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Monday, December 30, 2002

"MUSIC: Composer harnesses artificial intelligence to create music"
Just as IBM's Deep Blue showed the world a computer can play chess as well as a human master, Eduardo Reck Miranda, a researcher for the Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc., aims to demonstrate a computer program able to compose original music. So far, neural networks have succeeded in imitating distinct musical styles, but truly original compositions have remained elusive. Miranda is tackling that problem with an orchestra of virtual musicians � called agents � that interact to compose original music.
Text: http://www.eet.com/at/news/OEG20021230S0015

Wednesday, December 18, 2002

"NANOTECH: Deposition technique spins metal salt into pure gold"
Researchers at Purdue University have tapped an inexpensive wet-chemistry method to deposit nanoscale patterns of gold, platinum or palladium directly on top of semiconductor chips. While limited at present to gallium arsenide and germanium substrates, the work could enable a low-cost alternative to current metal deposition methods in chip manufacturing. It may also hold promise for the development of single-chip biohazard sensors to combat terrorism.

Audio interviews: http://ampcast.com/RColinJohnson

Interview CDs: http://mp3.com/RColinJohnson

Story in EE Times: http://www.eet.com/at/news/OEG20021217S0032

Tuesday, December 10, 2002

"COGNIZER: Darpa puts thought into cognitive computing"
A program that may push cognitive technology to a new level is being launched by the Department of Defense. The DOD's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a longtime supporter and user of artificial-intelligence systems, aims to build what it is calling an "enduring personalized cognitive assistant," or Epca. The system will be able to "reason, use represented knowledge, learn from experience, accumulate knowledge, explain itself, accept direction, be aware of its own behavior and capabilities as well as respond in a robust manner to surprises," according to a Darpa's Broad Agency Announcement.

Audio interviews: http://ampcast.com/RColinJohnson

Interview CDs: http://mp3.com/RColinJohnson

Story in EE Times: http://www.eet.com/at/news/OEG20021209S0062

Monday, December 02, 2002

"QUANTUM: Error correction may stall quantum computing"
According to University of Arkansas physics professor Julio Gea-Banacloche, quantum computers may be further off than previously believed because error correction will generate more energy than microchips can dissipate.

Audio interviews: http://ampcast.com/RColinJohnson

Interview CDs: http://mp3.com/RColinJohnson

Story in EE Times: http://www.eet.com/at/news/OEG20021202S0077