UCF Receives Award for Online Learning Program
The University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Online @ UCF program has received EDUCAUSE’s Teaching and Learning Award.
The award recognizes vast improvements in campus teaching and learning through innovative and sustainable use of information technology. It was presented to UCF at the annual conference of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use
of technology to advance higher education.

For additional information, visit:
http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?
page=article&id=002400414b7bd579010692fefcde007061.

UF’s Robotic Off-Road Entry Greatly Improves Over Prior Performance

The University of Florida (UF) College of Engineering’s fully robotic off-road vehicle competed in the 2005 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge, traveling more than 20 miles over the difficult Mohave Desert terrain. The team’s distance traveled was 20 times greater than that of its 2004 entry.

UF’s 4,300-pound vehicle – dubbed the NaviGATOR – was built by UF students and two corporate team members. It was equipped with 10 mainframe computers, three laser-range scanners and two global positioning units and used software, sensors and computers to plot its route and avoid obstacles.

For additional information, visit:
http://www.eng.ufl.edu/elinks/news/college/detail_article.php?id=655.

USF Health Offers VNS Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression

USF Health at the University of South Florida (USF) has become the first facility in the Tampa area to offer vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy.
VNS therapy has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a long-term treatment for patients 18 years of age and older who are experiencing a major depressive episode and have not responded to four or more adequate antidepressant treatments.

For additional information, visit:
http://hsc.usf.edu/publicaffairs/newsreleases/news+release+october+17+2005.html.

Corridor Companies Reach Out to Former Agere Employees

Numerous Florida High Tech Corridor companies have interviewed former Agere employees in the wake of the closure of the company’s Orlando semiconductor manufacturing facility. Plant Manager Darrell Jones expressed “sincere thanks to all in this community who have been such good friends to our company and helped us retain these jobs far longer than anyone thought possible.” Jones, who will relocate to Colorado, said 34 companies attended a recent job fair at Agere and the company
continues to work to help find opportunities for engineering, technical, maintenance and administrative personnel.

Contact Agere’s Beth Wong at (407) 371-6024 or via e-mail at bethwong@agere.com for information about interviewing remaining staff.

ACS Connect Incorporates Fingerprint Authentication

ACS Connect, a Brandon-based regional provider of business technology solutions, has announced that TimeSheets automated time management solution has been integrated with biometric fingerprint authentication.
Biometrics verifies employees’ identity when clocking in or out and eliminates the costs associated with unauthorized overtime, early punching-ins and employees clocking in or out other employees, otherwise known as buddy punching.

For additional information, visit: http://acs-connect.com/0_6_0.html.

Advantage International Provides Two-Way Sync for Computers

Tampa’s Advantage International, Inc. has announced a new Microsoft
Outlook/Exchange add-in solution to synchronize two-way contacts for desktops, laptops and mobile devices.

Add2Outlook for ContactsTM is a synchronization desktop computer solution that provides access to contact information at any time for individuals, teams and entire departments. It also synchronizes contact folders, allowing users and managers to prevent accidental or malicious deletion of leads and contact information. In addition, Add2Outlook enables laptop and mobile device users to view private and public contact folders.

For additional information, visit: http://www.diditbetter.com/Company/Press.htm.

Spectralight Images Launches New Training Initiative

Orlando-based digital content developer Spectralight Images has launched its new Games, Simulation and Visualization (GSV) Training Initiative to deliver PowerPoint, Photoshop CS2, 3ds Max 8, and Combustion 4 training to the games, simulation and visualization industries.

The Spectralight Images GSV Training Initiative provides a cooperatively developed educational solution for business and professional developers requiring a focused approach to their training needs.

For additional information visit:
http://www.sli-3d.com/images/pr/PR_01_GSVTraining.pdf.

NASA Selects Firms for Technology Programs

NASA has selected 300 Small Business Innovation Research and 40 Small Business Technology Transfer research proposals.

The goal of the small business innovation research program is to stimulate
technological innovation and increase the use of small businesses in meeting federal research and development needs. Furthermore, it will increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from federally funded research.

For additional information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/nov/HQ_05409_SBIR_NATIONAL.html.

Corridor People in the News

Dr. Brian Lail

Dr. Brian Lail, Florida Tech assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, has earned a $73,000 subcontract for work on antenna-coupled sensors from the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Lail will work with the Infrared Systems Laboratory and Dr. Glenn Boreman at UCF’s Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers. Lail’s research will focus on millimeter and sub-millimeter wave detection and infrared detection in antenna-coupled sensors.

Accolades

Dr. Jannick Rolland

Dr. Jannick Rolland, University of Central Florida associate professor of optics, was recognized for her contributions to the advancement of science at the fifth annual Women’s Research Event.

Did You Know?

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council sponsored two coffee breaks at the recent Scripps/Oxford International Biotechnology Conference. The conference was held on November 13-15 at the Breakers in Palm Beach.

Calendar of Events

The following are events taking place across the Corridor’s 23-county region or the surrounding area, which readers may be interested in attending:

Annual World Trade Regulatory Review
Presented by: The Space Coast World Trade Council
Tuesday, December 6 - Thursday, December 8
Courtyard by Marriott, Cocoa Beach
For event information or to register, visit:
http://www.spacecoastworldtradecouncil.org.

Value Based Project Selection & Prioritization Webcast
Presented by: The UCF Project Management Series
Wednesday, December 7
Webcast
For event information or to register, visit:
http://www.orbit.ucf.edu/pm.asp.

TBTF Sales And Marketing Network
Presented by: The Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Wednesday, December 7
Peak 10, Inc., Tampa
To register, e-mail: TBTF@peak10.com.

ITFlorida’s Annual Awards Gala And Tech Forum
Presented by: ITFlorida
Wednesday, December 14 - Thursday, December 15
Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort
For event information or to register, visit: http://www.itflorida.com.

Events Outside the Corridor

Photonics West

Presented by: The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)
Saturday, January 21 - Thursday, January 26
San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California
For event information, contact: eschons@mail.ucf.edu.

Inside Florida’s High Tech Corridor is published by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Inc. (FHTCC) and its economic development partners. The FHTCC is an initiative of the University of Central Florida (www.ucf.edu), the University of South Florida (www.usf.edu) and the University of Florida (www.ufl.edu). For more information visit our Web site at www.floridahightech.com, or contact one of the region's economic development partners listed at www.floridahightech.com/linkslibrary.

Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library

Visit the Florida High Tech Corridor link library (www.floridahightech.com)for a comprehensive list of FHTCC University Partners; Community Colleges; Economic Development Organizations; Technology Groups & Programs; Workforce Boards & Organizations; Technology Incubators & Venture Capital Organizations; and Industry Organizations.