So here’s an excellent way to start off 2010 — file for an initial public offering (IPO)! Pittsburgh Technology Council member and speech technology company DynaVox is doing just that. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a quick look at it. Read it right here.
Breaking News: DynaVox Plans to go Public
Published January 6, 2010 News , PTC Member Leave a CommentTags: DynaVox, IPO, Pittsburgh, Technology
Philips introduces advanced system for more effective treatment of complicated sleep apnea patients
Published January 6, 2010 News , PTC Member , Something Cool Leave a CommentTags: BiPAP autoSV Advanced, Philips Respironics, Royal Philips Electronics, sleep apnea
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced the introduction of BiPAP autoSV Advanced, its latest device for treating complicated sleep-disordered breathing patients. The enhanced system combines clinically-proven technologies in one compact device to more effectively manage and treat the most challenging sleep apnea cases. These range from complex sleep apnea, which occurs when patients being treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea develop Central Sleep Apnea when Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is administered, to Cheyne-Stokes Respiration, a periodic breathing disorder.
When Respironics released the first bi-level positive airway pressure device in the late 1980s, it made a significant clinical impact for treating sleep apnea, a role it continues today. BiPAP autoSV Advanced is Philips Respironics next generation servo ventilation (SV) device, updated to make patient management nearly automatic and optimize therapy for complicated patients. It has the unique ability to manage the airway and assure proper ventilation by continually monitoring and adjusting to patients’ changing therapy needs.
A major advancement in BiPAP autoSV Advanced is an auto adjusting EPAP, utilizing at its core the clinically proven REMstar Auto titration algorithm.1, 2 With this addition, BiPAP autoSV Advanced enhances treatment by automatically distinguishing between obstructed and clear airway apneas and adapting pressure to patients’ needs as their conditions change due to weight, alcohol use, or lifestyle. The automatic adjustment of EPAP simplifies titration and achieves efficacy at the minimum pressure levels. In addition, BiPAP autoSV Advanced adds the proven Bi-Flex technology3 which assures patient comfort by providing pressure relief during exhalation and at critical transition points.
“Unlike standard CPAP and bi-level therapies, this highly developed system is specifically designed to take on challenges of managing complicated sleep apnea cases,” says Eli Diacopoulos, Director, Global Product Marketing, Sleep Therapy, for Philips Home Healthcare Solutions. “Combining our core technologies into one unit furthers our efforts to make the complex simpler to manage and assure the very best treatment possible for these patients.”
Respironics advanced technologies, such as Digital Auto-Trak, match flow to the patient’s own breathing. The clinically proven SV algorithm4 monitors peak flow and can rapidly normalize breathing patterns of patients with complex sleep apnea conditions with breath-to-breath adjustments of pressure support. In the presence of central apneas, when care must be taken not to over- or under-ventilate a patient, the delivery of automatically calculated back-up breaths encourages spontaneous breathing at the patient’s own natural rate.
BiPAP autoSV Advanced also offers integrated heated humidification and built-in digital data storage. The Encore patient management system automatically collects vital patient information and enables the entire care team to continuously monitor and track treatment progress and transfer new or updated prescriptions.
Donnelly-Boland Announces Addition to Executive Staff
Published January 5, 2010 PTC Member , Personnel News Leave a CommentTags: accounting and tax services, business consulting, contract staffing, Donnelly-Boland and Assosiates, process outsourcing, Richard Healy, transition management
Richard Healy has joined Donnelly-Boland and Associates and will oversee the firm’s human relations, information technology and
administrative staff. Healy brings more than 30 years experience to the role. He has worked in a variety of industries developing, training and leading accounting and administrative departments. His experience spans accounting, finance, treasury, human resource, risk management and IT operations. His team building and leadership experience has benefited companies ranging from small businesses to large multi-national organizations.
Donnelly-Boland and Associates (DBA) is an accounting firm with offices in Baldwin, Brentwood, Glassport and Waynesburg. Since1992 the firm has been providing a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services. DBA provides these services primarily to
governments, nonprofits, government-funded programs and service businesses. Donnelly-Boland and Associates is certified as a Woman-owned Business Enterprise by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services. The firm is only 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and provides:
Contract Staffing – Contract employees to governments or non-profits on a long term basis.
