GSA Technology Council

VantagePoint, a marketing and advertising agency, announces Stephanie Smith has joined the Greenville office in the role of account coordinator.

Smith will be responsible for the project development and management for one of VantagePoint’s key clients. Smith’s prior experience includes serving as a marketing intern for Perrigo, a developer, manufacturer,
and distributor of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and management from Hillsdale College. Smith resides in Anderson, S.C. and is an active
community volunteer.

via VantagePoint

As part of the web giant’s celebration of its tenth birthday, Google is inviting anybody to contribute ideas that cold help better the world by helping as many people as possible.  Called Project 10^100 (10 to the 100th), Google has promised to contribute $10 million dollars to turn five of the best ideas into realities.  Google will first decide the 100 best submitted ideas and then let the public vote on which five should receive funding.   So put on your thinking caps and start turning out those world changing ideas.  The deadline for submittals is Oct. 20th 2008.

For more information or to submit an idea visit http://www.project10tothe100.com/

Chrysler, likely in response to Chevy’s recent announcement of the Chevy Volt electric car, has released an announcement stating that the company is in the process of developing electric vehicles that will be available to consumers by 2010.  ENVI — a special team within Chrysler — has been leading the company’s development of both fuel-less electric vehicles and fuel-efficient extended range electric vehicles.  The three concept vehicles that have been presented by Chrysler so far are:

 

• Dodge EV: A two passenger sports car powered by a 200 kW Electric Drive.  Chrysler claims that the Dodge EV will have an extended range of up to 200 miles and that its lithium-ion battery will be chargeable in 8 hours by a standard 110 volt outlet.
• Jeep EV: A larger ride with four doors, the Jeep EV is claimed to be able to go 40 miles without using a drop of gas.  For those who need a greater traveling range, a gas powered electric generator can produce extra energy for the electric drive providing the Jeep EV with up to 400 miles of travel distance.
• Chrysler EV:  A Town & Country range extended electric vehicle.  According to Chrysler this mini-van will be able to get up to 400 miles of distance on just 8 gallons of gas.

 

For more information on Chrysler’s work on developing a future line of electric cars visit the their EV Site 

via Chrysler

ICA Fluor, the industrial construction joint venture of Fluor Corporation and Empresas ICA, S.A.B. de C.V. announced today the company was awarded a contract by Pemex Exploration and Production for the engineering, procurement and construction of a Maya crude oil dehydration system. The full $45 million contract value will be booked in the third quarter of 2008.

The project includes the modification of two existing storage tanks in the Dos Bocas marine terminal in the state of Tabasco. ICA Fluor will be responsible for converting the two 500,000- barrel storage tanks into first-stage “gun-barrel”-type dehydrators. The project is being executed over a 180-day schedule.

Empresas ICA, S.A.B. de C.V. was founded in 1947. ICA’s principal lines of business are civil and industrial construction and engineering, housing and infrastructure operations including airports, toll roads and municipal services. For more information, please visit www.ica.com.mx.

via Fluor

 

What 10 emerging technologies will have the most effect on IT? Come get a peek at tomorrow with IBM Chief Technology Officer for the US Federal Government unit, Dr. Dave McQueeney. He joined IBM in the Research Division in 1988. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Solid-State Physics from Cornell University, and an A.B. in Physics from Dartmouth College. Dr. McQeeney has published a wide range of papers ranging from liquid Helium Physics, advanced electronic packaging, high-speed interconnects, and the evolution of Research.

GSATC Learning Lunch

Topic: 10 Emerging Technologies in IT and their impact
Presented by: Dr. Dave McQueeney, IBM Research
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Crowne Plaza (Map: I-385 at Roper Mtn.)

Agenda

11:30 – 11:55 Registration, Networking, Lunch
11:55 – 12:10 Announcements
12:10 – 12:50 Presentation
12:50 – 1:00 Door Prizes, Adjourn

This meeting features easy access from I-385, plenty of free parking, ample networking opportunities, a great presentation, and door prizes. Plan to attend.

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This lunch is sold out. NO ONSITE REGISTRATION.

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Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended, the new editions of the professional industry standard software for digital imaging. Providing a fluid user experience, complete creative control and higher efficiency, Photoshop CS4 leverages the power of the latest hardware to extend imaging possibilities and offer faster, more flexible ways to accomplish core tasks like image adjustments and masks. All of these features and more can be found in Photoshop CS4 Extended, which serves users with advanced motion graphics functions, dramatically expanded 3D visualization capabilities and precise image analysis.

Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended will be available as stand-alone applications or key components of the Adobe Creative Suite 4 family which has also been announced today.

