Articles tagged with Information Technology
A team of researchers, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has developed a network of distributed sensing devices and water-monitoring robots that use solar power to extend their deployment time. This technology will enable the detection of chemical and biological trends in lakes, rivers, and waterways to improve water quality ...
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson warns of a growing science, engineering, and technology talent gap in the US. She emphasizes the need for a national commitment to develop more science, engineering, and technology talent from underrepresented groups.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a program to facilitate the development and sharing of security configuration checklists. The program provides guidelines for creating more effective checklists and includes an easy-to-use repository of existing checklists.
A new tool developed by McGown could help answer questions about the role of G-quartets in health and disease, including their connection to diabetes. The study aims to identify new biomarkers and medical therapies.
The Next Generation CiteSeer project will expand the database, add services, and provide opportunities for joint authoring. The new architecture will be open source, enabling easier use and greater access to metadata.
A unique program at Stevens Institute of Technology addresses the need for in-depth understanding of sourcing's four key aspects: governance, legal issues, relationship management, and organizational impact. Preliminary research aims to understand current and future IT skills and capabilities needs.
A medical implantable chip has been shown to be effective in preventing unwanted medical interventions by providing a secure way for caregivers to identify patients with Alzheimer's disease. However, the technology raises significant legal, ethical, and technological concerns that must be addressed before it can be widely adopted.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a draft federal IT security standard, FIPS Publication 200, to aid in FISMA compliance. The document provides guidelines for minimum security requirements and a risk-based approach for selecting security controls.
The study found that Medicare beneficiaries received lower rates of preventive services, with strong associations between practice type and revenue from Medicaid. Practices with less than 6% of revenue from Medicaid were more likely to provide certain preventive services, while those with high percentages were less likely.
Despite similar educational backgrounds, IT women earn on average $15,000 less than men and are 2.5 times more likely to leave the industry. Organizations need to recognize these differences and provide support for part-time work arrangements, job sharing, and child-care subsidies.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed two augmented reality systems to improve communication between automated inspection systems and workers who trim birds on processing lines. The systems use location-tracked displays or laser scanners to project graphical instructions, providing advance warning of workload and reducing errors.
A study by Penn State researchers found that 80% of participants preferred organic search results over sponsored links. Despite identical content, participants rated sponsored links as less relevant due to biased perception. To address this, businesses should prioritize organic visibility alongside paid advertising.
A new protocol provides incentives for federal agencies to trust each other and share accurate, complete information in a timely manner. This increases the efficiency of information sharing and builds trust between organizations.
Smart Border policies in the US are criticized for their limited innovation, economic ramifications, and disruption to local communities. The study highlights the flaws in counterterrorism technologies and the need for a more comprehensive approach to border control.
Researchers found that P putida can transform mustard by-product toxins, decreasing their levels by up to 83%. This biotechnological method offers maximum environmental safety by degrading pollutants into harmless products. The bacteria strain could be used in plant-microbial associations for future remediation of contaminated soils.
Belanger will teach a master's level class on strategic information systems and conduct doctoral seminars at the Technical University of Lisbon's School of Business and Economics. She focuses on telecommunication technologies in organizations, particularly distributed work and electronic commerce.
A Penn study will compare two heart failure management technologies to reduce emergency room visits and improve patient outcomes. The study aims to assess the impact of health information technologies on clinical and financial outcomes for patients with symptomatic heart failure.
Researchers developed an automated, personalized assistance system that monitors users' query patterns and provides help in finding needed information. The system achieved a 54% implementation rate among college students, outperforming passive help systems.
The XCCDF specification document provides a flexible, vendor-neutral format for measuring conformance to security benchmarks and generating records of benchmark tests. NIST is developing computer security checklists for widely used government agencies with the help of organizations like NSA and DHS.
The Global Technology Confidence Index reached a new high in Q4 2004, driven by strong increases in Latin America and North America. Meanwhile, executives prioritize innovation management and technology alignment for business growth.
A Stanford study analyzed 40 ads for body scans and found that virtually none presented a balanced picture. The researchers recommend guidelines requiring more detailed information to be available to consumers, who are capable of being savvy consumers of medical technology.
