The Australian and New Zealand Electrical Regulatory authorities have implemented changes to mains plugs.

Many items in everyday use - such as mobile phones and laptop computers - exist because of research carried out in photonics. At the UKs University of Cambridge, several academic groups have joined with industrial partners to investigate the different aspects of photonics, applications and materials in a new Centre for Molecular Materials for Photonics and Electronics (CMMPE).

Researchers worldwide are developing the technology to provide high quality images at a relatively low cost in consumer electronic, precision imaging, scientific research, and engineering applications, among others.

Australia's first national electronics industry conference - 'Technology Futures 2003' - is being held in Adelaide on May 15 & 16.

A team of Virginia Tech researchers is attempting to push ultra-wide-band (UWB) technology into the next phase - where military communications can elude detection and all manner of home electronics systems can be operated wirelessly.

National Semiconductor and Arrow Electronics have launched Analog University. www.analogu.national.com It is a no cost online educational resource devoted to analog semiconductor technologies. It gives users fast access to technical information and training so they can solve semiconductor applications issues.

Stretchable gold conductors have been developed by Princeton University researchers. The conductors may be the answer to problems that arise when engineers build oddly shaped devices (such as retina-inspired photosensor arrays, for example), or when making connections to sensors attached to the skin or to other flexible surfaces.

The Mobile Power Box has been developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar energy systems ISE working in cooperation with the firm of Masterflex. It is a membrane fuel cell system supplying mains-free energy in the medium power range.

Australian manufacturing industry's plans for investment in the development and promotion of digital television products and equipment is under threat unless Australia's digital terrestrial television market is stimulated, two leading industry associations have warned.

International Sematech (ISMT) has developed an etch process that allows the removal of high-k film from a wafer surface without damaging the underlying silicon.

A self-timed microchip has been developed by scientists in the UK to make smartcards more secure.

Engineers at Oregon State University have created a transparent transistor, a see-through electronics component that could potentially lead to many new products.

Despite the use of computer simulation, wind tunnel testing is still required to measure pressure changes and airflow speeds on the surfaces of new aircraft and automobile prototypes. Such testing is now done less with smoke visualisation and threads but more frequently with high-tech sensors which have the least influence on air flows. Film sensors made from piezoelectric materials provide one alternative. However, such films are difficult to apply - especially on rounded surfaces - and they do not adhere well under windy conditions. These disadvantages have been overcome with a varnish developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Plymer Research IAP.

Senko Advanced Components has announced they have distributions rights for the E-2000 fibre optic connectors and adapters manufactured by the Swiss based firm Reichle & De-Massari (R&M). The line includes compact and standard fibre optic connectors, connector levers, housing clips, adaptors, adaptor frames and mount supports.

Metromatics has been appointed Australian and New Zealand distributor for UK based electronics organisation, Harwin. It manufactures a range of electronics products including board to board connectors, surface mount connectors, IP sockets, PC board sockets, radial taped terminals, gripper sockets, track pins and FPC connectors.