Innovation Conference 2009 – Recap
The first speaker of the day was Russell Schnedier, CEO of Marketex Computer Corporation. His speech was titled, “Three Trends Reshaping Storage Virtualization.” He spoke on many computer-related topics, such as whether disks are getting faster and slower, and PC disk speed verses size. He also spoke about how virtual tapes improve everything, from back-up time being reduced by 50% and recovery time being reduced by 90%.
Schnedier brought up the two largest problems that thin provisioning solves, utilization and storage and storage administration challenge. Thin provisioning helps utilization by creating volumes virtually and provisioning space as needed. It helps storage administration challenge by putting space allocation on autopilot. He ended his presentation by naming the IBM SAN Volume Controller and the Compellent Disk System the best of breed products.
Dr. Eric Dobson, CEO of TrakLok Corporation, gave the next presentation, “Geolock: Secure & Efficient Tracking.” The presentation was all about a patent-pending Geolock that is reusable, removable, armored sealed, RFID, cellular, and GPS acceleromerty and has a life cycle of up to three years. The Geolock can be placed on shipping containers and tracks exactly were the cargo is and whom it is with.
The next presenter was Alan Dash, Associate Partner Technology at Syska Hennessy Group, Inc. Alan’s presentation, “Innovative Technologies of Today & Tomorrow,” focused on many interesting things, including intelligent security camera systems, conference room technologies, RFID/RTLS, and electronic way finding systems. The intelligent camera systems offer 3D tracking, object classification, and facial recognition technology. RFID/RTLS is a real time location service that can track people, assets, and goods.
Dr. G. Marshall Molen, team leader for the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mississippi State University and a Diversified Technology/Ergon Distinguished Professor, gave his presentation on “The Impact of Student Engineering Competitions in the Development of Hybrid Vehicles.” The topic of his presentation narrowed in on a hybrid vehicle that his student’s designed for a four-year Challenge X competition. A Chevrolet Equinox Platform stood as the base for the hybrid vehicle. The hard work and dedication of the students and Dr. Molen paid off when they came out on top as the national winners in the competition. The car itself even made an appearance at the conference.
“Beyond the Assembly Line: Universal Robotics and the Automation of Intelligence,” was the presentation given by Dr. Alan Peters, founder and CTO of Universal Robotics. Peters’ presentation focused on taking standard industrial robots to a new level by teaching them to perform new jobs and work in new environments. To teach the robots what moves to make, people actually get inside the robot and make the moves it wants the robot to learn. The requirements for Natural Intelligence include embodiment, interaction, situatedness, and development. In his speech, Peters pointed out that the next step in automation is pick and place robots.
Rankin Clinton III, CEO of Woolsthorpe Technologies, wrapped up the day with his presentation, “Patient Friendly Non-Invasive Cardiac Output Solution.” Clinton spoke about FloWave, a new non-invasive cardiac output solution that could take the place of catheter procedures. FloWave will lower both the high cost and the medical risks linked to catheter procedures.
