GSA Technology Council

Greenville, SC — Cytec Industries Inc. held a groundbreaking ceremony today, marking the company’s first construction phase of its new carbon fiber manufacturing plant expansion in Greenville, S.C. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2009, with plant commissioning slated for early 2010. This first-phase $200-$250 million project includes capacity expansion for PAN precursor and fiber carbonization and it will provide additional capability to meet the demand for next-generation carbon fibers.

U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC), South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor, Greenville County Council Chairman H.G. (Butch) Kirven, and Greenville Area Development Corporation Chairman Jay Rogers joined leaders from the state, county, city and community in celebrating this significant milestone. Cytec Engineered Materials’ President Steve Speak thanked each of the representatives and their agencies for coordinated support of the project. “There were many reasons why Greenville, S.C. was selected for our new expansion,” he told the more than 100 attendees. “South Carolina and Greenville, in particular, was our number one location choice because the entire South Carolina team collaborated to create a unique offering. From its talented, skilled and capable workforce to its ready infrastructure, South Carolina provides an enabling environment for Cytec’s advanced materials growth. It is clear that every one here today is committed to helping Cytec compete and succeed in every phase of our project.”

“A number of global aerospace and advanced composite firms now call South Carolina home and Cytec’s expansion is evidence that our commitment to this high-tech industry is paying off,” said U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis. “Cytec is very thankful to the entire South Carolina Congressional Delegation for investing not only in manufacturing, but also in fundamental scientific research, right here in South Carolina, to develop next-generation carbon fibers anticipated for future aerospace platforms,” Speak added. “Our customers depend on a supply of Cytec’s THORNEL® carbon fibers for the most demanding structural applications and they rely on us to be at the forefront in terms of new technology innovations. Our employees, many who are here celebrating with us today, meet that challenge daily.”

“Today’s groundbreaking marks yet another step toward enhancing South Carolina’s presence as a globally recognized player in advanced materials and the aerospace industry. Cytec is a world provider of state-of-the-art composites including advanced carbon fiber utilized in the aerospace and automotive industries. While Cytec has been a strong corporate citizen in South Carolina for a number of years, their decision to grow in our state is a positive reflection of the state’s skilled workforce, business-friendly climate and the strength of our manufacturing sector,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“Expanding our carbon fiber operations in Greenville demonstrates Cytec’s belief in and commitment to Greenville and the state of South Carolina,” said Speak. “Our project execution pace is accelerating and we remain on schedule due, in large part, to Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority, Metropolitan Sewer Sub-District, Duke Energy, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controls and the S.C. Highway Department. Your cooperation and the support from the community are vital and we look forward to a strong and fruitful alliance as we construct our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.”

via Cytec

GE Energy has signed a carbon sequestration alliance agreement with Schlumberger Carbon Services to accelerate the use of “cleaner coal” technology. The agreement aligns GE’s experience in integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) systems with proven carbon capture capabilities and Schlumberger’s geologic storage expertise and capabilities for site selection, characterization and qualification.

GE is a leader in the development, and application of IGCC technology, while Schlumberger provides unique expertise, technology and project management for the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). -CO2 is a possible contributing factor to climate change.

“This is a first-of-its-kind alliance between leaders in IGCC technology and CO2 storage to accelerate the commercial development and deployment of cleaner coal power and encourage the proper regulatory framework,” said John Lavelle, President of GE Energy’s Gasification business.

“GE can design and supply an IGCC plant with carbon capture today, or as a retrofit. Under this new arrangement, our two companies will align the technical needs of capture and storage for high operability and work in concert to offer customers a cost effective solution that will provide a complete answer for IGCC with CCS that can be readily implemented under the proper regulatory framework,” Lavelle added.

While the new arrangement provides technical and commercial expertise for moving forward with coal-based power generation, clear regulations and policies are needed for large-scale implementation. GE’s IGCC plants can be built with CCS from the beginning or designed to be retrofit when clear policy and regulations create an appropriate environment.

GE Energy’s proven IGCC gasification process converts coal and other heavy fuels into a high-value fuel, known as synthesis gas or syngas. The syngas is cleaned and then used in efficient combined-cycle systems to generate electricity. GE Energy has been at the forefront of IGCC technology since supplying a gas turbine for Cool Water, the first IGCC demonstration project, which came on line in 1984. GE’s IGCC technology also has operated at the TECO Polk I station in Florida for more than 12 years.

