Archive for May, 2009

Green Building Alliance and Catalyst Connection Host “Green” Workshop

Published May 30, 2009 Events , PTC Member Leave a Comment
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Small- to mid-size manufacturers looking to expand their knowledge of green products or buildings have a great opportunity to learn more. The Green Building Alliance and Catalyst Connection have partnered to create a unique workshop aimed at this audience.

Attendees will get a chance to network with panelists, presenters and fellow manufacturers to discuss “green” opportunities. This even covers a variety of topics including:

  • How big will the green building product market grow?
  • How much is being spent on green building products today?
  • What types of products contribute to a green buildings?
  • What certifications are essential to succeed in this market and what are the requirements?
  • How to package products appropriately for the green market?
  • Pennsylvania programs and pending legislation affecting this market?
  • How area manufacturers are currently succeeding with green building products?

The event is Tuesday, June 9 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Regional Learning Alliance. Registration is $100 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

To register or see a full agenda and list of presenters, visit the event’s Web site.

Netronome Introduces New Line of Network Flow Processors

Published May 29, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Netronome Logo

 

Netronome, a leading developer of highly programmable semiconductor products, recently announced its new NFP‐32xx family of Network Flow Processors™ that are backward-compatible with Intel.

 “Netronome is pleased to announce the NFP as a testament to the shared vision we have with our customers that every packet will be intelligently and securely processed,” Niel Viljoen, founder and CEO of Netronome, said. “Customers migrating from existing [Intel] IXP28XX designs, and those building new heterogeneous designs based on the NFP coupled with multicore CPUs are now able to realize that vision.”

The NFP‐32xx is the industry’s first processor to remove the barriers in unified computing architectures by combining the NFP’s high‐performance network, content and security processing with general purpose processors, such as Intel’s IA, through I/O virtualization. For communications equipment designers whose network processing needs reach beyond the basics, the NFP‐32xx provides intelligent packet processing and a power-efficient design.

Developing products used for intelligent flow processing in network and communications devices, Netronome’s solutions include network flow processors and acceleration cards that scale to more than 20Gbps. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Netronome also has operations in San Jose, Calif., Boxborough, Mass., the United Kingdom, China and South Africa.

Visit www.netronome.com for more info on Netronome and its products.

G20 Coming to Pittsburgh — The PTC is All Over It!

Published May 29, 2009 General , News Leave a Comment
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Pretty much everyone now knows that Pittsburgh has been selected as the host city for the next G-20 Summit. Talk about a major shot in the arm!

The Pittsburgh Technology Council is already in communication with regional leaders to discuss opportunities to leverage this unique platform to help showcase the role that technology entrepreneurs continue to play in the revitalization of our community. It is the Council’s goal to help showcase individual technology firms that have developed globally applicable technologies, enabling the success of the local economy.

As you might imagine, these meetings often generate considerable global media coverage creating opportunities for our region to promote itself to an immense audience. The Council has a ton of ideas now under development to give our member companies ample exposure leading up to and during the event. Look for regular updates as plans solidify.

Established in 1999, the G-20 includes participation from the finance ministers and central bank governors of many of the world’s major economies and was designed to create a forum for open and constructive discussion between industrial and emerging market countries on the key issues that impact the global economic marketplace.

President Obama, who played a key role in bringing this summit to the U.S. and to Pittsburgh, will be in attendance at this year’s event, which will only enhance the publicity and excitement surrounding this already important meeting.

Robotics Institute Director Matt Mason Wins Robotics and Automation Society’s Pioneer Award

Published May 28, 2009 News , PTC Member , Personnel News Leave a Comment
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Here’s some news from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute that flew in late last week before Memorial Day weekend. This almost slipped through the grates of the Techburgher Grill:

Matthew T. Mason, director of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, was presented the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society’s Pioneer Award at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Kobe, Japan. Mason, a professor of computer science and robotics, was cited by the society “for pioneering contributions to the fundamental understanding of the mechanics of robotic manipulation and to graduate education in robotics.”

The Pioneer Award has been presented annually since 1998 to recognize individuals who have initiated new areas of research, development or engineering that have had a significant impact on the development of robotics and/or automation. It is usually given to people in the mid or late portions of their careers. Previous winners include Takeo Kanade, professor of computer science and robotics and a former director of the Robotics Institute.

Mason has devoted much of his research to exploring the fundamental mechanics of how robots can manipulate the things around them and to developing the planning capability that robots need to  decide what actions to take to achieve a goal. His research projects have included an origami-folding robot and desktop robots that use their wheels not only to move themselves, but to rearrange objects on a desk.

