Newswise — The editors of IEEE Spectrum expect five of the projects to succeed and five to miss their targets. Other projects are presented online so that readers can vote on them. For experts' comments on the current winners and losers, there are sidebars by technology watchers Robert W. Lucky, T.J. Rodgers, and Nick Tredennick.
Winners
"Chrome the Conqueror" Google's Chrome operating system will capitalize on the promise of the netbook.
"Russia Reinvents Its Railroad" IBM helps Russian Railways reinvent the railroad's data infrastructure.
"The Take-Anywhere, Do-Anything Display" Pixel Qi's dual-mode screen provides both e-paper readability and full-color video.
"Crystal Method" NanoGaN's gallium nitride substrates will help manufacturers make better lasers.
"A More Cerebral Cortex" Intrinsity's hot-rodded processor gives cellphones PC smarts.
Losers
"Discharged" The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is superb--daring and imaginative--but uneconomical.
"Does Not Quantum Compute" D-Wave Systems' quantum computers won't outperform ordinary ones.
"Biofoolish" Cellulosic ethanol--"grassoline"--is an environmental threat rather than a panacea.
"Dim Prospects for Bright Light" NanoUV's extreme ultraviolet light source is revolutionary, but that won't entice chipmakers to use it.
"Bad Vibes" Airport security screening will go a lot faster with a new biometric system that reads passengers' minds. Sure.
"You Tell Us" Decide for yourself whether projects such as SkyCar are winners or losers.
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