If you’ve fallen victim to “phantom phone alerts,” the mysterious phenomenon where you think your phone is buzzing but it isn’t, it may be time to take a tech break. Experiencing the nonexistent vibrations could be an indicator that you are too reliant on your cell phone. According to a new study headed by Daniel Kruger, a scientist at U-M’s… Read More »
The loss of her father in 2009 drew a sharp focus on the need for accurate and timely medical records for Patricia Abbott, associate professor of nursing. The experience gave her renewed purpose to continue her research, which explores how massive amounts of data can improve care for patients. Abbott is exploring a variety of innovative Big Data… Read More »
Michigan IT teams are collaborating increasingly on service planning and service roadmaps by using the Michigan Enterprise Strategic Assessments (MESAs). IT staff are using MESAs to think comprehensively about their services, products, technologies, and capabilities and to consider how they are being used today, what their future might be, and what new items are on the horizon. MESAs… Read More »
The annual convention of the Modern Language Association (MLA) is the greatest show on earth for the humanities and for some years now, digital humanities—using computer technology to understand literature and the arts—have been all the rage. They present new ways to approach the work of humanities scholarship, and they’ve already delivered not just new results but new… Read More »
The Skoll Global Threats Fund pioneered the EpiHack, or “epidemiology hackathon,” which design digital tools that allow communities to detect, report, and verify disease outbreaks in real time. Annie Maxwell, the group’s president and an alumna of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, says one particular EpiHack, focusing on avian flu in Thailand, was special. “It was… Read More »
In a recent Educause blog post, Sol Bermann (privacy officer and interim CISO at U-M) examines the concept of autonomy privacy and argues for its importance in higher education. Higher education, Bermann writes, rightfully prides itself as being a place where freedom of expression, intellectual discourse, dissenting views, and social experimentation are not just the norm but expected. The ability… Read More »
Researchers at U-M will use Big Data and mobile technology to learn how to predict when individuals will get diseases, and to unlock the potential of single-cell gene sequencing under three recently funded projects. The Michigan Institute for Data Science awarded the three interdisciplinary projects a combined $3 million under the second round of its Challenge Initiative program. “These… Read More »
Back in December, Yahoo came under renewed scrutiny after disclosing the largest known data breach in history, prompting Verizon Communications to demand better terms for its planned purchase of Yahoo’s internet business. According to Erik Gordon, a professor at the Ross School of Business, renegotiating the deal’s price tag would be the simplest but also least likely scenario… Read More »
Colleen Van Lent, a lecturer at U-M and an instructor at Web Design for Everybody, outlines four common pitfalls that new programmers face: A lack of confidence. Hesitance about putting in the time to learn about and utilize a good editor. Viewing setbacks as failures rather than commonplace events. Seeking out the wrong kind of help with questions. “A… Read More »
Do you know a college student who would be a great candidate for the ITS Summer Intern Program? The application period is now open for 2017 ITS Summer Interns! The application deadline is February 5, 2017. If you know students that might be interested in applying for an ITS internship, direct them to the ITS Summer Internship website,… Read More »
On January 9, Health Information Technology & Services (HITS) opened a new Help Me Now (HMN) walk-up support center in the Towsley Center for Continuing Medical Education, located in Room G2413 (near the lobby just inside the building entrance). HMN staff are available to help with many kinds of common IT-related questions and issues, including: Duo two-factor authentication… Read More »
When faced with potentially life-threatening diseases such as cancer, people often seek information about the disease and support from peers. According to a recent study co-authored Jan Van den Bulck, professor of communication studies, patients found that online resources featuring personal stories from other cancer patients provided them the most comfort. Television entertainment shows and medical dramas, however,… Read More »
On December 6, the LSA Undergraduate Laptop Loan Program team received a Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award (DDLA) for “extraordinary commitment and dedication to diversity at the University of Michigan.” Launched in 2015, the Undergraduate Laptop Loan Program provides a more inclusive learning environment by ensuring that low-income students have access to the same laptop computing capabilities available to… Read More »
The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) is starting up and many schools across Washtenaw county that participate could use a hand. WESO will feature an iCompute event this year that covers basic computing concepts and creating a simple program. “I have coached teams for the past three years,” says Kelly Doonan-Reed (ITS) and member of the Women in Information Technology… Read More »
Want to find purpose in your life? Sleep better, eat better, lose weight, increase energy, decrease stress? Well, now there’s an app for that. JOOL Health is a new Ann Arbor-based digital health solution company led by CEO and founder Vic Strecher, professor at the School of Public Health and director for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship. JOOL integrates the science of… Read More »
Know a Michigan IT staff person or team who deserves a shout-out? Nominations for the President’s Staff Innovation Award are being accepted through February 28. Currently in its fifth year, the President’s Staff Innovation Award recognizes individual staff members or teams whose big ideas and “outside The Cube” thinking help make U-M a better, more inclusive community. Two prizes… Read More »
One day, it might be possible to spot illness the same way we track exercise habits and sleep patterns: with wearable sensors. A new study compared baseline normal readings on 60 people, then looked for deviations to see if changes might be tied to new environmental conditions, illness, or other factors that can impact health. Because most people… Read More »
On campuses today almost every educational interaction leaves digital traces. Assignments and feedback are given through online portals; debates and discussions happen via learning management systems as well as in classrooms, cafes, and dorm rooms. Those and other digital crumbs allows universities to examine the processes, practices, and goals of higher education in ways that were largely impossible a… Read More »
Neurable, a U-M startup that developed brain-computer interface technology based on breakthrough neuroscience, has raised $2 million in seed funding to bring its software platform to market. The technology enables real-time control of software and connected devices using only the power of the user’s brain. Neurable has roots at U-M’s Direct Brain Interface Laboratory, where Ramses Alcaide, co-founder and CEO… Read More »
In an effort to meet increased requests from the university community, SafeRide recently launched a mobile application. During fall and winter terms, you may request a ride through the TapRide mobile application: Download for Android or for iTunes. Select “University of Michigan SafeRide” from with the app. Login with your UMICH username and password to request a ride and… Read More »