Cycling Geeks Make a ‘Pitt Stop’

Published May 26, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Carlos Urreta and Joe Philipson left on the morning of May 20 from Neptune City, N.J., beginning their cross-country bike ride to convince 1,000 geeks to bike to work. They comprise Real Geeks Ride (RgR), and Pittsburgh is their stop on May 29.

Neither are avid cyclists, making their story one about the transition from “geeks” to “geeks with bikes.”  According to the RgR Web site, “They hope to inspire (or potentially force) other geeks to change their commuting habits. If these two geeks can make it across the USA, it is foolish to think other geeks cannot at least bike to work.”

Exposed to computers at a young age, Urreta graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a degree in public relations. However, he is a technologist and geek at heart. Urreta lives in Austin, Texas and works full-time on RgR. Philipson discovered computers through his 7th grade teacher. He always craves technology and quickly adapts to new gadgets. Living in Hawaii, Philipson works as a full-time photographer. Together, they will bike almost three months and 3,000 miles, ending Aug. 2 in Seaside, Oregon.

Urreta and Philipson chose to focus on geeks because reaching them is easy with the social media used on the trip. According to the RgR Web site, “A ‘geek’ will be able to relate on a different level when our brightkite accounts are hooked up, and with daily communication from Twitter while on the ride.” In turn, geeks can spread the message of RgR, easing the need to advertise. They also want to fight the stigma of being stationary. “Geeks have taken a strong hit as people who spend all day on the computer. Getting more of them active can help curb that idea.”

Pittsburgh is one of the journey’s 62 stops along the way because of its emerging biking community. Urreta and Philipson will make an appearance at the Pittsburgh Technology Council for a press conference/meet and greet Friday, May 29 at 2:30 p.m.

For more info or to show your support for RgR, visit www.realgeeksride.com

If you want to get into the Pittsburgh biking scene, check out www.bike-pgh.org

Bayer Material Science Presents ‘Green Grade’ Polycarbonate Resins

Published May 25, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Bayer MaterialScience LogoBayer MaterialScience LLC introduced several new eco-friendly grades of its Makroblend® and Bayblend® polycarbonate blend resins this month. The new resins are derived from post-consumer recycled content and plant materials.

“For more than a decade, Bayer MaterialScience has been at the forefront of offering environmentally responsible materials,” Gerry DiBattista, market segment leader of IT, electrical/electronic polycarbonates said. “These new grades are an extension of our already-strong commitment to manufacturing eco-friendly products that maintain aesthetics, durability and longevity while also meeting the needs of our customers who are increasingly looking to boost the sustainability of their products.”

These sustainable products include three new flame-retardant Bayblend polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) blend resin post-consumer recycled content grades, a first for Bayer MaterialScience. These new Bayblend grades maintain the properties of a typical flame-rated PC/ABS product, including good rigidity, hardness, dimensional stability, impact strength and creep resistance. Bayblend grades are ideal for housing and other electrical and lighting components, as well as the IT, telecommunications and medical industries. In addition, an extra one or two points are possible in the U.S. Government’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) by selecting these grades.

Other eco-friendly products from Bayer MaterialScience are two bio-content polycarbonate blends containing polylactide (PLA), a polymer derived from plant materials. “The bio-content PC blends do not readily decompose like straight PLA and have very good impact and stiffness properties,” DiBattista explained. “They are the perfect solution for companies interested in promoting a strategy of using durable materials derived from renewable resources.” Uses for the bio-content grades include cell phones and smart phones, portable electronics, furniture, sporting goods and automotive interiors.

Bayer MaterialScience developed the new grades as part of its commitment to sustainability, which impacts the products it produces and the markets it serves. The company’s brochure about environmentally-friendly solutions and technologies offers more information. For a copy, call 1-800-662-2927 or visit www.bayermaterialscienceNAFTA.com.

Carnegie Mellon to Host NIME 2009

Published May 24, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Musicians and researchers share their ideas and work at the New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) conference hosted by Carnegie Mellon University June 4-6. This international conference will feature a number of workshops, papers, posters, demonstrations and performances both on and off-campus.

In its ninth year, the conference correlates with the fall introduction of new undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Music and Technology. Noel Zahler, head of the School of Music, and Roger Dannenberg, associate professor of computer science, co-chaired the NIME 2009 committee. “Because of its contributions to the arts and technology, Carnegie Mellon is an ideal location for the conference,” Dannenberg said. “It seems very appropriate to host the NIME conference at an institution already recognized internationally for its research in computer music.”

NIME 2009 focuses on Tradition and Innovation. Special events related to this theme include a keynote speech by electronic media artist Paul DeMarinis and an international teleconference with digital music moguls William Buxton, John Chowning, Roger Linn and Max Mathews.
As a bonus, Carnegie Mellon will also host daylong workshops on campus June 3. Topics include Mapping Sensors to Pd via Firmata, Sound Synthesis and Algorithmic Composition Using Nyquist and Audacity and Interactivity by Code: SuperCollider.

