IEEE-USA cites 5 engineering breakthroughs

Five engineering breakthroughs, from software for virtual surgery to an energy saving device that detects drafts, were cited today by IEEE-USA, the U.S. career and public policy unit of the IEEE, the world's largest professional association for the advancement of technology.

The five breakthroughs, as included in television news reports recently distributed to almost 200 local U.S. TV stations, are:

1. "Doctors Playing Doctor," in which biomedical engineers designed software that allows surgeons to perform a virtual surgery before entering the operating room
   
2. "Save Money: Cut Energy Costs," in which engineers have designed a hand-held device that detects drafts around windows and doors
   
3. "Soldier Safety: Sniper-Detecting Helmet," in which electrical engineers (EEs) have developed a system that allows a soldier's combat helmet to determine the locations of enemy shooters and the type of weapons they are firing
   
4. "Can You Hear Me Now?," in which EEs have designed a radio chip for communication devices that mimics the way the human ear absorbs sound
   
5. "'Intelligent' Tools Help Disabled," in which artificial intelligence researchers have developed intelligent medical assistive devices that make mobility easier for patients

Provided by IEEE-USA