The percentage of websites protected with HTTPS secure encryption—indicated by the lock icon in the address bar of most browsers—has jumped from just over 40% in 2016 to 80% today. That’s largely due to the efforts of Let’s Encrypt, a nonprofit certificate authority co-founded in 2013 by J. Alex Halderman, a U-M professor of computer science and engineering.… Read More »
U-M began creating online learning content over a decade ago. Since then, over six million students have enrolled for these courses, a tenth from India. Coursera, the US-based edtech platform that U-M partners with, has 4.8 million users in India. U-M’s online course “Programming for everyone” is the second-most popular in the country. During his recent visit to… Read More »
The Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses project has agreed to incorporate ECoach, a learning tool developed at the University of Michigan, into new STEM courses at all participating institutions.
Temporary social profiles are being used for more than just online scams and disinformation. Tawfiq Ammari, a PhD candidate in the School of Information, says these “throwaway” accounts might help adults collect helpful comments and feedback on “socially stigmatizing” topics such as divorce, postpartum depression, and mental health.
Researchers from U-M, Cornell University, and the Nairobi Play project studied the social and cultural effects of computer science classes. The researchers found that computer science classes can encourage children to work together overcome cultural barriers. Kentaro Toyama, a professor in the School of Information, was part of the team. The researchers interviewed and observed children from a… Read More »
University of Michigan researchers are studying the Russian government’s widespread internet censorship and monitoring. Its campaign to control its citizen’s access to the internet is easily exportable, even in a decentralized internet service environment.
UM-Dearborn’s professor Birhanu Eshete, computer science, is developing new technology to keep up with malicious parties on the dark web. Eshete is in a continuous race against cyberattackers who wield weapons that are ever-evolving.
A team of researchers including Kevin Fu and Daniel Genkin, U-M professors of electrical engineering and computer science, have found a way to take over Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa, or Apple’s Siri devices from hundreds of feet away by shining laser pointers, and even flashlights, at the devices’ microphones. “We’ve shown that hijacking voice assistants only requires line-of-sight… Read More »
Data science is an important tool that can help researchers tackle challenges ranging from mobility and health to public safety and education. But having access to information comes with great responsibility, so researchers at the University of Michigan are working to ensure data science is not misused to disproportionately harm underrepresented groups.
Perry Samson, U-M atmospheric science professor, has developed a backchannel tool to encourage his students to ask questions during class. He says this new participation model has increased the overall level of inquiry in his classes and has allowed underrepresented student’s voices to be heard.
Two School of Information faculty members, research professor Stephanie Teasley and associate professor Mark W. Newman, have been named the 2019 Distinguished Members of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Jenny Radesky, assistant professor of developmental behavioral pediatrics in Michigan Medicine, recently presented on the ethical concerns surrounding advertising geared toward children. Her presentation highlighted the lack of awareness most children have surrounding advertising and persuasive content.
The trouble with algorithms, John Cheney-Lippold says, is that while they can pick up online engagements and patterns, algorithms are not able to determine things like emotions.
Michigan Medicine researchers have developed an algorithm to be used with consumer sleep trackers. The algorithm, built by post-doctoral research fellow in neurology Olivia Walch, outperforms expensive medical trackers. The University of Michigan algorithm could be used on consumer wearable devices in the future and would be a more transparent, scientifically rigorous tool.
Congratulations to the ITS Infrastructure team for receiving the 2019 E&I National Cloud Leadership Award for Collaboration along with the University of Minnesota and Internet2 for its work on network automation and cloud connectivity.
U-M will anchor the Detroit Center for Innovation, a 14-acre center in downtown Detroit aimed at stimulating entrepreneurial activity, educating students and further diversifying the regional economy. The center will be designed to provide a new talent pipeline to current companies and attract new businesses to the area. In accepting the invitation to be a key partner in… Read More »
Michigan, like most of the country, is in desperate need of more child psychiatrists. More than 100,000 Michigan children have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or ADHD. Yet, fewer than 250 psychiatrists are trained to treat children in the state. The shortage means pediatricians and other primary care providers often end up treating adolescent mental health issues. “Primary… Read More »
Blocks, books and bikes used to be the staples of childhood. But as more kids grow up with a seemingly endless menu of virtual activities offered through digital media, child development experts worry about the wane of traditional playtime. Jenny Radesky, a pediatrician at U-M’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, who is addressing the topic at the national American Academy of Pediatrics meeting in… Read More »
UM-Dearborn Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Mohamed Abouelenien is exploring whether machine learning can help create a customized, responsive climate control system that would automatically detect a person’s level of “thermal comfort” and then make continuous adjustments to their environment. Abouelenien and his collaborator, UM-Flint Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Mihai Burzo, used a thermal camera… Read More »
At this year’s annual Educause conference in Chicago Oct. 14-17, the University of Michigan was honored with the E&I National Cloud Leadership Award for its lead role in the development and strategic guidance of the Unizin Data Platform (UDP). John Johnston, ITS program manager for analytics & data services, accepted the award on behalf of the university. Johnston… Read More »