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Elluminate Launches Learning Suite, Planning Software for Online Learning

6/9/2008

Ed tech developer Elluminate Monday announced new collaborative learning bundles--the Elluminate Learning Suite and the Elluminate Next bundle--and launched a new tool for planning online learning sessions called Elluminate Plan! The company also told us it's revamping its education licensing structure, moving away from a concurrent user model to a structure based on the full-time enrollment of educational institutions.

U Missouri To Upgrade Backbone via Co-location

6/9/2008

The University of Missouri will be moving a campus data center into 1102 Grand, a Kansas City co-location provider, as part of a project to build a high performance carrier-neutral network to support the university's intercampus network and replace the existing backbone.

Northeastern Cell Phone Study Draws Anger; University Defends Researcher

6/9/2008

Looking for a little privacy in your life? If so, you might want to leave that cell phone behind. Research released last week by Northeastern University showed not only how easy it is to track individuals by their cell phone usage, but how easy it is to track massive groups of people as well--all without their consent. The research has drawn the ire of those both inside and outside academia for the act of breaching these individuals' privacy and for the implications for further enabling the surveillance culture. But Northeastern is defending the research, saying that the privacy of those studied was of the utmost concern.

Supercomputers Crank Up in Three Japanese Universities in Collaborative Pursuits

6/6/2008

Three universities in Japan have started operation of open source supercomputers designed jointly to enable collaboration among the systems. The T2K Open Supercomputer Alliance machines were built from specifications developed jointly by the University of Tsukuba, The University of Tokyo, and Kyoto University.

Canon To Ship WUXGA LCoS Projector

6/6/2008

Canon this week introduced the first LCoS-based WUXGA projector, providing a 16:10 aspect ratio with a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 for displaying high-def images slightly beyond 1080p. The company also introduced a new LCoS-based SXGA+ multimedia projector, which is shipping this month.

Library Self-Checkout System Shrinks

6/6/2008

Library Automation Technologies has released what it's calling "the world's smallest self-check for libraries." FlashScan-MAXine measures 33 inches by 22 inches by 22 inches and allows libraries to let patrons check out their own materials. It's wireless, which makes it portable and can be upgraded for RFID; plus it supports front-gate security.

Clemson U Installs Dell High-Performance Computing Cluster

6/5/2008

Clemson University has gone public with its use of a high-performance computing cluster (HPCC) from Dell to enable academic research on topics ranging from how family migration patterns impact schools and children's development to the design of wireless communication networks.

iLinc Web Conferencing Tool Updated, Adds 'Green Meter'

6/5/2008

iLinc released a new version of its Web conferencing tool, iLinc 10, which bolsters session management and adds a "green meter." The green meter shows cost savings, carbon emissions, and total distance not traveled by using Web conferencing versus in-person meetings. Administrators can also customize several variables in the meter to match their organization's specific policies.

Washington U To Use E-Sponder Express During VP Debate

6/5/2008

The Washington University Police Department (WUPD) has selected incident management system E-Sponder Express for use at the vice presidential debates scheduled for October at the St. Louis campus and as a tool in its ongoing security operations. The university used Convergence Communication software for security management of the 2004 presidential debates as well.

iTunes U Expands International Reach

6/4/2008

Apple Tuesday expanded the international reach of iTunes U, bringing in 10 universities from the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, all of which are providing content via the iTunes education portal free of charge.

Threats to Office Multiply with New Offerings from Adobe, IBM

6/4/2008

Paying for word processing software may soon be a thing of past if Microsoft competitors Adobe, Google and IBM have any say.

Universities Join IBM Multi-National 'LA Grid'

6/4/2008

Calling it a "perfect living laboratory for research to advance the healthcare industry," the Quantum Group, which provides consulting and applications for the healthcare industry, is joining 12 universities as part of IBM's Latin American Grid (LA Grid) initiative. LA Grid (pronounced "lah grid") is comprised of a collection of human and computing resources in North America, Latin America, and Spain, working in collaboration to perform as one massive supercomputer for advanced research.