Sandia is testing five innovative arsenic-removal technologies at a geothermal spring in Socorro, New Mexico, as part of the Arsenic Water Technology Partnership. The pilot test aims to develop cost-effective water treatment solutions for small communities impacted by the new EPA standard.
The Global Technology Confidence Index post-election survey found that US tech firms are optimistic about the re-election of President Bush, with over half believing it will benefit their industry. The report also revealed mixed views on business and technology confidence, with some regions experiencing a sharp decline in optimism.
The development of spun carbon nanotube yarns has the potential to revolutionize engineered fabrics due to their excellent strength, toughness, and electrical/thermal conductivities. The new material is being explored for production of vests, soft body armor, medical devices, and other applications.
QFilter uses non-deterministic finite automata (NFA) to filter out parts of queries asking for unauthorized access, significantly improving query-response time. The technology offers a practical solution to the ongoing problem of database access controls without requiring substantial changes to existing databases.
A new framework for assessing multi-user, computer-supported cooperative systems is proposed by researchers at Penn State. They found that students who had better awareness of their collaborators' activities were more effective in collaborating on science projects. The study introduced new system features to support improved awareness ...
Researchers are studying the impact of electronic medical records on patient care for diabetes patients in Cleveland. The study aims to improve decision-making and outcomes by providing real-time alerts and decision-support tools for physicians.
A new study co-authored by Ann Mooney explores how CEO job demands influence strategic decisions and leader behaviors. The research reveals that varying levels of demand facing top executives are shaped by three factors: task challenges, performance challenges, and executive aspirations.
The AEX XML Schemas specify ways to express equipment requirements, enabling seamless data exchange and automating design collaboration. NIST and FIATECH plan to extend the standard to cover more types of equipment.
The Global Technology Confidence Index fell back to its lowest level for a year, with Japan and Europe experiencing significant downturns. In contrast, China's business confidence index showed an upward trend, indicating a surge in sales growth.
The ENCODE project aims to build a comprehensive 'parts list' of human DNA's sequence-based functional elements, including protein-coding genes and regulatory elements. The initiative will analyze the remaining 99% of the human genome using novel methods and technologies.
Indiana University is a national leader in new federal funding for health information technology, aiming to improve healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency. The state has received $6.5 million to develop and implement a statewide health information network.
The UK has played a significant role in CERN's history, contributing to groundbreaking research and technological advancements. The laboratory continues to be a hub for scientific discovery, with ongoing experiments searching for the Higgs boson and exploring dark matter.
A pilot project by Voxiva and PATH aims to track and reduce Japanese encephalitis incidence through improved surveillance and response. The system uses phone and web-based technology to collect and analyze data, enabling health officials to respond quickly to reported cases and identify outbreaks.
The NSF has awarded over $130 million to 120 new projects tackling various topics including interactive ocean observatories, stress corrosion cracking, and secure access to confidential social science data. The funding aims to advance science and engineering, economic prosperity, and national security.
Srinidhi Varadarajan designed a record-breaking, low-cost supercomputer that transformed the industry with its innovative use of off-the-shelf products. His work has opened doors to affordable high-performance computing for major research universities and enterprises.
The Virginia Tech Geospatial Center provides a statewide ESRI site license, resulting in cost savings and increased availability of GIS software. This collaboration also enhances economic development, environmental projects, and good governance across state agencies and localities.
Researchers found that a significant percentage of microarray probes don't match the latest RefSeq database information, leading to inaccurate results. Sequence-verified probes perform more consistently and accurately, improving diagnostic power and analysis of existing data sets.
iHOP, developed by Spanish scientists, is a gene-guided network system that converts 14 million PubMed abstracts into an interlinked resource. The system uses novel text-mining technology to detect biomedical entities and connect distant medical concepts through few intermediate genes.
The study found that a lack of universally accepted supply chain standards costs the auto industry over $5 billion annually and the electronics industry almost $3.9 billion. The lack of interoperability leads to duplicated efforts, redundant systems, and inefficient processes.
A study analyzing 3 million records from Alta Vista in 2002 found that consumers who used the interface had fewer queries per session and used fewer terms per query. The researchers suggest that radio buttons can help with information overload, but widespread adoption is hindered by technical issues and lack of individual site use.
