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VOL III No 47 May 2, 2004: CYBERZONE/BIOZONE CALENDAR
A SERVICE OF CREATIVE RESOURCES, INC. by MARTY PLOTNICK
HAWAI'I CALENDAR:
****Tuesday, May 4--9 a.m. to ? HP's Semi-Annual Hawaii Technology Event. Hilton Hawaiian Village. FREE Register: Jane Ferreira.
808.839.8517 or at http://www.hp.com/large/events/2004/ae_hawaii
****NEW****Tuesday, May 4-- 5:45 p.m. CYBERPIZZA -- U.H. MARINE SCIENCES AUDITORIUM.
Speaker: Clifton Royston Lead Developer, Tiki Technologies
Topic: Every thing you want to know about Spam, Viruses and Bugs!
http://www.cyberpizzahawaii.com/upcoming.html
for details and parking information.
****May 10-12, Asia Pacific Conference on Emerging
Technologies: The Challenge of the Mobile Revolution and the Digital Divide. Sponsors: East-West Center and the Korea Information Strategy Development Institute (KISDI). Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea.
For more information and registration materials:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/sem-bp.asp
Registration Online: http://www.eastwestcenter.org/index.asp
****NEW****Wednesday to Friday. May 19-21-- International Conference on Strategies for Building Software Industries in Developing Counties East-West Center University of Hawai'i at Manoa Strategies for Building Software Industries in Developing Countries will bring together experts and software industry professionals from around the world to identify, discuss and debate the various policy options governments have to cultivate their software industries and what strategies software companies can employ to ensure success in the international market place.
FREE FOR CONFERENCE.
<http://www.iipi.org/activities/forums.htm>http://www.iipi.org/activities/forums.htm
Or contact Anthony L. Clapes Technology Law Network tclapes@attglobal.net
General East-West Seminar information: Marilu Khudari, khudarim@eastwestcenter.org, or phone 944-7384.
UH CALENDAR http://dbserver.its.hawaii.edu/calendar/
HTDC CALENDAR
http://www.hitechhawaii.com/webevents.asp
IF YOU HAVE CALENDAR ITEMS, SEND THEM TO martycri@lava.net
HAWAI'I JOB ZONE
Decision Research Corporation (Honolulu) has an immediate opening for an experienced software development project manager. Please email resumes to hr@decisionresearch.com. Please include the position and "CZ-0421" in the subject line.
CYBERZONE
$80 MILLION UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING CENTER OPENS The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, one of the top Computer Science programs in the world has just officially opened their new $80 million Siebel Center. The department head describes the building as a single computing entity, meant to be programmed and to interact with those in the building via RFID tags in their ID cards. This is probably one of the biggest and most expensive projects in ubiquitous computing ever launched, touching on all the important issues in this field, from privacy to the ultimate question about the usefulness of such a system. http://www.suntimes.com/output/tech/cst-fin-siebel26.html
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=12316
EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE
Calling Margaret Mead: Ad agencies are hiring anthropologists and ethnographers to study and film consumers in their natural environments to see what they really eat, drink, and buy. Hey, check out that grooming and bonding behavior!
http://trax.fastcompany.com/k/w/mailman/fasttake/20040428/everymove
SCHOOLKIDS USING E-BOOKS, NOT TEXT BOOKS Beginning this fall, fifth- and sixth-grade students in a school district outside Dallas, Texas, will begin using laptops instead of textbooks. The initiative of the Forney Independent School District is the latest in a series of projects aimed at replacing printed versions of texts with electronic ones. The laptops in Forney will be loaded with electronic versions of textbooks, works of art, and literature.
The district will spend about $1,000 per computer and another $500 per student for wireless access and support. Similar projects are under way at other schools, including colleges such as Wake Forest University. Institutions working to replace some or all printed texts with electronic versions face a number of challenges, including copyright, technology, and pricing. According to Jay Dominick, chief information officer at Wake Forest University, electronic books remain generally more expensive than used, printed texts, leading most students to buy used books when available.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4958237
CAPITAL ZONE
FLORIDA COMMITS $1 BILLION IN PENSION FUNDS TO VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS In an attempt to attract more bioscience firms, Florida will invest up to $1 billion of its $102 billion employee pension fund into venture capital, the State Board of Administration recently
announced. A forum was held last week by Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development agency, to outline the investment plan
to more than 80 venture capitalists in attendance. The pension fund is part of $5 billion the state puts into alternative funds to be
used for higher risk investments. The first installment will be $350 million during the next 12 months.