HP Awards $7 Million in Technology for Teaching Initiative

6/4/2008

HP this week announced the recipients of its 2008 HP Technology for Teaching grant program. Thirty-nine colleges and universities and 110 K-12 schools will be receiving more than $7 million in cash, gear, and professional development.

Cengage Completes Acquisition of Houghton Mifflin College Division, Expands Offerings

6/4/2008

Print and digital instruction and reference materials provider Cengage Learning announced Monday that it has completed its acquisition of Houghton Mifflin College Division (HM College). After announcing the agreement to acquire HM College in December, the company recently received the regulatory clearances required to close the deal.

SIIA Issues Final Call for Ed Tech Survey

6/4/2008

The Software & Information Industry Association this week issued a final call for its Vision Survey, part of the SIIA's "Vision K-20" effort toward developing a technology-based educational framework for K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. The survey runs until June 9.

Tech-Ed: Gates' Farewell to Developers Focuses on Silverlight, Velocity, Oslo

6/3/2008

In what will likely be remembered as his send-off to developers, Microsoft Founder and Chairman Bill Gates today kicked off the annual Tech-Ed Conference with a keynote that took an opportunity to look back on past accomplishments and provide a glimpse into the future of Microsoft technologies.

Free Online Tool Helps Users Record and Share Research

6/3/2008

A free clickstream recording Web service for researchers has launched, developed by two college graduates who had become frustrated by the inefficiency and redundancy of gathering research. iBreadCrumbs, created by California State University, Fullerton graduates Reuben Fine and Rey Marques, is an online tool that allows teachers, researchers, and students to save and share their research with others.

IBM Rational's Big-Band Jazz Release

6/3/2008

IBM's Rational Software division yesterday unveiled 20 new commercial products based on its Jazz collaboration platform and opened up the Jazz community to all interested parties.

St. John's U Outsources Admissions Document Management to DataBank

6/3/2008

Following on a business process management analysis across multiple school operations, Queens, NY-based St. John's University has decided to outsource its admissions application process to DataBank, a service provider that performs document scanning and management. The school was compelled to find an outside vendor after experiencing a 65 percent increase in admissions applications over a five-year period.

U Arizona Brings Phoenix Mars Mission to iTunes U

6/3/2008

The University of Arizona has brought video and animation relating to the Phoenix Mars Mission onto iTunes U, the education-focused portal hosted on Apple's iTunes. U Arizona is the lead on the mission, the first in a NASA program aimed at launching smaller missions to Mars designed to complement larger ones.

Update: Blackboard Defends Patent, Files More Claims

6/3/2008

As we reported last week, Blackboard has responded to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, urging it to rescind its rejection of the company's electronic learning patent. Blackboard has also appended new claims to the patent. Rival Desire2Learn accused Blackboard of reversing its position on the reexamination.

Adobe Intros Acrobat 9, Launches Acrobat.com Beta

6/2/2008

Adobe Monday announced details of its forthcoming major revision to the entire Acrobat family: Acrobat 9. The company also debuted a new Acrobat.com collaboration beta site and announced an updated Creative Suite (version 3.3), which will incorporate the upcoming Acrobat 9 Pro software.

Jenzabar Launches Foundation To Support Student-Led Projects

6/2/2008

Jenzabar, which produces a campus management suite of applications, has created a non-profit foundation to fund student-led community service projects around the world. The mission of the Jenzabar Foundation is to recognize and support the humanitarian efforts of student leaders serving others.

Students Get Web-based Planning and Time Management Service

6/2/2008

Studiolo Systems has gone into beta testing with StudyRails.com, a Web application intended to help students improve their academic performance by optimizing their study habits. StudyRails provides step-by-step, personalized study plans, e-mail and cell phone study reminders and the blocking of social networking Web sites, software and games during study time.

Cerritos College Launches Web-based Student Center with PeopleSoft Upgrade

6/2/2008

Norwalk, CA-based Cerritos College said it has completed a major IT system upgrade--on time and under budget--after partnering with Ciber Enterprise Solutions.