Transition Management – Financial and administrative talent (CFO, controller, assistant controller or staff) to assist organizations experiencing a significant planned or unplanned transition in key financial or administrative positions until a permanent solution is developed.
Process Outsourcing – Agreed-upon back office functions including general ledger and financial reporting, accounts payable processing, billing services and an array of Human Resource services including payroll, benefit administration and employee recordkeeping for nonprofits, small businesses and government organizations.
General Business Consulting – Project-based assistance in the areas of operations, human resources, marketing and information technology procurement in addition to finance and budgeting. Services that we have provided include: system assessments; personnel assessments; development and implementation of both operational and fiscal policies and procedures.
Accounting and Tax – Accounting and tax services for governments, nonprofits, government funded programs and small service businesses. Services include: general ledger and financial reporting; accounts payable processing; billing services; payroll and benefit administration; account reconciliation services; audit preparation services; interim and year-end reporting to funding sources; and budget preparation and review.
Tune in to Pittsburgh Business Radio AM 1360 WMNY
Published January 4, 2010 News Leave a CommentTags: Catalyst Connection, Compu-Fix, InspectTech, Junior Achievement, Luftig Warren, Pittsburgh Business Radio, Pittsburgh Technology Council, TechVibe Radio
Be sure to tune your AM dial to 1360 this Tuesday, Jan. 5, as the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo host Pittsburgh Business Radio with another scintillating TechVibe Radio Show from 2-5 p.m.
We’re starting off 2010 with positive momentum, brining listeners a full spectrum of technology and business guests. Here’s who we have set for the hot seat:
- Vince Kostelnik of Luftig Warren
- David Birks of Compu-Fix
- Petra Mitchell of Catalyst Connection
- Derek Markle and Jordan Oeler from Junior Achievement
- Mike Schellhase and Jeremy Shaffer from InspectTech
If old-school radio isn’t your speed or you’re outside our signal range, be sure to stream us right here or call the Pittsburgh Business Radio Listen Line at 724-898-WMNY to turn your phone into a speaker.
Quantum Simulations announces launch of www.quantumtutors.com
Published January 4, 2010 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: artificial intellgence tutoring, professional development software, Quantum Simulations, Quantum Tutors
Quantum Simulations, Inc., a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring, assessment and professional development software announced today the launch of www.quantumtutors.com, an online tutor subscription service where college, high school and middle school students can receive one-on-one tutoring help in the areas of:
* Introductory accounting
* General chemistry
* Basic mathematics
Scientifically proven to increase test scores by at least a full letter grade, Quantum’s artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring software provides affordable, personal tutoring help over the Internet, anytime, anywhere. Offered at a fraction of the cost of private or online tutoring services which can average $35 to $70 per hour of instruction, Quantum’s tutoring software subscriptions are available for as little as $15 per semester (180 days unlimited access).
The Quantum Tutors are like having a personal tutor ready to help day or night, whether students need to work on an assignment and the instructor isn’t available to answer questions, or are preparing for a test and need more practice. The software is just like working with a real-life tutor or instructor.
Unlike homework systems that only tell students, “Wrong, try again,” or provide the same generic feedback for every student, Quantum explains “why” individual student answers are right or wrong. Whether it’s a simple math error, confusion about a formula or misunderstanding about an important concept, Quantum analyzes student work and knows what specific errors students are making and guides them back to the correct solution path, allowing students to learn from their mistakes and not repeat them at test time.
“With so much pressure on students to perform at higher levels in difficult subjects such as accounting, chemistry and mathematics where one concept builds on the next and it’s easy to fall behind, the Quantum Tutors are the perfect complement to teacher instruction and the textbook,” comments Mr. Dale Holder, Quantum’s Chief Academic Officer and award-winning master teacher for over 35 years. “With college enrollments on the rise and a shortage of qualified science and math teachers in K-12, it?s impossible to give every student the one-on-one attention they deserve, until now.”
Individual subscriptions: Students and parents can subscribe to the Quantum Tutors at www.quantumtutors.com.
Institution/school site licensing: Contact Al Renshaw, Director, Education Programs, at al.renshaw@quantumsimulations.com for more information and pricing.
