December 19, 1997
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contact the public information officer at the end of each item at (703)
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Contents of this News Tip:
Parents seeking last-minute gifts and stocking-stuffers for their youngsters
should consider simple toys that kindle their child's natural curiosity,
says National Science Foundation (NSF) director Neal Lane.
Lane acknowledges the pressure to buy the latest equivalent of "Tickle
Me" toys, but he encourages parents to also "'tickle' your children's
intellectual inclinations and brighten their future with a toy that stimulates
creativity and thinking skills."
As examples, Lane suggests a magnet or simple gyroscope; or a pocket-sized
illuminated magnifier which "can cost less than $10 and provides a wonderland
view of nature for children. Simply add insects to create a hands-on science
experience." Building and construction toys teach spatial relations, and
the familiar Slinky teaches fundamentals of wave motion, he adds.
Lane suggests an Internet search for TOYS and SCIENCE for more gift
ideas; or, lacking Internet access, visiting a science museum or nature
store, or just consulting the child's teacher.
More than the gift itself, though, Lane emphasizes the importance of
parental involvement in a child's discovery process. "Your active participation
in your child's intellectual development is perhaps the greatest gift
of all," he says. (Mary Hanson/Lee Herring)
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The much-publicized computer problem that will accompany the turn of
the century is a symptom of a changing and complex relationship between
humans and computers, according to the expert NSF has appointed to help
its grantees.
"We need to change how we think about information technology and systems," says
University of Washington technical communication professor Mark Haselkorn.
Haselkorn is on assignment to NSF to provide advice, oversight and
assistance to the scientific research and education community that NSF
supports.
Haselkorn points out that the "Year 2000 problem" -- also known as "the
century date change problem," "the millenium bug," and simply "Y2K" -
encompasses more than hardware and software.
"Certainly there are major hardware, operating system, software and
data issues, but fixing any of these in isolation doesn't assure that
the entire information system is compliant," Haselkorn says. "It's also
about people and organizations. It's about how information systems are
used, maintained and evolved in the real world."
The most difficult aspects of Y2K stem from rapid technology development
that has not been sufficiently guided by human needs and the actual environments
in which the technology is used, according to Haselkorn. "We are moving
away from a focus on technology to information and its uses," he says. "Information
technology must serve people and policy, not the other way around."
Since November, Haselkorn has been working with some of the major research
activities supported by NSF to reduce potential disruptions to the national
research program. (Mary Hanson)
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R&D Magazine has listed NSF among recipients of the publication's
annual R&D 100 Awards, recognizing the year's100 most technologically
significant new products and processes.
R & D cited NSF for supporting research leading to the
development of the TurboToolTM, a spindle system developed
by engineers at Aesop Inc. of Bow, N.H., in collaboration with Boston
Digital Corp. of Milford, Mass. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
using a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from NSF and the
National Center for Manufacturing Sciences in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The spindle system uses a water-driven, water-bearing-supported turbine
for high-speed, high-power milling. It reportedly weighs and costs less,
produces more and lasts longer than competing products. Its only moving
part is the turbine-bearing toolbit, centered by hydrostatic bearings
to substantially reduce errors. It features an innovative hole along its
axis to permit critical water cooling during high-friction milling.
The system's speed and power are reportedly almost 2.5 times greater
than conventional systems, and the bearing has been demonstrated to withstand
high forces during machining operations. (George Chartier)
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