Bush budget boosts R&D spending for defense, health; other areas cut.(George W. Bush)(research and development)(Brief Article)

Fed share of R&D investment continues downward trend

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Some members of Congress had to be taught how to use handheld computers, but the House Armed services Committee recently got a firsthand look at how new software developed through a Small Business Innovation Research grant could help American soldiers track the enemy.

Nicholas Karangelen, president of Fairfax, Va.-based Trident Systems Inc., passed out handheld computers to demonstrate his 85-employee company's dismounted soldier situation awareness system. Using standard military digital maps and a touch-screen interface, Mr. Karangelen showed how infantry battalions could use the …