Author Archives: News Staff
Twenty Michigan IT staff presented at the 2016 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on Wednesday, October 26. The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference is the premier convening of IT professionals and technology providers in higher education. The conference programming is derived from member-driven content organized across overarching IT tracks and hosts one of… Read More »
Since hackers targeted the election systems of more than 20 states, cyber security experts say Michigan should routinely audit a sample of its paper ballots to protect against election fraud. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office said the state’s voter registration lists have not been targeted or affected. “[Audits] should be done routinely in order to provide a… Read More »
Computer gaming is now a regular part of life for many people. Beyond just being entertaining, though, it can be a very useful tool in education and in science. If people spent just a fraction of their play time solving real-life scientific puzzles—by playing science-based computer games—what new knowledge might we uncover? Professor James Bardwell and Scott Horowitz,… Read More »
With a radio specifically designed to communicate through tissue, U-M researchers are adding another level to a computer platform small enough to fit inside a medical grade syringe. In the video below, David Blaauw, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and David Wentzloff, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, discuss how the technology will allow… Read More »
Last month, millions of viewers used Twitter to watch live streams of NFL football and the presidential debates. If you weren’t one, here’s how it works: After opening the Twitter app and selecting Moments, you click “watch live” to join the live stream, which also integrates a Twitter feed of hashtags related to the event. Amanda Lotz, professor… Read More »
How important is WiFi on the Ann Arbor campus? Based on usage statistics for the first day of the fall term, WiFi has become a must-have for U-M faculty, staff and students. On September 6, more than 55,000 people connected to MWireless and eduroam, using almost 96,000 unique devices and exceeding 54 terabytes of traffic. To meet growing… Read More »
ECoach, a personalized education tool developed at U-M, has been expanded this fall to serve all first-year students. “The goal is to ease the transition to college for all students,” said principal investigator Tim McKay, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics, Astronomy and Education, and director of U-M’s Digital Innovation Greenhouse in the Office of Academic Innovation. “By… Read More »
Parents searching for work-life balance may see smartphones and tablets as a way to escape the office in time to be home for dinner each night. But, a recent study suggests these gadgets can also be a huge distraction and source of stress. When researchers asked a group of parents to slow down and answer detailed questions about… Read More »
Online voting sounds like a dream. But ask cyber security experts and they’ll tell you it’s really a nightmare. In 2010, the District of Columbia piloted an Internet voting system and held a public trial to see if it could be infiltrated. Computer science professor Alex Halderman and his students welcomed the opportunity to legally hack their system.… Read More »
How big of a role does texting play in your life? If you are among the 97% of American smartphone owners who send at least one text every day, it might be time to take another look at your texting etiquette. According to English professor Anne Curzan, there’s a chance you’re doing it all wrong. For example, the… Read More »
The growing high-tech field of conversational computing is popularized by intelligent virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, Amazon’s Alexa, and the Google Assistant. Interestingly, all of them use a young female voice. Because it has social and emotional dimensions not seen with keyboards and screens, conversational computing is holding a mirror to many of society’s biggest preconceptions… Read More »
The quantity and quality of media children and teens consume should change with their age, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization also says parents should oversee children’s media consumption and educate them about proper media engagement. “The big picture message is that parents have a huge role to play as guides and… Read More »
Open Michigan is relaunching as the home for all things open at the University of Michigan—freely accessible, openly licensed documents and media used for teaching, learning, and research—including expertise and services for open educational resources (OER), open data, and open publications. The new Open Michigan is a partnership of the University Library and Health Information Technology and Services… Read More »
U-M alum Reid Wilson was selected as the first Detroit Data Fellow and will spend the next two years helping the Detroit Police Department understand crime patterns in real time. The program is part of a universitywide effort to engage with the city, its leaders, and residents to create a sustainable impact for a better future. Fellows participate… Read More »
Chief Information Security Office Don Welch will leave U-M to become the CISO at Penn State University. Welch joined U-M 18 months ago. His last day at Michigan will be December 2. “Don played a critical role in leading U-M’s information security program,” said Kevin Hegarty, U-M interim CIO, executive vice president, and chief financial officer. “He raised… Read More »
When Mark Zuckerberg posted a picture of himself on Facebook last June, a sharp-eyed observer spotted a piece of tape covering his laptop’s camera. The irony didn’t go unnoticed. Even those of us who don’t control large corporations have reason to be concerned about the next frontiers in surveillance. For example, today many security cameras are easy to… Read More »
Women in IT Community of Practice: Women make up less than 25 percent of the IT workforce in the USA. Minorities make up even less. A new community of practice explores why that is, and how we can promote diversification in IT. The goal of Women in IT is to establish a network of IT professionals to support women’s career… Read More »
Four research teams from U-M and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China are sharing $800,000 in awards for projects that focus on data science and how it can be used to sustain critical infrastructures for the environment and human health. Since 2010, the two universities have collaborated on a number of research projects that address challenges and opportunities… Read More »
Dear colleagues, By now I’m sure you’ve heard that Kelli Trosvig will become U-M’s first vice president for information technology and chief information officer! Kelli is a seasoned leader with exceptional experience across IT, higher ed, research technology, and health administration. I am excited about Kelli joining U-M as VPIT-CIO and I know that she is, too. I… Read More »
One concrete way you can begin to implement U-M’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is by helping ensure that everyone feels comfortable at meetings. Often, this is as straightforward as making sure a range of options are provided when food is served, clearly identifying single-stall bathrooms and lactation rooms, and identifying people who can provide help… Read More »