“(The following in this section is the author’s own opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the IEEE or any of its members.)

A Stagnant Industry Ripe for Disruptive Change

By Allen G. Taylor

Recently, Elon Musk of SpaceX gave some insight into his business philosophy. He noted that many people considered the space industry to be moribund. The United States has been using essentially the same rocket technology for decades. This past week NASA sent its Curiosity rover to Mars on an Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V and the Delta IV are the most capable launchers we have and they are both almost old enough to collect Social Security benefits. I can vividly remember walking through the Atlas factory in the 1960s in San Diego, which was the building next to the one that housed my cubicle. There was a row of gleaming metal rockets in varying degrees of completion.

(The following in this section is the author’s own opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the IEEE or any of its members.)

WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN OREGON’S HIGH TECHNOLOGY SECTOR (an opinion)

Leonard Forbes, Ph.D., Life Member IEEE, Prolific living inventor in electrical sciences and technology

I remember my first visit to Oregon, upon arriving from California along Interstate 5. There was a sign that basically said, “Welcome to Oregon, have a nice visit, but don’t stay.” I wasn’t sure who’s idea that was, or the implicit message, but thought it decidedly unfriendly, if not a bit arrogant. It was a mindset I later learned had very ominous consequences for the very industry it needed for economic survival.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BEST PATENT SYSTEM THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.

By Dr. Christopher Jacobs Ph.D. EE

Senior Member

(The following in this section is the author’s own opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the IEEE or any of its members.)

The passage of any new law favors some people and harms others. Called the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, this new legislation is no exception. President Barack Obama signed this bill into law at a ceremony on September 16, 2011, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Northern Virginia.

IN MY OPINION, THIS LAW FAVORS LARGE CORPORATIONS AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND HURTS CREATIVE INVENTORS AND EMPLOYEES! Let me to explain.

Below are the major provisions of this bill (1). There are many others that further move this bill toward favoring established companies and big budgets over the real innovative people in our society. My analysis of WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON WITH THIS PROVISION, and how it will affect our members, is written below each provision.

• First-Inventor-to-File Priority System. The America Invents Act shifts the U.S.

patent priority rule from the current “first-to-invent” system to the “first inventor-

(The following in this section is the author’s own opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the IEEE or any of its members.)

– by Dr. Christopher Jacobs PhD. EE
– Senior Member
Sometimes the most challenging part about being an engineer is that you sometimes have an ethical responsibility to “burst the bubbles” of the most well-intentioned dreamers, and state the cold hard facts, even when they are not popular, and especially when these facts are not even of the warm fuzzy feel-good variety. Unfortunately, electric vehicles fall into that category.