The Global Justice XML Data Model, released in Version 3.0, enables efficient data sharing between federal, state, and local agencies. By providing a common language and vocabulary, the model allows for automatic translation of information across different systems, facilitating faster response to potential criminal and terrorist activity.
Researchers found that visual perception can stabilize in ambiguous conditions, independent of the memory of object identity. The mechanism underlying this stabilization is linked to the removal of local adaptation and depends on the stimulus location.
Science.gov 2.0 enhances the interagency science portal, searching 47 million pages of government R&D results in relevancy-ranked order. The new metasearch technology brings together the 30 largest databases, making them searchable via a single query.
A Georgia Institute of Technology study found that older adults are willing to sacrifice some privacy for technologies that enable them to live independently longer. The study evaluated various technologies, including Cook's Collage and FaceBot, which sparked both positive and negative reactions among participants.
Researchers at NCAR/University of Colorado Denver aim to create a system that sends real-time maps and predictions of wildfires to frontline firefighters. The team will use supercomputers, satellite and sensor monitoring, and meteorology to develop tools to warn firefighters about wildfire behavior.
STN International has launched Derwent World Patents Index First View, providing early access to the latest published patent documents. This new alerting companion file offers a comprehensive and timely overview of global patenting activity when used with Derwent World Patents Index.
A portable, wearable device called Tyflos enables visually impaired individuals to conduct daily tasks efficiently. The device uses computer vision and robotics technology to convert images into audio information, allowing users to navigate and interact with their environment.
The gift will establish a comprehensive center utilizing information technology to connect basic research and biological systems analysis. This will enable scientists to build on recent scientific developments, gain insights into biological function in health and diseases.
Researchers have developed materials that enable wavelength division multiplexing, transmitting 5 terabits of data per second. These new materials require less than one-fifth the voltage needed for standard lithium niobate crystals, improving performance by nearly fivefold in just four years.
The new standard provides detailed guidance on categorizing systems and assessing potential impact of security breaches. It will help agencies make informed decisions and implement cost-effective security measures, complemented by a companion standard specifying minimum federal system requirements.
The next generation of speech recognizers will go beyond conversion to text, using information detectors that provide a machine with digestible information. Researchers are working on new mathematical algorithms and paradigms to tackle the broader problem of human-to-machine and machine-to-human speech.
Dr. Latanya Sweeney's research focuses on de-identifying medical data to share for bio-terrorism surveillance while maintaining individual privacy protection. Her 'Privacert De-identification' software provides easy-to-use automated tools to render data sufficiently anonymous, preventing potential abuses.
The US will need to invest $450 billion in conventional electric infrastructure to meet growing demand by 20 years, but a smart energy approach can reduce this cost. By leveraging info tech, PNNL engineers aim to minimize new infrastructure, lower rates, and enhance grid security.
Two LSU professors are working to develop survivable sensor networks that can collect valuable data during disasters, which could be used in environmental monitoring, healthcare, and national security projects. The researchers also aim to ensure secure data transmission through methods like anonymous email tracking.
The Navy is testing a blog as part of the Defense Acquisition Incentive-Net Centricity (RAI-NC) initiative to speed up the exchange of information on new defense technologies. The pilot program, developed by Traction Software, enables users to post proprietary data and distribute general information among team members.
Virginia Tech researchers are developing wireless video sensor networks that can provide real-time visual data in critical situations. The goal is to improve the government's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to natural and man-made disasters.
The Virginia Tech 'X' supercomputer boasts 10.28 teraflops performance, a remarkable feat considering its construction took just two months and $5.2 million price tag. This achievement ranks X as the third fastest globally, outperforming many high-end supercomputers
The nTag device uses infrared links and RFID chips to connect people with common interests, alerting them to potential matches. Despite some initial issues, most delegates were impressed with the service, exchanging over 3,600 business cards during the event.
Research in the Journal of Industrial Ecology reveals that seemingly small e-commerce decisions can have significant environmental impacts, often shifting from positive to negative effects. Positive IT effects are typically limited to 5-20% reductions in pollution or energy use.