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Another Notable Tool for Combating Click-Fraud
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Posted by Tim Cranton
Associate General Counsel
In case you missed today’s announcement on the Microsoft AdCenter blog, I wanted to share the news that Microsoft has become one of the first companies in the online advertising industry to achieve click measurement standards accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC), indicating our compliance with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)’s Click Measurement Guidelines and the MRC’s Minimum Standards for Media Rating Research.
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Updating Educational Assessments to Measure “21st Century Skills”
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Posted by Michael Golden
Corporate Vice President, Education Products Group
As educators, policy makers and business leaders gather in Washington, D.C., this week for the National Education Computing Conference, there will be a lot of talk about the need to equip students with “21st century skills.”
But what exactly are “21st century skills”? And, more importantly, how are we measuring them, and how are we ensuring that teachers and schools around the world are providing students with the tools necessary to succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow?
At the highest level, 21st century skills encompass everything that students need to succeed in our competitive and increasingly complex world. Technology skills obviously fall under that umbrella, along with traditional priorities such as math, science and communication. But increasingly other skills are being recognized as critical to 21st century success, including “right brain” skills such as creativity and critical thinking, as described in Daniel Pink’s book, A Whole New Mind. Other prerequisites include problem solving, collaboration, time management and self-direction, as advocated by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
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“The World’s Most Notorious Illegal Spammer”
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Posted by David Bowermaster
Administrator, Microsoft on the Issues
Earlier this week it was widely reported that Alan Ralsky, a 64-year-old Michigan man that a federal prosecutor described as “the world's most notorious illegal spammer," pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and CAN-SPAM charges.
The guilty pleas from Ralsky and four co-defendants are a credit to the hard work and dedication of U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg and trial attorneys Thomas Dukes and Mona Sedky Spivack, the prosecutors in the case, as well as the many law enforcement officials who helped conduct the complicated investigation, which included defendants from Canada, China and Russia.
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Technology Is Enabling a Green Business Revolution in Europe
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Posted by John Vassallo
Vice President, EU Affairs 
This week I have been lucky to be one of a handful of business executives speaking at the European Union’s Green Week conference in Brussels. A recurring theme among all attendees, whether from business, politics, science or non-governmental organizations, has been that technology has a major role to play in solving vexing environmental problems such as climate change.
Information technology will be one of the principal enablers of environmental innovations, and Microsoft is devoting a lot of time, hard work and investment to advancing green technologies. We are increasing our R&D spending by over 15 percent this year, to $9.4 billion, including spending on several promising environmental applications.
I took part in Green Week previously when I worked for GE, which produces equipment used in several environmental sectors, from water desalination to vehicle fleet management systems. I was not fully aware at the time how much of the equipment actually was made up of software and information technology (IT) systems. It is the IT embedded in products that enables much of the energy savings, emissions reductions and carbon capture that society and the environment need.
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High-Skilled Immigration Must be Part of Comprehensive Reform
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Posted by Fred Humphries
Managing Director U.S. Government Affairs
Today marks an important new beginning for efforts to repair the United States’ flawed immigration system. We at Microsoft congratulate President Obama for convening a bipartisan meeting at the White House on immigration reform, and commend the members of Congress who participated. Most immigration experts agree our system needs big changes, so I’m pleased to see the broad participation in this important process.
Nonetheless, we remain concerned that a serious discussion of high-skilled immigration policies has not yet begun, and we believe it must be included in any comprehensive reform. If the U.S. is to remain at the cutting edge of innovation, we must ensure that our businesses can attract and hire the best talent from around the globe.
As Brad Smith blogged earlier this year, immigration policies that attract highly-skilled workers are critical for job creation and long-term economic growth. America’s economic recovery will come from innovation within America’s borders – in its laboratories, board rooms and research centers. By giving American businesses access to the talent they need, they will be able to grow and generate additional American jobs. The more bright minds who contribute to innovation on American soil, the faster our country will return to a position of economic strength.
Now more than ever, we need smart policies to build the innovation workforce of the future.
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Constructing an Information Age Model for Federal Cybersecurity
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Posted by Scott Charney
Corporate Vice President, Trustworthy Computing
As I blogged last month, the increasing quantity and sophistication of cyber attacks requires a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
Today I had an opportunity to continue the discussion while testifying before a congressional hearing on “Assessing Cybersecurity Activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Homeland Security,” convened by the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
As I explained to the committee, the complexity and breadth of national governments, and the wide array of constituents they serve, require a careful and thoughtful approach to managing government-wide cybersecurity.
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Why it’s essential to invest in basic research during hard times
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Posted by Rick Rashid
Senior Vice President, Microsoft Research
Several of my colleagues and I are in Washington, D.C., today to give policymakers a glimpse of some of the exciting projects we’re working on at Microsoft Research. Some of the technologies we’re demonstrating may have a real-world application today, while others will have an application two, three or even 10 years from now.
Regardless of when the commercial payoff comes, we believe it is critical for not only companies like Microsoft but also the federal government to continue investing in basic research even as the economy struggles.
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Microsoft Research Roadshow Heads to D.C.
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Posted by Fred Humphries
Managing Director, U.S. Government Affairs
Microsoft Research is heading to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. this Wednesday, June 24, to offer a glimpse into the future of computing. During the Microsoft Research D.C. Roadshow, our researchers will demonstrate innovative technologies that will help address some of the greatest challenges we face today, such as energy sustainability and efficiency, climate change, health care costs and outcomes and personal and business productivity.
The demonstrations will showcase groundbreaking innovations arising out of Microsoft’s commitment to invest heavily in basic research. Invited guests who attend the Roadshow will have an opportunity to talk with Microsoft Research executives and computer scientists about how they are turning ideas into reality and creating technology that will help improve lives around the world, particularly in critical areas such as education, health care and personal and business success.
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Global Challenges Await New Patent Office Director
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Posted by Horacio Gutierrez
Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
Yesterday President Obama announced he intends to nominate David Kappos, vice president and assistant general counsel for intellectual property at IBM, to serve as Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This is a huge job, managing a workforce of 9,000 employees and directing a central part of an intellectual property system that drives American innovation, economic growth and job creation.
It would be difficult to envision a new USPTO director who understands the U.S. and global patent system better than Dave Kappos. Dave’s nomination marks a return to the kind of experienced industry leadership that had often been tapped to head the agency in years past. Dave’s extensive background in all aspects of patent law and policy, and his experience managing one of the world’s largest corporate patent departments, make him well suited to take on the parallel challenges of improving patent quality and agency efficiency. We applaud his selection, and offer him our full support and commitment to work with him upon his appointment and with others in industry to tackle the challenges ahead.
The challenges the new Director will face are daunting.
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