http://myflorida.com/b_eog/owa/b_eog_www.html.main_page
WISCONSIN GOV SIGNS BILLS TO CREATE START-UPS, IMPROVE MANUFACTURING CLIMATE
Two legislative bills encompassing economic development priorities of Gov. Jim Doyle’s Grow Wisconsin initiative recently were signed to
provide assistance for both entrepreneurs and manufacturers. Senate Bill 261 creates two tax credit programs to spur investment in
start-up companies and fosters a new measure to provide funding and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. To encourage investors to take a chance on new Wisconsin companies, SB 261 offers $65 million in tax credits over the next 10 years. When fully deployed, the credits will leverage more than $260 million of investments from the private sector, Gov. Doyle said. The second part of the act provides $2.6
million for technology commercialization grant and loan programs in order to create a network of assistance centers to support
entrepreneurs. The bills are available in their entirety through the Wisconsin State Legislature at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
VC INVESTORS OPEN THE SPIGOT FOR BAY AREA STARTUPS
JVenture capitalists and other private investors opened their checkbooks wide during the first quarter, much to the benefit of
young Bay Area companies. For the three months that ended in March, investment in U.S. startup companies totaled $5.1 billion, up 25
percent from the same period a year ago, according to a report to be released today by industry researcher Venture One and the accounting
firm Ernst & Young. It was the fourth consecutive quarterly rise and the highest startup investment total in almost two years.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/26/BUGAG6AI2T1.DTL
PATENT ZONE
PATENT LITIGATION: THE SPORT OF KINGS
Patent litigation is a growth industry. During the twelve-month period ending September 9, 2003, U.S. patent owners filed 2,788
patent infringement lawsuits, a 13 percent increase over the same period five years earlier. Similarly, in 2003 the United States
issued 187,487 patents, a 22 percent increase over 1999. Indeed, patent litigation has become the sport of kings. Sure, there are
staggering legal fees and the risk of a company imploding. But Douglas J. Kline, a leading patent litigator, says that patent
lawsuits are not as bad as you think.
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/wo_kline042804.asp?trk=nl
PATENT OFFICE STRUGGLES TO STAY AHEAD OF NANOTECH INDUSTRY
As the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office prepares to hold a second nanotechnology outreach meeting today, it is still struggling to get
ahead of this new and dynamic industry. The agency has come under scrutiny in the past few years for how it has handled nanotech patent
applications. Some say it still faces structural impediments that make it difficult to adequately examine patents being filed by
nanotechnology researchers and companies. http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=7743
ROBOTICS ZONE
ROBOT ROLL OUT The idea of fleets of robotic traffic cones swarming onto a highway, closing down lanes and slowing the flow sounds like a driver's bad dream. But such self-propelling road markers have already been heeled into action. Directed via a laptop computer, the lead robot correctly positions itself using GPS. Its herd of followers then troop along behind. The robots are a bid to help reduce the $100
billion per year that the US Department of Transportation estimates is lost through accidents and delays caused by highway lane closures
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994932
SENIORS NEED ROBOTS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HELP AT HOME Elder advocates from academia and industry urged Congress on Tuesday
to fund research and nudge reluctant companies to re-imagine existing technologies to help seniors live high-quality, independent lives.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/robot-04h.html
BIO/MEMS/MEDICAL ZONE
DNA COMPUTING TAKES A DIAGNOSTIC LEAP FORWARD
DNA computing holds great promise for use in massively parallel computations. So far, DNA has been used for some complex mathematical
problems and even has been used for playing tic-tac-toe. Late in 2001, researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel announced the
creation of a "programmable DNA computer" that could be used to answer simple yes or no questions, but this week they have upped the
ante considerably. In this week's issue of Nature, scientists at the institute have created a DNA computer which offers the means to
diagnose and treat certain types of cancer.
