Laura Foy

Microsoft Research: A look at tomorrow's health solutions today - part II

Laura — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:15:00 GMT

In this special two-part video edition of House Calls for Healthcare Professionals, Bill Crounse, MD, visits with researchers at Microsoft Research. Each program reviews three promising areas of research that may one day lead to solutions with a direct or indirect application to health and healthcare. Viewers will gain insight to advanced ideas and technologies now in the labs at Microsoft Research long before they find their way into future products, solutions, or applications.

HIV Research, Visualization

One of the enduring challenges in HIV vaccine design is the remarkable rate of viral mutation and adaptation, which limits the immune system’s ability to mount a lasting, effective response. The HIV group at Microsoft Research is developing models of evolution that allow researchers to identify and visualize the complex, yet encouragingly consistent, patterns of adaptation that suggest novel vaccine strategies.

http://research.microsoft.com/research/eScience/

•David Heckerman, M.D. Ph.D.

Senior Directior, eScience Research Group

•Jonathan Carlson

Researcher

DynaVis Data Visualization

DynaVis is an information visualization toolkit that provides several extensions to business (or perhaps even clinical) charting, including animated transitions between data and between different views of data. The animated transitions help users stay in context when complex changes occur, making it easier for them to perform their tasks.

http://csdl2.computer.org/persagen/DLAbsToc.jsp?resourcePath=/dl/trans/tg/&toc=comp/trans/tg/2007/06/v6toc.xml&DOI=10.1109/TVCG.2007.70539

http://research.microsoft.com/vibe/projects/dynavis.aspx

•George Robertson, Ph.D.

Principal Researcher

Muscle-Computer Interface

Microsoft researcher Desney Tan and his team are working to create interfaces called muscle-computer interfaces, or MuCIs. that sense gestural input directly from muscle activity. This research may one day lead to new modalities for computer screen navigation and data input.

http://research.microsoft.com/cue/MuCI/.

http://research.microsoft.com/~desney
http://research.microsoft.com/cue

•Scott Saponas

Intern

PhotoSynth- Learn how to do it

Laura — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:48:00 GMT

We all love taking digital photos but with Photosynth you can take them to the next level.

I'm sure you've all heard of this amazing new application that allows you to digitally stitch your pics together to create new 3D panoramic environments. In this piece you'll learn exactly how to make the most of Microsoft's new toy for photogs and then check out this video to see the behind the scenes action of how it was made.

And then go here for a bit of it's history.

Microsoft Research: A look at tomorrow’s health solutions today: Part I

Laura — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:23:00 GMT

A special thanks to Dr. Eric Horvitz, MSR Area Manager, for his assistance in the production of this program.

Part 1

Situated Interaction

The Situated Interaction project at Microsoft Research aims to enable a new generation of interactive systems that can reason about their surroundings and embed interaction deeply into the natural flow of everyday tasks, activities, and collaborations. As an initial sample challenge in this space, researchers are currently developing a situated conversational agent that can act as a Microsoft front-desk receptionist (for example, make shuttle reservations, register visitors, and provide campus information). The system integrates a large number of artificial intelligence technologies—such as speech recognition and language understanding, face detection and tracking, intention recognition, engagement, and behavioral modeling—in a conversational framework that allows it to engage in mixed-initiative, natural language interaction with one participant or multiple participants.

http://msrweb/adapt/SituatedInteraction

•Dan Bohus, Ph.D.

Researcher

Gaze Tracking

Eye-tracking technology can be used to understand how people interact with information—for instance, search results and Web pages and perform other information processing tasks. This information can then be used to design new ways of interacting with computers in which the machine recognizes what people look at and better understands what they pay attention to in order to respond accordingly.

http://research.microsoft.com/~cutrell/

Cutrell, E., and Z. Guan. 2007. “What are you looking for? An eye-tracking study of information usage in Web search.” In Proceedings of CHI'07, Human Factors in Computing Systems (San Jose, CA), ACM Press, 407-416.

Guan, Z., and E. Cutrell. 2007. “An eye-tracking study of the effect of target rank on Web search.” In Proceedings of CHI'07, Human Factors in Computing Systems (San Jose, CA), ACM Press, 417-420.

•Ed Cutrell, Ph.D.

Researcher

Big Top

“FourBySix” is a large, 4-foot by 6-foot (standing height) surface computer that Microsoft researchers recently prototyped to explore productivity scenarios and applications involving small groups of users meeting face to face. For example, one use would be to support groups of designers who are combining and reviewing images, allowing them to sketch new designs in a collaborative setting.