The company currently offers commercial scale IGCC plant designs that offer emissions approaching those of advanced natural gas combined cycle performance for SOx, NOx and Particulate Matter. IGCC technology also meets Clean Air Mercury Rules (CAMR) for mercury emissions today and uses less water than a traditional pulverized coal plant. Several utilities in the eastern U.S., including Duke Energy, AEP and Tenaska, are currently working on proposed IGCC projects using GE’s technology.

via GE

AT&T will be webcasting Michael Antieri’s, vice president of consumer marketing, presentation at the Oppenheimer & Co.’s annual Communications and Technology Conference.  The presentation will be Wednesday June 4th in Boston and the webcast will be available for live viewing at www.att.com/investor.relations.

via AT&T

As part of its continued commitment to protect Internet users from e-mail scams, Yahoo! Inc., a global Internet company, today announced the filing of a lawsuit against “Yahoo! Lottery Spammers” for unlawfully sending e-mail messages to Internet users for the purpose of deceiving them into believing that they have won a lottery or prize offered by Yahoo!. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in New York City, under the Federal Trademark Act, the Federal CAN-SPAM Act, and related state laws.

The complaint alleges that without permission or authorization, and with full knowledge and notice of Yahoo!’s trademark rights, the spammers willfully masqueraded as Yahoo!, and sent e-mails claiming that the recipient had won a lottery, prize or other award from Yahoo!. Yahoo! does not offer any such awards and has no affiliation or any connection with the spammers or their e-mail communications. This type of lottery scam is a hoax designed to trick unsuspecting e-mail users into revealing valuable personal data like passwords, credit card information, and social security numbers. Commonly known as a “phishing” scam, in this confidence game, perpetrators typically use the stolen information to access recipients’ bank accounts and credit cards, to apply for unauthorized credit cards or loans, or to fraudulently create documents bearing the victims’ personal identification and then use or sell it in a wide variety of credit and identity scams. Some of the “winners” are also deceived into sending the defendants money for processing and mailing charges.

“The unauthorized use of Yahoo!’s trademarks is misleading, fraudulent, and has actually confused, misled, and deceived the public. Yahoo! will vigorously enforce its intellectual property rights and will not tolerate lottery hoax emails,” said Joe Siino, Senior Vice President, Yahoo! Global IP and Business Strategy.

“Yahoo! is 100% committed to protecting our users from fraudulent e-mail messages and this lawsuit sends a clear message to spammers,” said John Kremer, Vice President, Yahoo! Mail. “We are going after individuals who have attempted to negatively impact the e-mail experience for consumers across the Internet. Through our continued litigation efforts, our top goal and priority is to further protect Yahoo! Mail users and the public from this type of fraudulent activity.”

Yahoo! takes trademark infringement and the issue of e-mail scams very seriously. This case, as well as previous litigation efforts, are a part of Yahoo!’s multi-faceted approach to fighting spam and e-mail fraud which also includes the use of advanced technologies, industry collaboration, and raising consumer awareness by providing Yahoo! Mail users with detailed tips on how to avoid online scams at http://antispam.yahoo.com.  Currently, Yahoo! blocks more than 1 billion spam and fraudulent e-mail messages per day from reaching the inboxes of Yahoo! Mail users.

via Yahoo!

Microsoft Corp. is offering customers greater choice and more flexibility among document formats, as well as creating additional opportunities for developer and competitors, by expanding the range of document formats supported in its flagship Office productivity suite.

The 2007 Microsoft Office system provides support for 20 different document formats within Microsoft Office Word, Office Excel and Office PowerPoint. With the release of Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2) scheduled for the first half of 2009, the list will grow to include support for XML Paper Specification (XPS), Portable Document Format (PDF) 1.5, PDF/A and Open Document Format (ODF) v1.1.

When using SP2, customers will be able to open, edit and save documents using ODF and save documents into the XPS and PDF fixed formats from directly within the application without having to install any other code. It will also allow customers to set ODF as the default file format for Office 2007. To also provide ODF support for users of earlier versions of Microsoft Office (Office XP and Office 2003), Microsoft will continue to collaborate with the open source community in the ongoing development of the Open XML-ODF translator project on SourceForge.net.

In addition, Microsoft has defined a road map for its implementation of the newly ratified International Standard ISO/IEC 29500 (Office Open XML). IS29500, which was approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in March, is already substantially supported in Office 2007, and the company plans to update that support in the next major version release of the Microsoft Office system, code-named “Office 14.”