Black Box’s Veri-NAC among top 20 most influential network management security solutions
Published January 4, 2010 PTC Member , Something Cool Leave a CommentTags: Black Box Corporation, most influential IT security products, network access control, SC Magazine, Terry Blakemore, Veri-NAC
Black Box Corporation (NASDAQ:BBOX), an industry-leading provider of voice communications, data infrastructure, and product solutions, is proud to announce that Veri-NAC™, its one-box vulnerability management and network access control (NAC) appliance, has been selected by SC Magazine as one of the top 20 most influential IT security products in the last 20 years.
Network access control (NAC) devices protect networks from threats originating internally, in contrast to firewalls, which provide network security from external threats such as malware or hackers. More and more organizations face serious network security challenges like breaches and data leaks that threaten their clients’ information or their own IT security. In 2007, at least 45.7 million credit and debit card numbers were stolen from a number of retailers. The weak link was thought to be an unsecured wireless connection at a store. A NAC appliance would have alerted IT about an unauthorized device trying to access a network link such as a LAN port or wireless access point.
According to SC Magazine, Veri-NAC “is about as simple a NAC as you can find. It is very nearly plug-and-play.” Simplicity aside, Veri-NAC devices still provide a high level of network security and management. According to Peter Stephenson, author of “20 Products/20 Years,” “When I select a NAC system, I want two things: flexibility and ease of use.” Veri-NAC delivers these features, plus it is reasonably priced.
“The Veri-NAC product offering reinforces our strong, overall commitment to providing IT professionals with the right solution for their most challenging issues,” said Terry Blakemore, Black Box president and CEO. IT security is a top-of-mind concern for organizations of every size. Preventing network breaches and compromised data will continue to be at the forefront of IT security needs. “Veri-NAC provides robust network security and management solutions at a low cost of ownership to the market,” Blakemore said.
For more information on the Veri-NAC product line, network access control, and network sercurity, including an on-demand webinar and video software demonstrations, visit http://www.blackbox.com/go/Veri-NAC.
Veri-NAC is a part of the growing Black Box family of IT and network security products, which also includes:
• Optinet™ — A secure Web gateway that provides bandwidth shaping and content filtering, it enables control of Internet traffic, giving IT managers the ability to set appropriate policies and restrictions, and automatically enforce those policies.
• Intelli-Pass™ — Highly secure biometric access control featuring unique two-part architecture for immunity from physical attacks, sniffing, and spoofing.
• AlertWerks™ II — Environmental monitoring to guard mission-critical IT equipment against physical threats like water, fire, and temperature extremes, plus it has optional video surveillance capabilities.
Additionally, Black Box offers a complete line of networking solutions plus cabinets and racks, digital signage and multimedia, cables, security, and more. All products are backed by free, live, 24/7 Tech Support, which customers can reach at 724-746-5500 or at www.blackbox.com.
New Compunetix Software Drives CSP Business Expansion
Published December 29, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Collaboration Service Provider, Compunetix, CONTEX Summit
Compunetix, Inc., the world’s leading provider of collaboration technologies, recently announced the release of the latest version of its CONTEX Summit™ System Software, Version
2.15.0. The new release is highly responsive to Collaboration Service Provider (CSP) market requirements and provides features and extensions focused on increased efficiency and intuitive operations. Highlighted upgrades include: the ability to support several configurations related to automatically dialing a predefined list of parties, Speed Match, which allows operators to quickly enter information about new callers in the Answer Calls window, and subscription-based leader recorded greeting, allowing the host of a meeting to record a personalized conference greeting that is played to all participants.
In addition to new features for conference participants and hosts, the 2.15.0 version also extends the system’s real-time operator control, providing additional functionality for service agents. These new functions include flexible screen sizing, allowing operators to maximize screen sizes and focus exclusively on servicing the conference along with new status fields displaying additional call and participant information.
This upgrade goes beyond application features and also delivers hardware module redundancy that allows for two of each card in a single rack for even more system reliability, and codec licensing that provides the ability for CSPs to enable the use of VoIP codecs for additional call quality and security. These features are just several of a dynamic list; for an outline of all of the upgrades in detail, please contact a Compunetix Sales Account Executive.