“Photoshop is about delivering cutting-edge innovation that really pushes the boundaries of digital image editing,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for professional digital imaging at Adobe. “This version is no exception with some stunning new imaging technology that complements our work to bring more control, simplicity and speed to everyday tasks. By streamlining the most popular workflows for the professional, technical or home user, Photoshop CS4 brings new levels of accessibility to the gold standard in digital imaging software.”

Complete Creative Control and Effortless Efficiency

Content-Aware Scaling adds a revolutionary technology that enables users to intelligently size and scale images with a simple drag of the mouse. New Auto-align and Auto-blend modes generate composites based on extended depth of field and 360 degree panoramas now with seamless tones and colors.

Finding, previewing and managing image assets jumps to a new level of power and convenience with Adobe Bridge CS4, beginning with fast start-up performance, right through to speedy transfer of images to Photoshop CS4. New path-bar navigation and workspace selection buttons across the top of the Bridge window let you instantly go to just the right display for every task. Also included are new Camera Import controls, visual folder navigation, and a Carousel View for larger image-group selections.

Photoshop CS4 takes advantage of the latest graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware to deliver superior performance. The software offers a smooth pan and zoom experience that allows users to easily edit images at the highest magnification while maintaining clarity. The new Canvas Rotation tool makes it simple to rotate and work on an image from any angle. Photoshop CS4 helps keep work areas clutter-free with a new unified application frame, tab-based interface and self-adjusting panels that make it easy to quickly access advanced tools, and provide a more fluid way to interact with the application.

Harnessing the Power of 3D

Photoshop CS4 Extended includes all the new features of Photoshop CS4 plus the ability to manipulate 3D imagery easier than ever before. Now, creativity knows no bounds, as users can paint directly on 3D models and surfaces, merge 2-D files onto 3D images and animate 3D objects. The 3D engine has been rebuilt from the ground up to provide faster performance, allow editing of properties like light and the ability to create more realistic renderings with a new high-quality ray-tracer. Video professionals have the ability to turn any 3D object into a video display zone and can animate 3D objects and properties with ease. In addition, the core motion graphics editing has been improved with more efficient single-key shortcuts.

“The 3D painting enhancements in Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended save us valuable time by enabling artists to paint directly on our 3D flight simulator models in Photoshop instead of using a separate 3D paint program,” says Luis Barcena, executive vice president of databases and modeling for Aechelon Technology, Inc., a leader in real time computer graphics applications for training, simulation and entertainment markets. “Additionally, the ability to perform localized color correction in Photoshop CS4 Extended lets us easily color correct and balance simulated environments and terrain databases using images taken in different climates to achieve a more realistic and compelling user experience.”

Photoshop CS4 Extended software continues to challenge traditional use, allowing medical professionals to volume render multiple medical image scans (DICOM image stack) into a volume that can be viewed from all angles.

The Evolution and Expansion of the Adobe Photoshop Family

The Photoshop product family has experienced an unprecedented year, in which new products have been introduced and every existing product has been updated. The year began with the anticipated launch of Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac, winning Best of Show at Macworld 2008. The launch of Photoshop Express in the Spring marked a new direction for the line — a free, rich Internet application (RIA) for anyone who wants to store, sort and show off digital photos online with eye-catching effects. In July, major updates and enhancements were made to the popular Photoshop Lightroom 2 solution for serious photographers, followed by the launch of Photoshop Elements 7 and Adobe Premiere Elements 7 software for hobbyists and now, Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended for professionals.

via Adobe

 

Yahoo! announced today the formation of a Digital Advisory Council that will consist of industry executives from its agency and advertiser partners. The Council will work collaboratively to explore the continued evolution of digital media and online advertising.

Yahoo! has created many partnerships over the past eighteen months that are reflective of the paradigm shift toward openness occurring across the online media landscape. Multi-year partnerships with premium publishers, the Newspaper Consortium, as well as the Yahoo!-Google services agreement all are part of Yahoo!’s more open approach.

“As Yahoo! partners with publishers to extend the reach of our network, we have formed the Digital Advisory Council to identify innovative ways to improve advertiser performance, particularly in anticipation of the rollout of Yahoo’s new advertising management platform in the coming months,” said Hilary Schneider, executive vice president, Yahoo! U.S.

The Council will serve as a vehicle for soliciting feedback and will supplement Yahoo!’s daily conversations with advertisers. Active discussion with key customers is an important pillar in making Yahoo! a partner of choice, particularly during a time when competition for ad dollars is as robust as ever. Yahoo!’s Digital Advisory Council will first meet in the fourth quarter of this year.

“Opening up Yahoo! is a key part of our strategy, and we want to help advertisers understand how they can benefit from this approach,” Schneider added. “At the same time, there has been confusion and misinformation surrounding Yahoo!’s agreement with Google, which represents another key milestone in opening up our network. As questions emerge about how Yahoo! will implement this agreement, the Advisory Council will provide a forum for us to engage in a dialogue with key customers on those issues.”

via Yahoo!

