Spectral lines: Spectrum: A progress report

A few years ago the staff of Spectrum undertook a redesign of the magazine to make it more useful to its readers. In particular, we increased the number of articles, decreased their average length, went to great lengths to avoid obscure mathematical expressions and to convert other mathematics to words reflecting their physical equivalents, and labored over illustrations to an extent not previously considered practical. We also began to take greater pains in selecting articles and the mix of articles in each issue. The positive feedback from readers confirmed that those judgments were appropriate. In more recent months we've added new departments to Spectrum: EEs' Tools and Toys, Engineer at large, and Best bits. All the while we have encouraged feedback through a variety of techniques — letters to Forum, the Reader Service card, and reader research conducted by independent firms, to name but three. Such feedback has increased dramatically, and the staff is encouraged and inspired by it. While it is not our practice to publish letters of praise in Forum, the following excerpts from reader correspondence may suggest some of the flavor of such letters.