“Our software reflects the needs and expectations of CSPs worldwide,” notes Compunetix Director of Software Engineering, Mr. Benjamin Krokosky. “We are developmentally focused on creating features that increase efficiencies and make our systems rich in capabilities and continually more intuitive for users.”
Consortium of Universities To Provide Services to National Energy Technology Laboratory
Published December 28, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Booz Allen Hamilton team, Carnegie Mellon University, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech University, West Virginia University
Three industry-led teams that include Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and three other major research universities have been awarded contracts to provide a range of research and engineering services to the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The collective value of the three contracts is expected to exceed $465 million over a five-year period.
The NETL, part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) national laboratory system, conducts research in coal, natural gas and oil technologies, analyzes energy systems and international energy issues for the DOE Office of Fossil Energy, and performs contract and project management for a number of other DOE offices.
The consortium of universities, consisting of Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia University, Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Tech, joined a major industrial firm to pursue each of the three competitive awards. URS Corporation is the prime contractor on a program to provide fossil energy research and engineering services. Booz Allen Hamilton will manage work on energy sector planning and analysis, and KeyLogic Systems is the prime contractor for project execution and integration.
“Carnegie Mellon University has a proud history of research in energy and the environment and currently has more than 70 faculty members involved in numerous energy and environmentally related research projects. I am looking forward to lead a very talented, multi-disciplinary team from both academia and industry as we work to support the DOE’s premier fossil energy and development laboratory,” said Andy Gellman, consortium research director and head of Carnegie Mellon’s Chemical Engineering Department.
“The University of Pittsburgh’s burgeoning activities in energy-related research and education will be greatly enhanced by this collaborative effort with our partner universities and NETL. The University of Pittsburgh has over 100 researchers who have been actively engaged in research with NETL over the past five years, and this award will allow for the continuance of our world-class research in a wide spectrum of energy topics,” said Brian Gleeson, the Harry S. Tack Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Pitt.
Over the past four years, three of the five participating universities have collectively performed more than $40 million in research services for NETL under the previous support service contract.
The URS-led team will be responsible for providing personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies and services to support NETL on the development and implementation of basic and applied fossil energy research. The team also will work with NETL’s research staff to provide research and infrastructure support, health and safety and quality control support, and logistical and technical coordination support.
“URS has a long history of supporting the DOE, including providing management services for four of the largest National Research Laboratories in the U.S.: the Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories,” said Tom Zarges, president of URS’ Washington Division. “We look forward to leveraging the diverse core competencies of the team to bring cost-effective services and leading expertise to the NETL’s Office of Research and Development.”
The Booz Allen Hamilton team will conduct energy sector analysis and planning for NETL, including engineering analysis, research and development benefit analysis, life-cycle analysis, and energy resource development and impact assessment services.
“We are delighted to bring the combined capabilities of Booz Allen and its core subcontractors (Midwest Research Institute, Technology & Management Services, Inc., and WorleyParsons Group, Inc.), and our university partners together to support energy analysis at NETL,” said Booz Allen Program Manager Gary Leatherman.
The KeyLogic team will support NETL’s work in managing and reviewing the more than 1,800 projects currently awarded to external vendors and NETL in-house researchers. This team’s activities also will include conducting validation assessments and project performance reviews, disseminating results to the technical community and providing training in process improvement.
“We are honored to support NETL and their mission to deliver technological solutions that simultaneously address our nation’s three overreaching energy issues: affordability, supply security and environmental quality,” said KeyLogic Program Manager Carey Butler.
ChemImage’s Dr. Patrick Treado Honored with the 2010 Williams-Wright Award at PittCon
Published December 24, 2009 PTC Member , Something Cool Leave a CommentTags: ChemImage, Coblentz Society, Dr. Patrick Treado, molecular chemical imaging, spectroscopy, The Pittsburgh Conference and Expo 2010, Williams-Wright Award
ChemImage Corporation recently announced that Dr. Patrick J. Treado, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, will be presented with the Coblentz Society’s Williams-Wright Award at The Pittsburgh Conference (PittCon) Conference and Expo 2010 (February 28th – March 5th, Orlando, FL). The Williams-Wright Award is presented annually to an industrial spectroscopist who has made significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy while working in industry.