Student registration for NIME 2009 is $200 and general registration is $400. For more info, visit http://www.nime2009.org.

Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Connects with Darkstrand

Published May 23, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Darkstrand, a pioneer in corporate high-speed connectivity bridging research and commercialization, announced a mutual agreement with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) May 14. As a result, corporations connected to the Darkstrand Network can collaborate with PSC on high-performance computing projects leading to product development.

With this network connectivity, corporations have a direct link to PSC’s technical consultants, application experts, supercomputing systems and mass-storage capabilities. They can also flawlessly connect with leverage research and computing resources in previously unfamiliar heights of collaboration across geographies. 

“Darkstrand is launching a new R&D collaboration model for corporate America, in which bandwidth is no longer a constraint on innovation,” Chief Executive Officer of Darkstrand Michael Stein said.  “PSC provides the integrated HPC environment, deep technical support and Ph.D-level consultants needed to fast forward discovery in science, engineering and advanced computing.”

Founded in 1986, PSC provides industrial, government and university researchers access to several of the most powerful systems available for high-performance computing and data-handling. This is made possible through a joint effort from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and the National Science Foundation’s cyberinfrastructure program, a leading partner in the TeraGrid. PSC has provided computing power and expertise to support the research of more than 5,200 scientists and engineers nationwide.

PSC Executive Director David Moses said the partnership with Darkstrand will extend the reach of high-performance computing into the corporate world. “Through Darkstrand’s connectivity, American business will have ready access not only to the amazing hardware and software tools that have transformed scientific research over the last 20 years but also, and just as importantly, they will be able to interact with a consulting staff second-to-none in knowing how to use these tools to get results,” Moses said.  “This is an important win for U.S. economic competitiveness.”
To learn more about Darkstrand or PSC, visit the following links:

http://www.darkstrand.com
http://www.psc.edu

The Gaming Industry Goes Academic at GES 2009

Published May 22, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Experts in game education and executives in the game industry will discuss university programs for future employees at the Game Education Summit (GES) June 16-17. Taking place at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, the academic conference offers seven tracks involving course overviews, “serious” applications such as government and health care training, creativity and development tools for traditional games and the IGDA recommended curriculum, to name a few.

“Across the country, universities are investing heavily to build curriculum to teach the game designers of tomorrow,” Director of GES Mark Chuberka explains.  “But game instruction is still a relatively new field.  This conference brings instructors together with industry professionals to talk about what skills students need and to hear the top instructors discuss teaching methods and cutting-edge theory.”

GES Keynote speakers include:
June 16
Professor Don Marinelli, Executive Producer
Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University

June 17
Richard Hilleman, Chief Creative Director, Electronic Arts

Many well-known professionals will give sessions at the conference. These professionals include: Brenda Brathwaite, professor at the Savannah College of Art & Design; Tracy Gromek, a research specialist at the Institute of Play; and Sande Chen, a writer and game designer. Game industry executives from companies such as Ubisoft, Sony and Obsidian will also give sessions.

Early registration for GES is $349 per attendee. Registration at the door will be $399. Those interested can sign up at gameeducationsummit.com.

Real Geeks Ride: Carlos and Joe to stop by PTC offices on their trip across America

Published May 21, 2009 Something Cool Leave a Comment
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In a little more than a week, Carlos Urreta and Joe Philipson will pedal through Pittsburgh as part of their bike ride across America to promote bicycle commuting to work. They’ll roll into the Pittsburgh Technology Council offices on Friday, May 29 at 2:30 p.m. looking to meet other geeks and cyclists. So stop on by and see what’s up!

The two self-proclaimed geeks will pedal from New Jersey to Oregon to persuade other geeks to bike to work. Carlos and Joe have a goal to inspire 1,000 geeks to bike to work instead of driving. The ‘Real Geeks Ride’ guys will connect with their audience with daily blog posts, and also using the newest in social media technology to connect with people while on the road, the way a true geek would.

          Their message: If these non-cyclist-geeks can bike across the nation, why can’t other geeks commute to work?

          The two geeks are helping to organize, along with technology companies along the route,  events that bring cyclists and geeks together. Events will be held in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boulder, Missoula, Portland, and other cities across the USA. For more information about these events, keep posted with their Web site, RealGeeksride.com.

          Carlos and Joe were not cyclists when they decided to do this; prior to training, their calves were ‘normal’ and they had no idea how to change a flat tire. That did not stop them from entering the cycling community full-force and blogging about it the entire time. Carlos says, “There are a few stigmas we hope to battle: geeks being lazy, biking is hard to get into, and only athletic people can do it.”

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