Consistent with its interoperability principles, in which the company committed to work with others toward robust, consistent and interoperable implementations across a broad range of widely deployed products, the company has also announced it will be an active participant in the future evolution of ODF, Open XML, XPS and PDF standards.

Microsoft will join the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) technical committee working on the next version of ODF and will take part in the ISO/IEC working group being formed to work on ODF maintenance. Microsoft employees will also take part in the ISO/IEC working group that is being formed to maintain Open XML and the ISO/IEC working group that is being formed to improve interoperability between these and other ISO/IEC-recognized document formats. The company will also be an active participant in the ongoing standardization and maintenance activities for XPS and PDF. It will also continue to work with the IT community to promote interoperability between document file formats, including Open XML and ODF, as well as Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY XML), the foundation of the globally accepted DAISY standard for reading and publishing navigable multimedia content.

Microsoft is also committed to providing Office customers with the ability to open, edit and save documents in the Chinese national document file format standard, Uniform Office Format (UOF). The company does so today by supporting the continued development of the UOF-Open XML translator project on SourceForge.net, and will take additional steps to promote the distribution and ease of use of the translator. As UOF develops and achieves market adoption in China, Microsoft will distribute support for this format with Office to its customers in China. 

“We are committed to providing Office users with greater choice among document formats and enhanced interoperability between those formats and the applications that implement them,” said Chris Capossela, senior vice president for the Microsoft Business Division. “By increasing the openness of our products and participating actively in the development and maintenance of document format standards, we believe we can help create opportunities for developers and competitors, including members of the open source communities, to innovate and deliver new value for customers.”

Microsoft recognizes that customers care most about real-world interoperability in the marketplace, so the company is committed to continuing to engage the IT community to achieve that goal when it comes to document format standards. It will work with the Interoperability Executive Customer Council and other customers to identify the areas where document format interoperability matters most, and then collaborate with other vendors to achieve interoperability between their implementations of the formats that customers are using today. This work will continue to be carried out in the Interop Vendor Alliance (http://www.interopvendoralliance.org), the Document Interoperability Initiative (http://www.microsoft.com/interop), and a range of other interoperability labs and collaborative venues.

“Microsoft’s support for ODF in Office is a great step that enables customers to work with the document format that best meets their needs, and it enables interoperability in the marketplace,” said Roger Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Open Platform Solutions for Novell Inc. “Novell is proud to be an industry leader in cross-platform document interoperability through our work in the Document Interoperability Initiative, the Interop Vendor Alliance and with our direct collaboration with Microsoft in our Interoperability Lab. We look forward to continuing this work for the benefit of customers across the IT spectrum.”

“The demand for a document format that everyone can use is something I hear from our customers on a regular basis,” said John D. Head, framework manager at PSC Group LLC, a Chicago headquartered  information-technology and professional services consulting firm. “I am very pleased that Microsoft is enabling Microsoft Office to support ODF directly from the software. This will allow us to develop solutions that create documents that can be edited by any user, regardless of what software or operating system they use. In a world where software companies want people to select one software package for their entire user base, the reality is that different user groups and types need options. Microsoft is now enabling users to make that choice. This is a very smart move by Microsoft, and one that lets the most important person — the customer — be the winner.”

This work on document formats is only one aspect of how Microsoft is delivering choice, interoperability and innovative solutions to the marketplace. Microsoft will continue to work with its customers and partners and the rest of the industry to continue advancing in the area. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/interop.

via Microsoft

Clemson University — No core-collapse supernova has ever been seen at the time of the explosion until now.

Ginger Bryngelson, a Clemson University physics and astronomy graduate student is part of the team that observed and compiled data on supernova SN2008D in a galaxy 90,000 light years away from Earth. Usually not seen until one to three weeks after an explosion, this supernova was captured immediately by the Swift X-ray Telescope as the star exploded and emitted a bright outburst of X-rays.

Bryngelson’s and the group’s observations and research on the birth of the supernova is featured in last Thursday’s issue of Nature in an article titled: “An extremely luminous X-ray outburst at the birth of a supernova.”

The unprecedented observation has the potential to alter the way scientists view exploding stars. Until now a supernova’s first moments have been shrouded in mystery.

“Seeing a core-collapse supernova this early on is unprecedented,” said Bryngelson. “Core-collapse supernovae are stars that are so massive they explode because they can’t support their own weight. Not a lot is known about the early explosions. My part in this research was to look at how quickly the light in the optical energy bands diminished after the explosion. And from that we can determine what physical and chemical processes are occurring.”

