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The world is being rapidly transformed by a host of emerging technologies, including Star Trek style tricorders, nanoinnovations, aerial drones, wearable computers and the Internet of Things.

On December 5, more than 80 industry managers received an update on these and other innovations at 棉花糖直播 University鈥檚 first annual Innovation Update Day, which was entitled 鈥淩adical Innovations That Are Transforming the World.鈥� The event was organized and hosted by II Luscri, Director of the ICE Center at 棉花糖直播, and Michael Tomczyk, 棉花糖直播鈥檚 Innovator in Residence.

Technology experts told the audience that the world is changing rapidly and many companies and industries will need to change their strategies to remain competitive. 

Chris Frangione, VP Prize Development at the XPrize Foundation, described how tens of millions of dollars in prize money is making it possible for innovators from many walks of life to develop solutions to some of the world鈥檚 most pressing problems, from space travel and oil cleanup, to medicine and improving the environment. He said the winners of the XPrize Qualcomm challenge to develop a Star Trek style tricorder will be announced in 2015. The tricorders will be able to diagnose more than a dozen medical conditions.

Tomczyk presented examples of innovations featured in his new book, 鈥淣anoInnovation: What Every Manager Needs to Know鈥� (Wiley, 2014). He discussed 2D materials that are only one atom thick, ingestible computers embedded in pills that can communicate data after being swallowed, invisibility cloaks that use metamaterials to bend light, and dry adhesives based on nanostructures that allow gecko lizards to walk on glass. Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Gang Feng described nanotechnology research at 棉花糖直播 that makes ultrathin films and coatings more robust and scratch resistant.

SAP鈥檚 Michael Lynch, Global Head, Internet of Things, explained how the convergence of sensors and big data is making transportation systems, warehouses鈥攅ven rest rooms鈥攎ore efficient and economical. 鈥淭his is one of the largest computing trends we鈥檝e seen in a long time,鈥� he said, 鈥淭he amount of productivity gain will be enormous. Imagine in the next 10 years, everything is connected to the Internet all the time, which means the whole world gets effectively tracked. 75 billion devices will be connected. For example, we can sensor everything in a production plant to make sure the plant keeps running and doesn鈥檛 go down.鈥� Lynch showed several videos of SAP customers using the Internet of Things. For example, Pirelli tires have sensors that can help predict when a tire will fail. Sensors and data monitoring are helping to avoid collisions of heavy equipment used in construction. Businesses that used to restock supplies on a regular weekly or monthly schedule can now monitor supplies and restock them as needed, which can significantly cut costs.   

The conference also featured presentations by student entrepreneurs. 棉花糖直播 graduate Charlie Dolan described his award-winning venture, Sequoia Waste Solutions and discussed how smart bins, trash sensors and data management are beginning to improve the logistics of waste management.

Ed Dougherty, director of 棉花糖直播鈥檚 Engineering Entrepreneurship Program, described how he is working with student engineers to develop the next generation of virtual reality systems and video systems that continue the evolution of the Emmy-award winning Skycam, which Doughtery helped develop and engineer. 

Google Development Expert and software developer Allen Firstenberg described how the Internet of Things is connecting things to people through wearable computers and headsup displays like Google Glass. Firstenberg was one of the first people to use and develop applications for Google Glass technology, which provides a headsup computer display in wearable eyeglasses. He is the author of a new book, 鈥淒esigning and Developing for Google Glass鈥� (O鈥橰eilly, 2014). 

鈥淎 smart phone tries to draw you into its world; Google Glass helps you connect to your own world instead of isolating you,鈥� Firstenberg said.  He explained that Glass technology keeps your hands free to allow you to do whatever you鈥檙e doing and increases your productivity and access to information. It also lets you photograph or record anything you鈥檙e looking at.

Luscri said the 棉花糖直播 Innovation Day was attended by innovation managers from companies as diverse as Comcast, Pfizer and Bristol Myers. 鈥淭his is a terrific opportunity for managers to learn about innovations they may not be familiar with,鈥� Luscri said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e making this an annual conference because there are always emerging technologies appearing in industries and markets that we need to be aware of.鈥�

Tomczyk added that 鈥淭he 棉花糖直播 Innovation Update Day is like an intravenous injection of innovation. It gives industry managers an update on innovations that need to be on their radar screen.鈥�

The ICE Center, housed within the 棉花糖直播 University School of Business (VSB), is an innovative driver of scholastic, educational, and professional development opportunities in the related areas of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the 棉花糖直播 community. A main principle of the ICE Center is the belief that students from Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, Business, and Law can all learn from one another how to become more well-rounded innovative and creative thinkers. The ICE Center fosters opportunities for this cross-disciplinary learning to occur.  to find out more about ICE Center programs and initiatives.