X Prize Innovation Partnership Program gets official, lets companies bankroll breakthroughs

THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION & SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY TEAM WITH DELOITTE TO ADVANCE INNOVATION AROUND THE WORLD

New Alliance Launches the Innovation Partnership Program

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 29, 2013) - Three recognized leaders advancing innovation in industry, education and business have announced a new alliance to spur global development and help humanity solve its greatest challenges. The Innovation Partnership Program (IPP), a three-­-year alliance of the X PRIZE Foundation, the leader in solving grand challenges through large-­-scale, global incentivized competitions, Singularity University, a unique Silicon Valley educational institute and business incubator which explores the disruptive influences and global growth opportunities of exponentially advancing technologies, and Deloitte, a leader in human capital, strategy, and operations, and technology consulting services, leverage their respective strengths to drive innovation across multiple industries and business sectors. The announcement was made jointly by Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation; Rob Nail, Associate Founder and CEO of Singularity University; and Marcus Shingles, Partner at Deloitte Consulting LLP.

More than 60 senior business leaders from 30 iconic companies, including Google, Shell, Qualcomm, and Sprint Nextel met in Silicon Valley from March 23-­-26, for the inaugural 4-­-day IPP Executive Session, which consisted of a wide array of workshops on crowdsourcing, the rapid advancement of exponential technologies and how to innovate through incentivized competitions. IPP is where Fortune 500 thought leaders came to intersect with Silicon Valley, reaching across global markets to connect the most knowledgeable industry leaders and innovators in a highly curated and unprecedented summit.

A signature element of IPP, "The Path Forward" was a discussion led by Deloitte, based on their 10 Steps of Innovation and Scaling Edges approach for organizational characteristics and adoption of innovation. Other highlights of IPP were seven CEO case studies by crowdsourcing pioneers including Quirky. Recent headlines regarding advances in digital medicine, sensor technologies, and 3D printing were also topical discussions of leading advancements.

"IPP is proof of the amazing and productive dialogue that can result when a group of diverse and daring industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, inventors, and thought leaders come together to discuss innovative business strategies and exponential technologies," said Kian Gohar, Executive Director, Innovative Partnership Program. "We are very fortunate to have such great partners that share our passion and commitment to this unique ecosystem where the Fortune 500 meets Silicon Valley."

"This new era of rapid-­-pace innovation requires bold thinking and action from all fronts. IPP is about expanding the innovation ecosystem and related capabilities that we bring to our clients," Marcus Shingles from Deloitte.

"It was worth every minute. The exposure to new ideas is remarkably refreshing and different here," said Daniel Hesse, CEO of Sprint Nextel Corp. "IPP brings to mind the words of Wayne Gretzky, 'It's skating to where the puck is going.'"

IPP is a partnership of Fortune 500 companies that includes a biannual summit, with the next one scheduled for September 18-­-22, 2013 in Silicon Valley. For more information on the Innovation Partnership Program, please visit www.xprize.org/ipp. # # #

ABOUT THE INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM The Innovation Partnership Program (IPP), a joint initiative between the X PRIZE Foundation and Singularity University, is a results-­-oriented executive education program that teaches exponential technologies and crowdsourced innovation to senior executives from large Fortune 500 firms. IPP seeks to help partner companies transition from "linear" to "exponential" organizations by incubating a culture of exponential innovation within each company. ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION Founded in 1995, the X PRIZE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the leading organization solving the world's Grand Challenges by creating and managing large-­-scale, high-­-profile, incentivized prize competitions that stimulate investment in research and development worth far more than the prize itself. The organization motivates and inspires brilliant innovators from all disciplines to leverage their intellectual and financial capital for the benefit of humanity. The X PRIZE Foundation conducts competitions in five Prize Groups: Education; Exploration; Energy & Environment; Global Development; and Life Sciences. Active prizes include the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, the $10 million Archon Genomics X PRIZE presented by Express Scripts, the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder X PRIZE, and the $2.25 million Nokia Sensing X CHALLENGE. For more information, go to www.xprize.org, "like" us at www.facebook.com/xprize and follow us on twitter @xprize.

