*Today, Microsoft sponsors an afternoon of workshops to mark World Usability Day, the annual event for usability professionals to raise awareness for their field and discuss research, best practices and products.*
REDMOND, Wash. – Nov. 11, 2010 – Making the world work better, helping people communicate better, enhancing communication between people and computers – these are all things that interest Steve Seow and other usability experts around the world.
As part of World Usability Day today, members of the Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA) worldwide will host events to discuss usability and to share research and best practices.(more…)
ARMONK, N.Y. – 11 Nov 2010: IBM today announced the closing of its acquisition of Netezza Corporation. Netezza will expand IBM’s business analytics initiatives to help clients gain faster insights into their business information, with increased performance at a lower cost of ownership. IBM announced a definitive agreement to acquire Netezza on September 20, 2010.(more…)
ARMONK, N.Y. – 09 Nov 2010: IBM today inaugurated Smarter Cities Challenge, a competitive grant program in which IBM will award $50 million worth of technology and services to help 100 municipalities across the globe. Teams of IBM experts will provide city leaders with recommendations for successful growth, better delivery of municipal services, more citizen engagement, and improved efficiency.
This new program is the single-largest philanthropic investment currently planned by IBM, which made US$186 million worth of charitable contributions in 2009, comprising cash, technology, and consulting services. (more…)
A vehicle from the National Severe Storms Laboratory observes conditions around a tornado in Wyoming during June of 2009. Image credit: Mike Coniglio, NOAA/NSSL
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Bennett Aerospace are leveraging light detection and ranging (lidar) technology to develop a ground-based system that will automatically measure water vapor in the atmosphere. Known as”WaV-ProTM,” for Water Vapor Profiler, the system aims to provide more frequent data collection that could dramatically improve weather forecasting.
Initial work on the project began in mid-2009, when Bennett Aerospace, in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), won a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop design requirements for the system. Recently, the researchers won a Phase II grant to build and test critical components needed for a final operating prototype of WaV-Pro. (more…)
LAS VEGAS, – 25 Oct 2010: IBM today introduced new software that combines the most sophisticated business analytics and optimization capabilities for today’s evolving workforce. For the first time, the new offerings combine social networking and collaboration capabilities for the burgeoning mobile workforce, expected to reach more than 1.19 billion by 2013.
With today’s news, IBM is bringing business analytics capabilities to the masses with a new look and feel that more closely mirrors people’s every day use of technology including support for new mobile devices and integrated social networking capabilities for faster, more collaborative decision-making. (more…)
With the recent advancements in robotics, automation, navigation, and self-driving vehicles, all spurred on by the DARPA Challenge and the research at Georgia Tech among other programs, it’s no surprise to hear that Google has been working very hard on these same kinds of technology.
Sebastian Thrun, Distinguished Software Engineer at Google, recently announced on their blogthat so far Google’s efforts to create a self-driving car have been largely successful, though he made it a point to say that the program was still very much in the experimental stages. (more…)
*Attributes its 154 Percent Revenue Growth Since 2005 to Strong Track Record of Innovation*
RESTON, VA, October 20, 2010 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced that it ranked on the Technology Fast 500™, Deloitte’s ranking of 500 of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the period from 2005–2009. comScore grew 154 percent during this period. comScore’s President, CEO and co-founder, Dr. Magid Abraham, credits a strong track record of innovation and the exceptional efforts of comScore employees with the company’s 154 percent revenue growth. (more…)
*More than $1 million will enable the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center to improve student skills in science, technology, engineering and math.*
Microsoft Main Campus, Redmond, Wash. Image credit: Microsoft
LOS ANGELES — Oct. 20, 2010 —
Microsoft Corp. today announced it is providing the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools with a more than $1 million grant to purchase new software and hardware for the two schools at the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center. This grant will help bring state-of-the-art technology to the campus, helping bridge the technology gap of this underserved community. The grant also includes a $50,000 cash donation portion that will provide for ongoing technical support, teacher and student training, curriculum, and mentoring opportunities for students to learn about and explore careers. The goal is to create an instructional model that can be replicated and scaled throughout Los Angeles Unified School District and elevate teacher and student technology skills, thereby preparing youth for the competitive Los Angeles and U.S. job market. Microsoft education executives and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the sizeable donation this morning at a press conference at Mendez, where city leaders, school leaders, teachers and students saw a preview of the new software and technology. (more…)
communication between people and computers – these are all things that interest Steve Seow and other usability experts around the world. 
