying the article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is quoted. |
Feb. 22, 2011 | MSNBC (via Reuters)
Cell phone calls alter brain activity: study
 |
Spending 50 minutes with a cell phone plastered to your ear is enough to change brain cell activity in the part of the brain closest to the antenna. Experts said the results were intriguing, but urged that they be interpreted with caution. Bioengineer Henry Lai's accompanying editorial is quoted. |
Feb. 23, 2011 | Bloomberg Businessweek
Mobile-phone use may affect brain activity, researchers find
| Using a mobile phone for 50 minutes stirs brain metabolism, although the health consequences are unknown and need to be studied further, U.S. researchers said. Bioengineer Henry Lai is quoted. |
Feb. 22, 2011 | Washington Post: The Checkup blog
More questions about cell phone safety
| A new federal study may stir things up further, even though the bottom line again is that it raises more questions than it answers about cell phone safety. Bioengineer Henry Lai's accompanying editorial is quoted. |
Feb. 07, 2011 | The L.A. Times
Stem cells for broken hearts
 |
Early work on bone marrow cells to heal fragile hearts showed only modest effects. But new research looks at different types of stem cells. Chuck Murry, professor of pathology and bioengineering, is quoted. |
A strategy to fix a broken heart
Feb. 11, 2011 | Puget Sound Business Journal: TechFlash blog
How the psychology of games is remaking business and science
 |
A feature article looks at a rising trend in the tech industry: All the world’s a game. Or at least it’s starting to seem that way. The UW's Foldit project is mentioned. |
Gaming for a cure: Computer gamers tackle protein folding
Feb. 03, 2011 | The Colbert Report
The Colbert Report: Jane McGonigal
 |
Author and game developer Jane McGonigal says 10 years of scientific research show that playing video games is actually the most productive thing we can do. Asked whether games can actually help solve real-world problems, she mentions a UW paper in the journal Nature co-authored by 57,000 Foldit players (at 4:45). |
Gaming for a cure: Computer gamers tackle protein folding
Feb. 02, 2011 | CNET UK
Smart contact lenses turn diabetics into eye robots
 |
Researchers have developed a smart contact lens that monitors your health -- and could display information right before your very eyes. Electrical engineer Babak Parviz has developed a smart lens that measures the blood sugar levels of people with diabetes. |
Contact lenses with circuits, lights a possible platform for superhuman vision
Jan. 31, 2011 | New Scientist
I, algorithm: A new dawn for artificial intelligence
 |
Given the choice between a flesh-and-blood doctor and an artificial intelligence system for diagnosing diseases, computer scientist Pedro Domingos is willing to stake his life on AI. "I'd trust the machine more than I'd trust the doctor," Domingos says. |
UW to lead $6.25 million project creating electronic Sherlock Holmes
Feb. 14, 2011 | NPR
On 'Jeopardy!' it's man vs. this machine
 |
IBM's Watson computer system competes in a Jeopardy! practice round on Jan. 13 against two of the show's most celebrated contestants: Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Computer scientist Oren Etzioni is quoted. |
Feb. 17, 2011 | The Vancouver Sun (via Agence France-Presse)
Computer creams human Jeopardy! champions
| IBM's Watson supercomputer creamed two human champions on the popular U.S. television game show Jeopardy!, in a triumph of artificial intelligence. Computer scientist Oren Etzioni is quoted. |
Feb. 16, 2011 | Puget Sound Business Journal: TechFlash blog
Q&A: The meaning of Watson
 |
TechFlash talks to computer scientist Oren Etzioni about the performance of IBM's Watson supercomputer on "Jeopardy!" Etzioni says Watson's win is a victory for humans. |
Feb. 08, 2011 | The Seattle Times: Brier Dudley's blog
Microsoft, Boeing, UW engineers tapped by national academy
 |
Hank Levy and two other Seattle area residents were among 68 new members of the National Academy of Engineering announced today. |
UW's Hank Levy elected to National Academy of Engineering
Feb. 08, 2011 | Xconomy
UW, Microsoft get 2 new members of NAE
| Hank Levy, the chairman of UW’s Computer Science and Engineering department, and Microsoft's Susan Dumais were among new members of the National Academy of Engineering announced today. |
UW's Hank Levy elected to National Academy of Engineering
Feb. 25, 2011 | The Seattle Times
State university presidents paint grim picture on budget cuts
 |
An article on proposed cuts to state universities includes a photo of civil and environmental engineer Jim Thompson teaching in the Harris Hydraulics Lab, an old building in need of maintenance. Budget cuts, however, may have to put any such ideas on hold. |
Feb. 24, 2011 | seattlepi.com
Google’s hiring spree will extend to Seattle area
 |
Google's Seattle-Kirkland office is one of the most significant ones outside of Mountain View, the company said. And it's growing. One of every five Seattle-Kirkland engineers came through UW. |
Feb. 25, 2011 | Puget Sound Business Journal: TechFlash blog
Q&A: How Google is growing, changing, and staying the same
 |
Google expects 2011 to be a record year of hiring for the broader company. TechFlash's Todd Bishop talks to former computer science professor Brian Bershad, now site director of Google's Fremont office, about the expansion of the company and its relationship with the UW. |
Jan. 28, 2011 | The New York Times: Bits blog
Intel spreads its university research bets
 |
Intel plans to pour $100 million over the next five years into far-flung university research teams. The first Intel-funded center, focusing on visual computing, will be based at Stanford and will include researchers at the UW and seven other U.S. universities. Computer scientist Ed Lazowksa is quoted. |
Feb. 04, 2011 | Puget Sound Business Journal: TechFlash blog
Why Intel is closing Seattle lab, and what it means for the future
 |
Intel is shutting down its 10-year-old research operations near the University of Washington as part of a broader change in the way the company works with universities across the nation. Intel says it will be able to boost direct funding to researchers by up to five times under the new approach. |
Feb. 18, 2011 | Puget Sound Business Journal: TechFlash blog
Check it out: Seattle Band Map
 |
Computer science undergraduate Golf Sinteppadon teamed up with KEXP and a local musician to create an interactive version of the Seattle Band Map -- a visual database documenting the many, many connections among bands past and present in our region. |
Feb. 10, 2011 | The Auburn Reporter
Gracious Ferrell savors Miss Auburn crown
 |
Daniela Ferrell, a UW freshman in civil & environmental engineering, ran on a platform that hits close to home: cancer support through bone marrow and blood donation. After being crowned Miss Auburn she won more than $12,000 in total gifts, awards and scholarships, and a spot in July's Miss Washington Pageant. |
If you have a newsworthy result about one month from publication, presentation or demonstration, please contact Hannah Hickey, hickeyh@uw.edu. Notice of student and faculty awards and grants is also welcome.