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The article announces the Continental Automated Buildings Association's (CABA) release of five research papers on electronic systems which are available via the organization's web site. The research papers include "IS-2006-23: Using Garden Roof Systems to Improve Performance," "IS-2006-22: BACnet: Not Just a Vision Anymore," "IS-2006-17: Secure Multimedia Solution" and "IS-2006-16: Blueprint for Convergence".

This article reports on a 2004 survey by the Consumer Electronics Association which found that 82 percent of digital camera owners who print do so from home and 75 percent consider home printing as their primary method. According to Ed Lee, InfoTrends, photograph printing trends service director, a recently completed consumer survey showed a 2.5 times increase over 2003 in the percentage of digital camera owners who owned a photo-centric printer. Inkjet printers and multifunction devices are expected to enjoy a compound annual growth rate of 6 percent and an install base of 75 million units by 2008, according to I.T. Strategies. Inkjet consumables, the papers and inks that produce prints and documents, are also forecast to enjoy healthy growth rates in both units and dollars through 2008, I.T. Strategies predicted, with inks growing the fastest. Despite positive forecasts, vendors highlighted several key hurdles left to clear: lowering the cost per print and improving ease of use of home photo printers. Pricing is another concern. Many powerhouse retailers like Costco and Wal-Mart leverage enormous economies to scale to offer digital print pricing as low as 19 cents per print. Home printers have recently begun marketing paper and ink bundles for a 29 cents per print cost, but because so many different variables factor into the equation, consumers do not understand the cost structure of home printing.

The article discusses the forthcoming 2008 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers/Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (IEEE/MTT-S) International Microwave Symposium (IMS) to be held in Atlanta, Georgia from June 15 to 20, 2008. The event will include a student paper competition as well as three design competitions which is conducted by 240 reviewers on the Technical Program committee for the interactive forums. The event has historically been the premier opportunity to observe and showcase the latest technology while networking with other attendees. Organizers also rearranged the schedules of the regular sessions to allow the IMS attendees to have more flexibility to attend the sessions on radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).