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By: Unknown On 10:42 PM

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20 NYC schools starting Software Engineering Pilot program next year

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR WALCOTT ANNOUNCE THE 20 SCHOOLS SELECTED FOR THE NEW SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PILOT PROGRAM

Initiative to Expand Computer Science and Software Engineering Classes - First Announced in the State of the City - to Launch Next Fall

Program to Help Prepare Students for College and Careers in Growing Tech Sector

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott today announced the 20 schools selected for the new Software Engineering Pilot program to begin at the start of the next school year. The schools will receive comprehensive computer science and software engineering curriculum for the 1,000 students expected to participate this fall. By 2016, the program will grow to 3,500 students. Mayor Bloomberg first announced the Software Engineering Pilot in his State of the City address earlier this month, and the program is a part of the City's work to prepare students for college and careers in the technology sector. The Mayor and Chancellor Walcott made the announcement at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology in Brooklyn, one of the 20 schools selected for the Software Engineering Pilot, and were joined by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, AppNexus Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer Mike Nolet and Principal Philip Weinberg.

"We know it's vital to prepare our children to succeed in an increasingly technology-centered economy and the Software Engineering Pilot will help us do just that," said Mayor Bloomberg. "This groundbreaking program will ensure that more students receive computer science and software engineering instruction so that they can compete for the tech jobs that are increasingly becoming a part of our city's economy. We're creating the home-grown workforce our city needs and teaching our students skills that will open up new doors for them and their future."

"The tech industry in New York City continues to expand significantly under Mayor Bloomberg's leadership, and our public schools are rising to meet the challenge," said Chancellor Walcott. "The Software Engineering Pilot will provide students with the foundational skills they need to compete for high-paying, career track jobs in a variety of professional fields. I would like to thank the educators at our 20 pilot schools who are working hard to make this wonderful opportunity a reality for their students."

"The Software Engineering Pilot is the latest component of our comprehensive strategy to position New York City to outperform in the knowledge economy of the future," said Deputy Mayor Steel. "From our work with the tech industry, we know that these companies need skilled employees at every level of their organization. The training we're providing through this program, the Academy for Software Engineering in Manhattan and the Applied Sciences NYC initiative will prepare our students for the jobs of today and tomorrow."

"Hiring programmers and engineers is one of the biggest challenges facing AppNexus today and is critical to our success and growth," said Mike Nolet, Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer. "We applaud Mayor Bloomberg's leadership in preparing students for the jobs of the future. These students will surely benefit from learning computer science, and we will be hiring them as soon as possible!"

"New York's future will be defined by the steps we take today to shape our diverse students into the programmers, engineers and designers that will fill 21st century tech jobs of tomorrow," said Reshma Saujani, founder of the nonprofit Girls Who Code. "The SEP Program is an innovative step forward in making that future brighter, and Girls Who Code is excited to partner with them to close the skills gap to give more minorities and young women opportunities they are currently being denied."

"Giving students an opportunity for a bright future is the goal of every educator, and opportunity is what students will get when exposed to rigorous and engaging computer science education," said Cameron Wilson, Director of Public Policy for the Association for Computing Machinery. "The question we face is whether students will have access to this critical discipline because far too often they do not. New York City's Software Engineering Pilot's strategy to expand student access to high-quality computer science curriculum coupled with professional development for teachers, will give students knowledge and skills they can use to create new computing technologies and exposure to a field driving high-demand, high-paying jobs across numerous industries."

In September, the Software Engineering Pilot will launch in 20 middle and high schools, bringing computer science and software engineering classes to students in grades 6 through 12. In the first year, the core topics to be taught include computer programming, embedded electronics, web design and programming, e-textiles, robotics and mobile computing. The Pilot will also offer elective classes, including digital fabrication, 3-D printing and animation.

The 20 schools were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated the schools' current technology offerings and how the program could help grow and sustain the programming. They include:

High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology
Brooklyn Technical High School
The Bronx Compass High School
The Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation
Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology
Queens Vocational & Technical High School
Cambria Heights Academy
Ralph McKee High School
New Dorp High School
Ditmas Intermediate School 62
I.S. 30 Mary White Ovington
Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted and Talented
Bronx Park Middle School
M.S. 223 The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology
Tompkins Square Middle School
Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School 74
J.H.S. 185 Edward Bleeker
Pathways College Preparatory School
J.H.S. 157 Stephen A. Halsey
Eagle Academy for Young Men
The Software Engineering Pilot will also provide teacher training for the instructors leading the classes. Schools will use rigorous academic curriculum and have access to technology resources to support program instruction. Participating high schools will also receive support in applying for New York State Education Department approval, which can award a Career and Technical Education endorsement to graduating students who complete the program.