•Andy Wilson, Ph.D.

Researcher

Wii on PC

Laura — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:43:00 GMT

The Microsoft Research Summit showed off some amazing new technology and also some REALLY fun games. The experts at the University of Central Florida have created multiple ways to incorporate the motion sensing device used with Nintendo's Wii, on the PC. Take a look at all the games...

08:08:08 08/08/08

Laura — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:56:00 GMT

On the eighth of August two thousand and eight, when the clock is exactly eight seconds past eight minutes past eight o'clock, the time will read 08:08:08 08/08/08. We want to invite you to take a photograph at this precise moment. The moment will of course occur twice in each time zone, once in the morning and once at night- which means you will get two opportunities to photograph the moment as it flies by you.

Then send your photograph/s to Capture The Moment.

Next-Gen News Gathering Technology from Troll Systems

Laura — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:04:00 GMT

I love remote controls! I love cameras! Therefore, I loved meeting with Troll Systems. Now all in HD, these sealed and pressurized units are built strong to hold up against any storm or fly attached to the bottom of a helicopter. The device is then controlled remotely from your office or studio to give you a spy-tech, birds-eye, top secret view of anywhere in the world. Love it.

Sphere multi-touch computing

Laura — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just when you thought the Surface was the coolest thing since sliced bread... enter the Sphere! This product is still in proto-type mode but even at this stage, you can't help but be impressed. At the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit I grabbed some one on one time with Hrvoje Benko, the lead on this project and found out all the details. It's just so cool, enjoy.

Disney Innoventions Dream Home

Laura — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:13:00 GMT

What could possibly make the happiest place on Earth even happier? A collaboration with Microsoft! The Disney Innoventions Dream Home just opened at Disnleyland in Anaheim, CA. and it's and it's a peek into your home of the future while also showing off some really cool technologies we have available to us today. They've pimped out this home with all your favorite Microsoft toys like Zune, Surface, Windows Media Center and, of course, a few Xbox 360's. Then, they added a few extra touches to really make us all get excited about the future. I went behind the scenes to bring you the 411.

Xbox 360 at E3 2008

Laura — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:07:00 GMT

The games have begun and Microsoft's Xbox 360 came full force with their showings for this years E3. There's exciting news about an all new dashboard, a partnership with Netflix, and of course TONS of cool games. Take a look at some highlights from their press conference here and see demos of Fallout 3, Gears Of War 2 and of course...the long awaited and stunningly beautiful, Final Fantasy XIII. Plus a few extra goodies including a live musical performance and some fun surprises. Enjoy!

Accordent: Powerful solutions for streaming stuff

Laura — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:19:00 GMT

In our own way, I think we are all some sort of a web publisher. As such, I am always on the lookout for new and better ways to get my content online and available for the world to see. Accordent technologies-who recently attained a Gold Certified Partner status with Microsoft- now offers rich media creation and management software that enhances the way we communicate, train and teach online. Watch this clip and learn how they communicate with broadcast-like effectiveness to global audiences using the Web.

Want to learn how to Sky-Dive?

Laura — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:22:00 GMT

This is exactly why technology is so great. We have created virtual ways of doing almost everything...but here is a way to experience the thrill of jumping out of an airplane, while indoors. Quite a thrill and a learning experience, check it out. (oh, and I am not so good at it...don't judge me)

Baby Smash!

Laura — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:02:00 GMT

Who says computers are for grown ups? Scott Hanselman is about to show you that not only can babies learn from and enjoy a laptop...but developing for them is just as rewarding. Check out THIS

TechWare Labs- Thinking Outside the Cube

Laura — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:41:00 GMT

Which motherboard should you buy? Where do you get the sweetest case mods? How will you decide which speakers are best for you??? These decisions can be quite daunting without the help of TechWare Labs. Ok, yes- there are tons of different product review sites out there but these guys really approach their editorials with passion and humor. It's a fun site to click around on and they are a REALLY fun group of journalists. I sat down with the team to find out why I should listen to them, how they got such a sweet gig and, of course, do they get to keep the stuff???

Spreading the love at Tech Ed

Laura — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:44:00 GMT

So, I just spent 2 weeks down in Florida working with Channel 9 and Edge to make videos. It was alot of work, but we got a ton of great stuff which you should check out. However...after a full week of hard-core conferencing, the 9 guys (Dan Fernandez & Brian Keller) and I blew off some steam and decided we're all one big happy family (sorta). You can be our cousin!

