Spectrum Online has been revamped to offer dialogues between its editors and readers and showcase their blogs and podcasts.

"The aim is to create a community where everyone can contribute," says IEEE Spectrum editor in chief Susan Hassler.

One of the blogs, "Tech Talk," covers news in the world of technology; another blog is written about India by an IEEE Fellow at Tata Consultancy Services; a gaming and gadgets blog is by the designer of the Lord of the Rings computer games. Other blogs deal with robotics, biotechnology, and the ins and outs of soliciting money from venture capitalists.

"Now members can come and see what other members are thinking," Hassler points out.

Along with the blogs are Web-based seminars, or Webinars, on topics such as switching careers and the benefits of getting an advanced degree. In addition, there are Spectrum Radio podcasts, which, like the magazine, cover a wide range of topics. (Anyone can download the programs directly from the site or subscribe to get them automatically through iTunes or an RSS feed.)

Several cosmetic changes give the site a new look and feel. For example, navigation tabs at the top of each page let readers jump from the home page to IEEE Spectrum articles about computers, power and energy, telecommunications, and transportation?the magazine?s main areas of coverage. A link at the top of the home page will also scroll through images representing a few of the most frequently viewed articles from recent Spectrum issues and other material exclusive to the Web site.

THE VERY LATEST The new features represent a continuing effort to keep Spectrum Online at the cutting edge of Web activities.

"Most traditional news media are of necessity reinventing themselves to deliver enhanced content via the Internet," says IEEE Fellow John Baillieul, chair of the IEEE Publication Services and Products Board, the area that oversees IEEE Spectrum. Hassler agrees, noting that Spectrum Online will always be a work in progress. "The IEEE is a 21st-century technical professional association," she adds. "Members should have a Web site with the very latest bells and whistles."

Hassler notes that the next iteration of Spectrum Online, already in the works, may have social networking on the order of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Second Life, the Web site where people create their own digital stand-ins, and Wikis, which let anyone be an expert author or peer reviewer.

"This is not to say that the revamped site is not good as it is," says Baillieul. "I think it's an important step for Spectrum in the rapidly changing world of publishing."

Check out the new and improving Spectrum Online at http://www.spectrum.ieee.org.