A long list of researchers from across the world contributed to this study. They include researchers from Princeton University, Max-Planck Institute in Germany, the University of Chicago, the University of California-Berkley and the University of Texas at Austin, among others. Bryngleson collaborated with Peter Milne of the University of Arizona using data obtained with the Super-LOTIS Telescope. Clemson astrophysicist Mark Leising is Bryngelson’s adviser.

via Clemson

Adobe Systems Incorporated today gave a sneak peek at three applications from the next release of Adobe Creative Suite, its collection of graphic design, Web development and video editing applications. The company released public beta of new versions of Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Fireworks and Adobe Soundbooth as free downloads on Adobe labs. Once downloaded and launched, the betas will be active for 48 hours after which time only Creative Suite 3 customers will have an extended ability to use the betas until the next release of Creative Suite becomes available.

The Dreamweaver beta for Web design and development, the Fireworks beta for prototyping, and the Soundbooth beta for audio creating and editing, demonstrate the direction that Adobe Creative Suite is taking with features and technologies that will simplify and streamline design and development workflows across all media. The betas also offer users the opportunity to give Adobe feedback for further product development.

“Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Soundbooth are the major applications we’re unveiling as public betas before the next release of Creative Suite,” said David Burkett, vice president of product management for Adobe Creative Suite. “This early release software gives our loyal customers a taste of the radical workflow enhancements that we have in store, as we redefine how designers and developers collaborate to deliver stand-out digital experiences.”

“We’re excited to begin formally developing within the new Creative Suite environment,” said Matias Penela, director of technology for AgencyNet. “Adobe is providing the strongest and most efficient workflow to date. With a plethora of new and improved tools for each software title, our day-to-day development can be more effective and we’ll be further empowered to push the boundaries of creative design and technical innovation for our clients.”

The Dreamweaver public beta includes a new Related Files Toolbar and Code Navigator feature that allows users to dive deeply into complex pages that include HTML files, links to JavaScript documents and integrated XML data. Users can see related files in the Related Files Toolbar and with Code Navigator make changes to code that appears in various parts of a document just with one update. The update to Dreamweaver also features a new Live View Mode, which is based on the open source rendering engine Webkit. It enables users to see content in real-world, real-time environments without having to leave Dreamweaver to preview in a browser. This feature also gives users the ability to freeze JavaScript language to debug interactive pages as well as view and interact with Flash content.

New features in Fireworks beta include a new user interface that is now consistent with other applications within the Creative Suite making it easier for users to switch between applications that now have a universal look and feel. In addition, Fireworks beta now allows users to export design comps as high fidelity, interactive, and secure Adobe PDF documents for enhanced client communication. Fireworks beta is also now compatible with Adobe AIR, HTML, Adobe Flash and Adobe Flex Builder so users can create their design once and deploy to whichever application platform is required by clients.

The Soundbooth beta showcases a host of new features for creative professionals to complete their audio production tasks more efficiently, including the new multiple track support which allows users to edit multiple audio clips on a number of tracks, and the new ability for users to match volume levels across audio files. Also included is the capability to preview MP3 compression settings before saving them and a new speech recognition technology that lets users create transcripts of dialogue tracks quickly and search them for words and phrases within a timeline.

via Adobe

James Pepin is Clemson University’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Director of High Performance Computing.

Pepin has worked on a number of high profile projects, including heading up the Los Angeles Access Point, a key Internet utility operated by USC’s Information Sciences Institute that serves all major Southern California colleges and Universities (including Caltech and the UC and CSU systems).

“Jim Pepin is a world-class authority on high performance computing, communications and the facilities necessary to operate at the very high-end of performance. He will help pave the way for a top-20 ranking for Clemson by leading our technical efforts to build the kind of cyberinfrastructure that is necessary for our faculty and students to perform serious computational research”, said Jim Bottum, Clemson’s Vice Provost for Computing and Information Technology and CIO.

Pepin’s role is advisory and strategic in nature. His duties include advising the CIO on technical issues; leading the development of Clemson’s technical road maps; working with the community to define our technical architecture; leading the development of Clemson’s HPC environment; serving as an adjunct in Clemson’s School of Computing; evaluating new technologies and serving on national level technical committees.

Jim Pepin speaks to the GSA Technology Council on June 4, 2008.

