Inferences [From the Editor's Desk]

Being an international organization is neat, but managing the activities and shared interests of a global organization is also a challenge. However, when you have access to the finest technical minds around the world, a few challenges only make life interesting.     

Service calls [From the Editor's Desk]

When the phone call came asking me to consider taking the role of Editor-in-Chief for IEEE Microwave Magazine, my first thought was "save yourself--decline!" Like every other electronics engineer I know, I was already multitasking, juggling several projects at once. Most of us agree to take on (and take home) more work than we probably should.     

Dealing with change [From the Editor's Desk]

Many of our colleagues in the IEEE today live and work in countries where the common language is not the language of their birth. One of the biggest hurdles they faced in their new homes was to learn the language. Until they acquired the basic language skills, their ability to function in society was limited.     

Diversity in publications [From the Editor's Desk]

It is common wisdom that diversity can make a group strong. Approaching a problem or situation from multiple perspectives increases the chances of finding longterm, effective solutions. Several years ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), during one of our diversity training sessions, we learned that the ancient Incas were able to survive for centuries on a diet rich in potatoes because they grew a diverse variety of the tubers. As growing conditions changed year to year (drought, wet, or short growing seasons), there was generally one or another type of potato that would survive. We were told that the Irish, on the other hand, focused exclusively on one type of potato that appeared to be well suited to their environment, but when that one variety became susceptible to disease, the terrible Irish potato famine occurred.     

Honoring our colleagues [From the Editor's Desk]

One of the things we do very well at the IEEE is peer recognition. Deadlines for awards nominations start approaching shortly after the beginning of the year; hence, this would be a very good time to start identifying individuals whose accomplishments should be recognized by nominating them for an IEEE award.     

Mobile backhaul [From the Guest Editor's Desk]

This focused issue, which is a sequel to the August 2008 focused issue "Convergence and Competition on the Way Toward 4G" [1]-[7], addresses the mobile backhaul prospects from the various viewpoints of the contributing authors, whose interests are complementary. The term mobile backhaul is commonly used for the fixed wireline and/or wireless interconnections of mobile service base stations, and their connections to the core telecommunications network. The subject is of increasing interest in consideration of the following major trends: · cellular mobile services are rapidly growing worldwide · backhaul capacity requirements are substantially increasing as cellular mobile systems transition from 2G to 3G and to 4G · the transitioning of broadband wireline and wireless transport from legacy time-division multiplexing (TDM) and asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) to IP-based transport is accelerating · the backhaul parts of mobile networks account for ever increasing percentages of the total capital and operating expenses. These trends motivated the current focused issue to address mobile backhaul issues of particular interest to the readers of IEEE Microwave Magazine.     

Feathering and creep [From the Editor's Desk]

It is truly amazing how even the apparently most mundane things can become elevated to the level of science. For this to happen, it must be possible to assess the thing against various attributes or dimensions, but it is not always necessary that those attributes be objectively quantifiable. Instead, all that is required is that there must be parameters that can be used to compare and contrast one version of the thing with another version of the same thing.     

Ends and odds [From the Editor's Desk]

As this is the last issue of IEEE Industry Applications Magazine for 2008, it is appropriate that we clear out some of the accumulated informational ends and odds before the new year.     

Inside the MTT-S Administrative Committee [From the Editor's Desk]

The IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) is governed by a dedicated group of volunteers called the Administrative Committee (AdCom). This group of 21 elected members is divided into a number of committees that oversee key areas of the Society, including Education, Standards, Meetings and Symposia, Publications, Budget, Operations, Transnational Activities, Membership Services, Long-Range Planning, Technical Coordinating, Nominations and Appointments, and Awards. Ad hoc committees are formed as necessary. Even though AdCom members are involved in a diverse set of activities, they share a common goal of continuing to make the MTT-S an efficiently run, internationally renowned professional society that provides maximum benefit to its members.