Pennsylvania’s congressional map was among the most gerrymandered in history. Experts like LSA political science professor Jowei Chen used data analyis and computer modeling to help change that situation. Chen’s computer programs create alternative maps based on a series of geographic constraints: maps that are compact in shape, preserve county and municipal boundaries, and have equal populations. They’re drawn,… Read More »
A new tool employing augmented reality (AR) developed at the School of Information (UMSI) simplifies and shortens the physical-to-digital process for mobile app interaction designers. ProtoAR, developed by Michael Nebeling, UMSI assistant professor, allows designers to work with physical prototypes using paper and clay such as Play-Doh, then easily transition to digital prototyping using their mobile phones’ cameras.… Read More »
What happens when you trade up your old tech at Computer Showcase through March 31? You get instant store credit toward a new technology purchase. We donate an extra 10% of your trade-in value to Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan! Your tech. Your computer store. For the kids. Computer Showcase is making a donation to Dance Marathon for every hardware… Read More »
Jia Deng, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, is one of four U-M researchers who have been named 2018 Sloan Research Fellows. Deng directs the College of Engineering’s Vision & Learning Lab. His research focus is on computer vision and machine learning, in particular, achieving human-level visual understanding by integrating perception, cognition, and learning. The researchers are part… Read More »
As more robots are showing up in all kinds of jobs, organizations must figure out how to successfully integrate human and robot co-workers. But how? According to a recent study co-authored by School of Information associate professor Lionel Robert, it’s by making robots more like people. The study, “Human-Robot Similarity and Willingness to Work with a Robotic Co-worker,” found that… Read More »
Aviv Ovadya, chief technologist at the School of Information’s Center for Social Media Responsibility, cautions that technology and social media that can be used to enhance and distort what is real is evolving faster than our ability to understand and control or mitigate it. “I’m from the free and open source culture,” he says. “The goal isn’t to… Read More »
Jenna Wiens, a computer scientist and assistant professor of engineering at U-M, helped create an algorithm to predict a patient’s risk of developing a C-diff infection (CDI), one of the deadliest killers in American hospitals. The algorithm uses a form of artificial intelligence called machine learning to extract warning signs of disease from patients’ vital signs and other health records—constellations of symptoms, circumstances,… Read More »
Laurel Barnes, senior manager of the HITS Learning Management team, was recently interviewed by Learning Solutions Magazine about her career in technology and experience supporting large-scale change at U-M. Read the full interview.
UM-Dearborn professor Marouane Kessentini founded Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE) research lab five years ago with the goal of innovative software development. Now, through a partnership with software company Sema, Kessentini is seeing the impact the SBSE lab is making for the university, in students’ lives, and in the software industry. Through the partnership, the U-M Office of Technology Transfer licensed four… Read More »
Perry Samson, a professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, has been teaching at U-M for 38 years. In his early teaching years, Samson thought that getting through a lecture without students asking many questions was a sign of a job well done. Samson says he has since come to realize that silence in class often indicates student… Read More »
Duo Security—an Ann Arbor-based company launched by two U-M alumni in 2009—is at the forefront of a fledgling wave of early-stage technology startups that have chosen to take root, not in the San Francisco and East Coast technology hubs, but within Metro Detroit. “Ann Arbor is our home,” Dug Song, one of Duo Security’s founders, said in an October,… Read More »
U-M alum and CNN health correspondent Sanjay Gupta is returning to Michigan to support an effort to bring new ideas and tools to health communication. The Gupta Family Hackathon of rapid innovation happens March 23-25 on the U-M Ann Arbor campus. The marathon event brings together bright minds from the worlds of health, digital technology, design, communication, and… Read More »
Reinventing Urban Transportation and Mobility (RITMO) aims to revolutionize public transit through an online app that turns transportation into an on-demand service. RITMO, partnering with Ford Motor Company, will allow students, faculty, and staff to use on-demand shuttle transportation linked with the U-M bus system. Pascal Van Hentenryck, a professor at the College of Engineering who leads the project, hopes… Read More »
Rolling out what it’s calling a “street view for cyberspace,” Censys—a tech startup based on technology developed at the university—has launched a commercially available version of its internet-wide scanning tool. Based on technology developed in the lab of computer science and engineering professor J. Alex Halderman, Censys continuously scans the internet, analyzing every publicly visible server and device.… Read More »
Online courses can open up a world of knowledge to anyone with an internet connection, benefitting students who have limited access to educational resources. But mounting evidence suggests that online education could hurt less proficient students who are most in need of skilled classroom teachers. In a recent article for the “New York Times,” Susan Dynarski, professor of education, public… Read More »
Thanks to the many volunteers across our community, Michigan IT programs have grown considerably since we launched the concept in 2013, and we want to share what’s next for Michigan IT in 2018.
Chaun-Che “Jeff” Huang, a School of Information PhD student, was part of the team that developed the artificial intelligence for Jibo, the first social robot for the home. It made the cover of Time Magazine’s “25 Best Inventions of 2017” November issue. Huang, who is studying human-computer interaction, describes Jibo as “highly personalized,” and programmed to be engaging.… Read More »
As the computing industry struggles to maintain its historically rapid pace of innovation, a new, $32 million center based at U-M aims to streamline and democratize the design and manufacturing of next-generation computing systems. The Center for Applications Driving Architectures, or ADA, will develop a transformative, “plug-and-play” ecosystem to encourage a flood of fresh ideas in computing frontiers… Read More »
President Mark Schlissel announced Monday that he has initiated a search for a new vice president for information technology and chief information officer. Schlissel will lead the selection process and will seek input from various university leaders and members of the university community. Andrew Rosenberg, chief information officer for Michigan Medicine, is currently serving as the university’s interim vice president… Read More »
UM-Flint has been recognized for its excellence in online education by the U.S. News & World Report in its “Best Online Program” rankings. Flint received recognition in the online graduate programs for both nursing and education. UM-Flint offers an online Doctor of Nursing Program (DNP) that prepares nurses to become family, primary care adult-gerontology, psychiatric/mental health, and adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners. There is also an… Read More »