The Software Engineering Pilot aligns to Common Core Learning Standards by developing students' higher order thinking skills through the incorporation of industry-informed learning experiences. By emphasizing the analysis of complex text and mathematical modeling, participating students will extend their preparation in English Language Arts & Literacy and Mathematics while leveraging cutting-edge technology and curricula to develop the academic and personal behaviors that are a benchmark of college and career readiness.

The program also builds on the Applied Sciences NYC initiative that the Bloomberg Administration launched to capitalize on the considerable growth in the city's science, technology and research fields. In the technology sector, employment in New York grew by nearly 30 percent between 2005 and 2010, with total employment now at nearly 120,000. The City has established three partnerships expected to create more than 48,000 jobs and 1,000 new companies and will be led by: Cornell and the Technion, which is developing a campus on Roosevelt Island; the NYU-led consortium, which will build the Center for Urban Science and Progress in Downtown Brooklyn; and Columbia University, which will establish the new Institute for Data Sciences and Engineering, to be located at Columbia's Morningside Heights and Washington Heights campuses.

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By: Unknown On 7:21 PM

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Create your own space program: NASA quietly flogging bits of the Kennedy Space Center

The idea of private space tourism is certainly taking off, but at such high costs, only 1 percent of the 1 percent will be able to afford it. But, what if you could just do it all yourself? You're going to need some infrastructure to get you started, and luckily, NASA is reportedly looking to lease or sell off some Kennedy Space Center assets it no longer needs. While that list has not been made public, it apparently includes Launch Pad 39A, a landing strip, the Launch Control Center, and various other high-tech equipment and buildings from its late shuttle program. NASA also wants some quick deals before anything falls into disrepair, so if you're serious about your new space venture, you might be able to snag a bargain or two with some strategic low offers. Now you've just gotta wait for a cheap rocket deal to pop up on eBay and you're good to go.

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Via: The Loop

Source: Orlando Sentinel

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By: Dilusha On 1:09 AM

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Vodafone's Nearly New program entices penny-pinchers with pre-owned smartphones

If you cherish saving coin and don't mind owning secondhand devices, Vodafone's Nearly New program is angling to hook you up with previously-loved smartphones. The UK firm's new effort takes handsets returned by users in "very good condition," repackages them with the appropriate accessories and doles them out at cheaper prices with pay-as-you-go or contract plans. According to Vodafone, the offering is particularly aimed at bringing pay-as-you-go users into the smartphone fold without breaking the bank. Available devices will vary each month based on return inventory, but the outfit already has iOS and Android choices on tap. Customers happy with off-contract service can choose between an iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4, with an 8GB flavor of the latter ringing up at £250. Folks who have their eye on a contract plan can pick between a Samsung Galaxy S III, which is free with a £33 subscription, or an HTC One X. On-contract Nearly New devices are already available online and in select stores, while commitment-free phones are up for grabs in-store and will find their way online next week.

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By: Dilusha On 9:54 PM

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Answer Line: I must run this program on computers other than my own

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When he isn't bicycling, prowling used bookstores, or watching movies, PC World Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector writes about technology and cinema.
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Lyman E Bertsch needs to run an application on a relative's computer. Installing the program isn't an option. Can Lyman run the program off a flash drive?

[Email your tech questions to answer@pcworld.com or post them on the PCW Answer Line forum.]

Probably not. But you may be able to find another program that does the same thing, but that you can run off a flash drive.

We call these programs portable, because they can be easily moved between computers and don't need to be installed. You can carry these on a portable storage device, such as a flash drive, and run them on any Windows PC. And you would be amazed how much portable software is out there.

A lot of portable programs are diagnostic or repair-oriented in nature. This allows you to take your flash drive to the home of a friend or relative with a misbehaving PC, plug it in, and diagnose their sick computer. For some suggestions in this area, go to the article The Bootable Maintenance Flash Drive, and scroll down to the heading "Extra Tools for Your Flash Drive."

But you can find portable applications, as well. For instance, there are flash drive-friendly versions of Open Office and the photo editor GIMP.

Use a search engine to find a portable program that does what you need. Search for the word portable, along with the type of software; for instance, portable genealogy software.

I used that example because Lyman specifically asked about genealogy software. I found several, two of which seemed to have good reputations: Gramps Portable and ScionPC. (I have no experience with genealogy software, so please don't consider these to be my personal recommendations.)

Click for full view

And here's something else you might consider: PortableApps. This free portable program organizes and helps you launch other portable programs. You can install other portable programs into PortableApps (and no, that doesn't involve installing them into Windows). Then launch the programs from inside.

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By: Dilusha On 9:44 AM

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