Amid the rumblings from the sagging U.S. economy, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership is helping South Carolina manufacturers cry “Eureka!” in 2008. SCMEP, the private, non-profit group that is the state’s leading resource for business improvement services, is offering a new innovation program that accelerates top-line growth. Eureka!® Winning Ways, the first system customized specifically for small and mid-size manufacturers, helps companies drive growth and profit margins through the discovery, measurement and development of new product ideas.

The Eureka! Winning Ways program is available now exclusively through SCMEP to small to mid-size enterprises (SME’s) statewide. For SME’s in 14 South Carolina counties in and around the Upstate, there is an added plus. SCMEP, with the support of the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), was recently awarded a grant from AdvanceSC to subsidize 50% of the program’s already reasonable cost to participating companies. AdvanceSC is an LLC funded with profits from Duke Energy’s Bulk Power Marketing program, and supports education, economic growth, existing manufacturing and public assistance agencies in the company’s South Carolina service area.

“The board of AdvanceSC receives many applications from worthy organizations on a quarterly basis,” said Carol Burdette, president of AdvanceSC. “SCMEP and the Greenville Area Development Corporation share the goals Duke Energy used in establishing our organization, and we’re privileged to partner with them in order to benefit so many people in our community.”

The GADC and its CEO Jerry Howard played a key role in assisting SCMEP in requesting and obtaining funding from AdvanceSC for the program. Through Eureka! Winning Ways, SCMEP and GADC are partnering to bring innovation to the Upstate and surrounding counties within SME’s, resulting in job creation and corporate growth in the community.

In the National Association of Manufacturers 2007 Small Manufacturers Operating Survey of small and medium size manufacturers, “development of new or improving existing products” was ranked #1 in importance in improving their companies’ growth. Chris Wayne, SCMEP’s Growth Services Manager, helps small and mid-size manufacturers in South Carolina achieve significant top-line growth through developing new products and services. Wayne described Eureka! Winning Ways as part workshop, part leadership training program, and part speed development system. “This program,” he said, “helps companies identify great ideas, measure their probability of success in the marketplace, and coach them to bring them into production and to start developing growth pipelines.”

The Eureka! Winning Ways program has had a profound impact on Spartanburg-based Contec, Inc., a leading manufacturer of contamination control products for cleanrooms and mission-critical industrial applications. “As an organization we didn’t struggle with generating new product ideas,” notes Stephen Leung, Contec’s Director of Development. “What we needed to strengthen was a framework for focusing not just our Development group, but our entire organization, on substantial, profitable opportunities. We’ve now internalized Eureka! Winning Ways’ three principles of new product success – offering overt benefits, dramatic differences, and real reasons to believe – so that it’s an integral part of our business process, a language and discipline that we now use every day.”

SME’s in the following counties are eligible for the 50% subsidy for Eureka! Winning Ways made possible by AdvanceSC: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greenville, Greenwood, Lancaster, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union, and York. For more information about SCMEP and Eureka! Winning Ways, please contact Chris Wayne, SCMEP Growth Services Manager, at (864) 414-8458 or cwayne@scmep.org, or visit them online at www.scmep.org.

via: SCMEP (South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, GADC (Greenville Area Development Corporation)

Tonight’s Tech After Five features two Upstate South Carolina Startup Companies in the GSATC StartupZone. We’ll have representatives and demonstrations from social networking website AthleteFocus.com and from consumer electronics company Zipit.

About this evening’s startup companies:

AthleteFocus.com
web 2.0, Social Networking for Athletes

Founded in 2006 by Graham Fizer, a competitive water-skier, AthleteFocus.com is the premiere social networking website for action and endurance sports athletes. The initial site made a splash by receiving an award from the New Ideas for a New Carolina contest in 2006 and registering over 600 athletes to the site in the first year.

With the launch of version 2.0 of the website on May 9th, AthleteFocus has had over 700 new members created profiles, doubling the community in less than two weeks.

ZipitWireless
Instant Messaging, Music, Photos without a PC

Zipit Wireless Inc. is a Greenville, S.C.-based developer of consumer electronics. The company focuses on wireless communication and entertainment devices that leverage the Internet and the explosion of Wi-Fi networks, while removing the dependency on the family computer. Zipit Wireless’ first product, the Zipit Wireless Messenger, received the iParenting award for ease of use and safety.

May’s Tech After Five is sponsored by KeyMark

These companies are looking for customers, partners, employees, and more. You are invited to come and see how you might be able to connect with this promising companies.

Want to present in the Startup Zone? (Apply here.)