MS Auto update

Laura — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:58:00 GMT

Bill Gates predicted a computer in every home and on every desk....and now it seems he can go ahead and add "in every vehicle". We did some great coverage of MS Auto at CES and I stopped by for another chat with Velle to see what's new- and when we can have it!

Goooooooool!! Microsoft meets the Brasilian National Soccer Team

Laura — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:12:00 GMT

Our home town of Seattle was fortunate enough to host a friendly soccer (futbol) game between Brasil's national team and Canada's national team. With David Beckham inspiring a new passion for Soccer in America, this was huge. Not only that, but apparently Microsoft has a HUGE Brasilian community. I decided to invade it....watch.

Mogulus: Broadcasting Live Now

Laura — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:16:00 GMT

These days, everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame. Or, perhaps you truly believe that you have something worthwhile to say. Whatever the case may be, you now have options to get your voice heard...or your face seen :) Enter Mogulus - a website that lets you broadcast your content live around the web while also assembling a dream team of producers. Think of your room as your own broadcast studio- and start creating.

Ultimate Video Relay Contest

Laura — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:55:00 GMT

The Windows Vista Ultimate team has partnered up with TriggerStreet to create one seriously awesome challenge. Their team of pro's (directed by Kyle Newman) has created a 5 minute video and now it's up to YOU to create the next five minutes. Right now, all you have to do is write a killer script- and if you're one of the winners you'll get all the tools you need to actually shoot it. You can see the first couple minutes of Kyle's movie here, and then head to their site to get started on your own.

Did he say "dodecahedron"? Check out Immersive Media

Laura — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:25:00 GMT

Yes, in fact, he DID say dodecahedron! The whiz kids over at Immersive Media have created a camera that records omnidirectional video. What's that? Well, omnidirectional digital video captures a full-motion spherical world, simultaneously in every direction. I could explain it further but it's easier for you to just watch the video :) Then- head on over to their site and take the immersive challenge. I can't wait till they team up with Z-Dome and Virtual Earth!

A Tour of Microsoft MediaRoom

Laura — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:14:00 GMT

I've always been a huge advocate of making the most of your television watching experience. It looks as though the folks over at Microsoft MediaRoom agree with me. MediaRoom is more than Microsoft IPTV with a brand-new name, as it adds new features like personal media sharing, enhanced picture-in-picture capabilities, and a new multimedia application environment. The Mediaroom software platform is licensed directly to the world’s leading broadband service providers so they can deliver you, the consumer, the best TV and entertainment experience.

Hear the Lions Roar on Xbox 360

Laura — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:30:00 GMT

I did this interview last year but JUST NOW is it allowed to go public...
A new program aims to make hospitals more fun for kids through technology. That’s the mission of a whole host of organizations nationwide like the Companions in Courage Foundation. Founded by pro hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, the organization sets up what it calls Lion's Dens – rooms like one just opened at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital.

"We can create an atmosphere and environment where kids can escape to and be a safe haven where they can play games and videos and create art and create music and video conference with friends, their heroes, their grandparents, and just be, with technology, connected to the outside world," LaFontaine said. "We really have four primary components: video game, so Xbox 360; we have the PCs, so kids can go in and instant message and email, they can get homework assignments," Jim Johnson of the Companions in Courage Foundation said. "We also have a big screen television; and then we have the video conference pod, which is a live video conference that allows them to connect to relatives that may be out of town or celebrities."

And the winner is.....

Laura — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:20:00 GMT

This is what we've all been waiting for: The winner of the World Cup Demo.

Entry one

Entry two

Entry three

The art of the Demo: Part 3

Laura — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:25:00 GMT

Introducing people to new and exciting ways to use Microsoft products is one of the perks of working for this company- but it's also a challenge. You have to be pretty creative in order to catch peoples attention. That's why we created the "World Cup Demo Competition". Microsoft employees from all over the world were asked to perform a demonstration of Windows Vista applications and really WOW their audiences. The best demo'er wins ten grand! This video is the second of the three finalists, take a look and give your feedback. Click here to see the first finalist and here to see the second.

The art of the demo: Part 2

Laura — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:48:00 GMT

Grand Theft Auto IV launches in NYC

Laura — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:02:00 GMT

We've all been waiting for RockStar Games latest edition of the GTA series...but some of us waited longer than others. I went to Liberty City (aka NYC) to meet and hang with the hardcore fans as they stood in line for hours in the cold hard rain to be the first to get their hands on the game. It's no Halo 3 launch...but it's awfully darn close. Check it out.