News Staff

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Author Archives: News Staff

U-M first university press named as Benetech Global Certified Accessible publisher

By | February 10, 2021
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U-M press logo

University of Michigan Press is now a Benetech Global Certified Accessible™ (GCA) publisher, and is the first university press to receive this certification. Benetech, a nonprofit that empowers communities with software for social good, issues this accreditation to those publishers who produce EPUBs that meet a full range of accessibility features required to support readers with and without disabilities… Read More »

Level up: Video games inspire new ‘living textbook’ for computational sciences

By | January 29, 2021
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mynerva logo

A new way of delivering course materials in the computational sciences aims to elevate the study experience from consuming static text and media to a conversation between the learner and the material. Called Mynerva, the cloud-based interactive textbook platform developed at U-M enables instructors to build their materials into video game-like journeys that unfold as the learner progresses.

U-M rolls out updated ResponsiBLUE app

By | January 20, 2021
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Illustration of mask, ResponsiBLUE 2.0

The ResponsiBLUE application has been updated and expanded for the winter 2021 semester. U-M first launched ResponsiBLUE during the fall 2020 semester to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, aid in circulating public health knowledge, and ensure student safety. University Information and Technology Services developed ResponsiBLUE in partnership with the university leadership and the Office of Research. The app, which… Read More »

Inspired to create: U-M alumnae and the world of international tech start ups

By | January 15, 2021
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illustration of diverse women

When you think of tech startup companies, what comes to mind? Is it Silicon Valley, black turtlenecks, and billion-dollar IPOs? Or perhaps something about college drop-outs and the proverbial idiosyncrasies of “tech-bro culture”? While stereotypes can be helpful for getting the big picture of things, when you look more closely they’re often misleading caricatures, and this has proven especially true in the case of the tech industry.

Dell to be U-M’s new strategic supplier for computer hardware

By | January 14, 2021
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Dell logo

Dell Technologies has been selected as U-M’s new strategic supplier for computer hardware, which includes laptops, PCs, monitors, keyboards and other equipment. The new contract goes into effect Jan. 18 and replaces the current HP contract. Dell was selected by a cross-functional team composed of representatives from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses as well as Michigan… Read More »

Does Canvas allow faculty to track students online?

By | January 13, 2021
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montage of computer monitor, camera, phone, eye, question marks

Learning management systems like Canvas allow faculty to see some student activity. But UM-Dearborn’s Coordinator of Digital Education Chris Casey says it’s far from being a surveillance system. The rumor he hears most often is that faculty can see if students open other browser tabs or websites outside of Canvas. “This one is definitely false,” Casey says, noting… Read More »

How computer science is changing education

By | January 12, 2021
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Classroom of masked children working on laptops.

U-M researchers are taking on the big challenges to integrating computing into everyone’s education: Under a grant from the National Science Foundation, Mark Guzdial, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and his colleagues have launched a program that integrate the use of task-specific computer science tools that will allow high school students to build data visualizations into… Read More »

Hacking reality

By | January 12, 2021
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An Alexa home device sits on a darkened window ledge, bathed in purple laser light coming from a tower in the BG.

Where does “computer” end, and “real world” begin? This line, separated so firmly in our minds by apps and user interfaces, is finer than it appears as our devices are under attack in new, increasingly sophisticated ways: microphones that “hear” light; microprocessors that “tell” us secrets; self-driving cars that “see” fake objects; sensors that “feel” the wrong temperature.… Read More »

Precision health in the palm of your hand

By | January 12, 2021
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Hand holds small silver device. DNA strands in the BG.

Precision health takes into account variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person. Huge amounts of data are being collected and analyzed to manage our care, but results can be slow in coming, and the wait between testing and diagnosis can be days or weeks. However, recent breakthrough developments in technologies are poised to deliver a new… Read More »

COVID forced psychiatric care online, and many patients want it to stay there, study finds

By | January 11, 2021
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office chair next to green couch

A year ago, trying to find patients who would agree to see their Michigan Medicine mental health provider through a video screen felt like pulling teeth. But on March 23, all non-urgent health care across the state of Michigan shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Video chats and phone calls became (and remain) the only way… Read More »