Jim McGlone, President of ChemImage, said, “We are very proud of Pat Treado’s accomplishments and pleased that the Coblentz Society has recognized him for his many outstanding contributions to the spectroscopy and imaging community. His commitment to innovation has not only elevated ChemImage but the entire industry.”
Dr. Treado founded ChemImage in 1994, working to bring the first Molecular Chemical Imaging technology to analytical chemists and research scientists throughout the industrial, government and academic sectors.
Today, Dr. Treado guides ChemImage’s R&D, investments, and intellectual property portfolio as well as leading efforts at ChemImage to develop and deploy molecular chemical imaging sensors and analysis software for detection of hazardous material. These sensors have the potential to address critical measurement needs and save lives.
In addition, Dr. Treado continues to drive standards development through his work in ASTM Committee E13.10 on Molecular Spectroscopic Optical Imaging Committee and AOAC Committee L on Biological Threat Agents.
“I am especially pleased to receive this award,” said Dr. Treado, “Having spent portions of my career in the government, academic and industrial sectors, it’s been an interesting journey to foster innovation in each of these environments. Industry, in particular, has allowed me, and a cadre of dedicated colleagues, to develop and mature chemical imaging technologies that are making an impact in the world today. I appreciate the recognition of my peers and being selected for this prestigious award.”
Carnegie Mellon engineers develop machine that visually inspects and sorts strawberry plants
Published December 23, 2009 Something Cool Leave a CommentTags: Carnegie Mellon University, Lassen Canyon Nursery, National Robotics Engineering Center, strawberry plant
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) have developed a plant-sorting machine that uses computer vision and machine learning to inspect and grade harvested strawberry plants and then mechanically sort them by quality — tasks that until now could only be done manually.
In a successful field test this fall, the machine classified and sorted harvested plants more consistently and faster than workers could, with a comparable error rate.
“We’re looking forward to using the system,” said Liz Ponce, CEO of Lassen Canyon Nursery in Redding, Calif., one of five strawberry plant producers sponsoring the NREC project. “All of our stakeholders feel that it has a lot of potential.” The other sponsors are Driscoll Nursery Associates; Nor Cal Nursery, Inc.; Plant Sciences, Inc.; and Crown Nursery LLC. Together, the five producers represent about 85 percent of the California strawberry plant nursery market.
To maintain good strawberry yields, commercial berry growers must replace their plants every year. During the fall harvest season, strawberry plant nursery farms use manual labor to sort several hundred million strawberry plants into good and bad categories — a tedious and costly process.
The strawberry plant sorter uses computer vision to examine harvested plants that pass by on a conveyor belt. The sorter’s novel machine learning algorithms allow it to be taught how to classify strawberry plants of different sizes, varieties and stages of growth, beyond the simple classification of good and bad plants. This introduces dramatic new efficiencies for strawberry nursery farms, helping them improve quality, streamline production and deliver better strawberry plants to berry growers, which in turn produces better strawberries for consumers.
“The sorter can adapt to plants that vary from year to year, or even within the same growing season,” said Christopher Fromme, the project’s manager and lead engineer. “It’s very flexible.”
During a 10-day field test in October, NREC engineers tested the strawberry plant sorter under realistic conditions, where rain and frost change plants’ appearance, and roots may contain mud and debris. The prototype system had to sort plants of different varieties and levels of maturity. While in the field, it sorted more than 75,000 strawberry plants. On average, it sorted 5,000 plants per hour, several times faster than human sorting. The NREC hopes to achieve sorting rates of 20,000-30,000 plants per hour with the final system. While the sorter’s overall error rate was close to that of human workers, it inspected and sorted plants more consistently.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Ponce said. “Hand sorting varies more and has more drift in quality.”
The successful field trial concludes phase two of a five-phase program that will develop a machine ready for commercial operations. Phase three will develop better methods to separate harvested strawberry plants for inspection, improve the sorter’s robustness and ease of use, and integrate it into the nurseries’ harvesting and packaging processes.
For more information about the strawberry plant sorter, visit the NREC’s Web site at www.nrec.ri.cmu.edu. The NREC, part of the Robotics Institute in the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science, works closely with industry and government clients to develop and mature robotic technologies from concept to commercialization.