 

AT&T Inc.  has announced that the company’s third-quarter 2008 financial results will be released Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008. The company’s earnings release, Investor Briefing and related materials will be available on AT&T’s Web site at http://www.att.com/investor.relations by 8 a.m. EDT.

At 10 a.m. EDT the same day, AT&T will host a conference call to discuss the results. There will be a live webcast of the call at http://www.att.com/investor.relations, and the webcast will be available for replay at the same address.

 

Convinced that Greenville County is “a great area to grow our business in,” Nova Screw Machine Products and The Greenville Area Development Corporation have announced the relocation of the company’s operations from New Jersey to Greenville, South Carolina, effective immediately.  The move includes the relocation of the company’s owners to the Upstate, and the planned addition of at least 4-8 additional jobs over the next several months.

Founded in 1968 in Linde, New Jersey, Nova Screw Machine provides computerized turning and milling services for customers in numerous industries, including lighting, security, automotive, defense and consumer goods, said Art Jeffrey, operations manager for Nova.

“This area is tremendous for business and has a tremendous demand for our skill set,” said Jeffrey in explaining the move.  “The northeast is a tough economy at this point, and we had visited this area and fell in love with the quality of life and robust business environment.  We see the sky as the limit for Nova in Greenville County.”

The new Greenville operation is located in just over 5,000 square feet of existing space at 398 Old Pelzer Road in Piedmont which the company is upfitting to meet their demands currently, said Jeffrey.  He sees the advanced manufacturing/advanced materials focus of the Upstate as a natural for growing their business.

“Our goal is to quickly stabilize the Greenville operations to serve our existing clients from Florida to New Jersey, then to grow into new geographies where our expertise in custom and precision tooling can be
utilized,” said Jeffrey.  “From aerospace to automotive, custom fabrication to industrial equipment, we expect a steep growth curve for Nova in the Upstate.”

The company’s lathes and turning centers precisely cut a rotating part with stationary cutting tools, with the tool moving parallel and perpendicular to the work-piece axis to provide a desired finished shape. Nova’s precise CNC turning and machining centers operate on a variety of materials, including
aluminum, carbon steel alloys, plastics, stainless steel and other specialized materials.

“We focus on delivering whatever our customers need, custom cut and milled with absolute precision,” added Jeffrey.

With many East Coast customers the Greenville operation will emphasize outstanding customer service, superior quality, and just-in-time delivery of the desired product to clients, Jeffrey added.   “We’re very pleased to establish operations here in Greenville County, and very appreciative for
the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation in making this announcement a reality.”

The discovery of Greenville was accidental, said Jeffrey, who prior to joining Nova manager operations for another organization and traveled the Southeast extensively.  “My wife and I were traveling the Carolinas and kind of stumbled across Greenville,” he said.  “We fell in love with it immediately, although the final decision to relocate the company here is testament to the positive economic climate of South Carolina and the commitment of the area’s economic development teams as well.”

The company is also working with the Greenville County Workforce Investment Board in the recruiting of start-up employees.

“Nova Screw Machine’s decision to relocate here is continuing evidence of the quality of life appeal and economic vitality of this area,” commented H.G. “Butch” Kirven, Jr., chairman of Greenville County Council.  “Their capabilities add to the growing base of suppliers needed to support our advanced manufacturing cluster.   We’re pleased to have them here in Greenville County.”

“Nova is a good example of a company whose leading-edge technology and core competencies fit an important need of the Upstate,” said Jay Rogers, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “Smaller businesses are the lifeblood of American business, and Nova is entrepreneurial, innovative and growth-oriented.  They’ll be a great addition to Greenville County and South Carolina.”

via GADC

Embrace change or die. Today, the spoils and riches go to those people and organizations that can constantly adapt to new and better ways of doing things. Whether it’s embracing technology, responding to competition, penetrating new markets or finding better ways to serve customers; the winners have discovered the secrets of getting RESULTS.

Join us for a Tech Forward Breakfast

Next Session is September 23, 2008

Leadership Session 3 – Leading Change for Success – How To Outperform & Outlast The Competition

Why should you come?

Is the process of change a little mysterious?
Do you or your organization resist change?
How to exploit change for maximum growth?
Failure to change is failure to succeed!
The 4 reasons why people resist change and how to overcome them
5 strategies for organizational change

Learn the techniques you need to create effective change in our morning workshop with Manfred Gollent of QLI International.

Details

Topic: Leadership Session 3 – Managing Change
Presented by: Manfred Gollent
Date: Tuesday September 23, 2008
Time: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM (Continental Breakfast Served)
Location:

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