http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1083288991.html
"SKIN CELL" BANDAGES TREAT BURNS
People with severe burns or diabetic wounds could benefit from "living" bandages made of their own skin cells, according to UK
researchers. Called "Myskin", the treatment involves the growing of healthy skin cells on small discs. These are then applied to the
wound, helping new skin to grow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3660533.stm
FEARS RISE ALONG WITH "HOT LAB" BUILDING BOOM
From Boston to Livermore, Calif., "hot labs" designed to combat bioterrorism and house the world's deadliest germs are being planned
and constructed with a huge cash infusion from the federal government. Supporters of the unprecedented building boom say the new
or expanded high-containment labs - there are at least 18 - are essential to national security in a post-Sept. 11 world. But as the
labs rise on college campuses and government installations across the country, so do concerns about safety and security.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/science/20040429-2036-hotlabs.html#
STUDENT-BUILT PROJECTILE COULD HELP SOLDIERS DETECT BOMBS, CHEMICALS
Infantry soldiers suspicious that a truck or box may contain explosives or chemical weapons may soon be able to find out for sure
by shooting the target with a sticky little projectile that can detect the danger and report it from afar.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-04m.html
BIO BRIEFS ZONE
Atlanta--Inside the CDC: Smallpox: Looming threats set prevention plans in motion
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826259
Boston--Life Sciences: Biomeasure: It makes sense to build in the Bay State
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826260
Boston--$30M grant prompts Agencourt to kick off expansion
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826261
Boston--Boston secures BIO trade show for '07 encore
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826262
East Bay--Speedy response helped save 300 jobs
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826263
Minneapolis/St. Paul--Biotech entails unique space: Burgeoning industry must spend more, take longer to design customized digs
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826264
San Francisco--Biotech: Jury awards Roche, Applied Bio $19.8 million in patent dispute
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826265
Seattle--Bioinformatics firm's new president raises his sights
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826266
St. Louis--Shurjo device works to find cancer in early stages
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826267
St. Louis--Isto Technologies works to regenerate human tissue, bone
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826268
St. Louis--Local venture investments heavy in biotechnology: Eight local biotech companies received $30 million in venture funding in
2003
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826269
St. Louis--Orion Genomics work used to find treatments for cancer
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826270
St. Louis--APT Therapeutics seeks better treatment for stroke patients
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826271
St. Louis--Kereos uses molecular imaging to find tumors
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826272
St. Louis--Symbiontics seeks $5.75 million to advance work
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826273
St. Louis--Apath targets case of viral infections in humans
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826274
Tampa Bay--Genshaft sets direction for Committee of 100: Bioscience,
trade get top attention from subcommittees
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/826275
CHINA ZONE
CHINA TO RESUME IMPORTS OF U.S. COSMETICS
Following meetings this month with FDA officials, China has agreed to resume imports of U.S. cosmetics. China had suspended these imports in January on public health grounds after a cow in Washington state was found infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. As part of the agreement, two U.S. cosmetics trade associations will certify that cosmetics imports from the United States do not contain any animal ingredients prohibited in China.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01056.html
WIRELESS & HOTSPOT HITS ZONE
THE WIRELESS LAMP POST
A company that plans to create a large scale wireless network across the UK is taking previously failed business models and hopes to squeeze out a successful deployment and future.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,v2n,1,8qyf,4je,jcj3,9ffi
7-ELEVEN TAKES A PREPAID WIRELESS LEAP
7-Eleven isn't just for soda and hot dogs anymore. The retailer is now peddling its own brand of prepaid wireless in 14 markets. The
move, according to the company, marks the first time a retailer is offering of a store-branded wireless service.
http://email.wirelessweek.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/egki0C1swl0B4I0CVOs0AI
THE HOTSPOTS
National Mall Now Has Hot Spots The rest of D.C. may be spotty about free hotspots, but that could be changing with first ones on Supreme
Court plaza.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,vam,1,ec10,frwi,jcj3,9ffi
Thanks to a hefty equipment donation from Tropos Networks, nonprofit organization Open Park has launched a free public Wi-Fi hot spot in
front of the U.S. Capitol.
http://email.wirelessweek.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/egmC0C1swl0B4I0CVVj0Ae
Atlanta and Indianapolis have plans afoot to offer city-wide Wi-Fi; Docomo customers can eaily pay for in-flight Internet access;
Pinnacle Hotels in San Diego add HSIA; and more.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,vam,1,l0p5,ecft,jcj3,9ffi
TengoInternet adds new RV parks to footprint; StarBand now offers hotspots with satellite backhaul; Spokane's airport joins the
downtown in offering wireless; and more.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,v2n,1,l0p5,ecft,jcj3,9ffi
Golden Tree claims the most hotel hotspots; Spokane seeks funds to go city wide; Sputnik cuts prices; Athens, Georgia hotzone adds location features; and more.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,uvx,1,l0p5,ecft,jcj3,9ffi
SITE CITES
WOMEN MARRY MEN WHO LIKE DAD
Young girls form a 'mental model' of their dads which they later use to help pick a husband, reveals a new study
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994928
Hawaii Technology and Activity News
