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Using Mobile Technology to Extend Health Care’s Reach
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Posted by Kristin Tolle
Director, External Research and Programs 
At Microsoft Research we believe there are abundant opportunities for mobile technologies to improve public health, particularly in underserved communities. In areas short on health care facilities or medical staff, mobile phones have the reach to help diagnose and treat illness. We believe so strongly in this idea, in the fall of 2007 we solicited proposals from academic researchers who shared our vision and began funding projects in early 2008.
Our call for proposals caught the attention of the National Institutes of Health, which shares our interest in the potential health care applications of mobile devices. We decided to work together to organize an event that would build on the momentum created by successful implementations of cellular-based solutions to accelerate improvements in global public health using mobile devices.
Out of those discussions was born the mHealth Summit, which takes place in Washington, D.C., this Thursday and Friday.
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A Celebration of World Standards Day
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Posted by Bill Harmon
Global Standards Lead, Microsoft Legal and Corporate Affairs
October 14 is World Standards Day, which has been observed for more than 40 years to highlight the economic importance of global standards and to honor the thousands of volunteers around the world who participate in standardization activities. It’s a day well worth celebrating.
When you bank at an ATM or log onto a Wi-Fi network at your favorite coffee shop, you don’t think about the effort that went into creating the standards that make all this convenience possible. Often, it’s the result of extensive and complex discussions.
Wi-Fi is a great example. In the early days of wireless computing, competing technologies caused confusion, created security issues, and hindered adoption. Responding to consumer demand, more than 130 companies collaborated in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers industry standards group on the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard, now available to all manufacturers.
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Building bridges at OSCON
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Posted by Tony Hey
Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research
Earlier today I had the opportunity to speak to many passionate members of the open source community at OSCON 2009 (short for ‘Open Source Convention’) in San Jose, Calif. While Microsoft was engaged in this event at many levels, the goal of my presentation was to shed light on some of the external research projects Microsoft Research is engaged in, since so much of this work involves collaborating with scientists and academic researchers throughout the world. Simply put, some challenges are too complex for one entity to tackle alone, and it’s clear we all need to come together in order to drive true innovation to address global -challenges confronting our health, knowledge and environment.
In my talk, I discussed the organic nature of Microsoft’s open collaboration with the external research community, and described how these programs often surface in response to research needs and the demands of continuing innovation. Recent examples of such collaborative efforts at Microsoft Research are open tools like Project Trident and the Ontology Add-in for Microsoft Office Word 2007. In both cases, we contributed our technology and innovation to support the widely shared goals of fueling scientific discovery and propelling research and education forward.
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How Will Windows 7 Impact the Global Economy?
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Posted by Pamela Passman
Corporate Vice President
Given the large number of customers Microsoft serves around the world, and the many partners we collaborate with to maximize and deliver the benefits of our software, we have long sought to understand the economic impact of our work and our products.
Such information is especially helpful now, as governments and businesses look for catalysts that can help local and national economies rebound from the difficulties of the past year.
We believe that nothing spurs economic growth and creates jobs like innovations that pave the way for new products and services. We also know investments that advance information technology can help societies address some of their most pressing problems, from reducing the cost of health care to improving education and protecting the environment. Microsoft is investing more than $9 billion in research and development this year, building on years of very significant investments in R&D, which will result in significant product launches over the next 12 months. Most notably, we are preparing to unveil a new version of our popular Windows operating system, Windows 7, this fall.
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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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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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Can the U.S. Retain Its Innovation Edge?
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Posted by Brad Smith
General Counsel
The Conference Board today released an important study about the state of innovation in the United States. This past weekend I read the report, which Microsoft sponsored. Somewhat to my surprise, I found it both disturbing and encouraging. The report suggests that unless we take new steps, the U.S. could lose its competitive innovation edge. Yet the report also provides some good suggestions about positive steps we can take to reinforce and enhance our capacity for creative problem-solving.
Most Americans appreciate the important role innovation has played historically in establishing and reinforcing U.S. competitiveness. Since the end of World War II, the country’s investments in education and research and development have been powerful engines of innovation and economic growth.
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Why Earth Day Matters to Microsoft
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Posted by Rob Bernard
Chief Environmental Strategist
Earth Day and every day, we face significant environmental challenges tied to the way we live and use resources. Effectively managing our scarce energy resources while addressing climate change – even as the world’s population steadily rises – will be one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Microsoft is working hard with our partners, customers and suppliers, as well as with governments and leading environmental organizations, to help address this critical environmental challenge. This Earth Day, I want to share the latest information on our Environmental Sustainability Strategy, which focuses on three core areas:
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Ballmer to Congress: Act Now on Stimulus Agreement
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Posted by David Bowermaster
Administrator, Microsoft on the Issues House and Senate lawmakers moved with impressive speed today to forge a final agreement on a $789 billion stimulus package designed to help revive the struggling U.S. economy. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who has been a vocal proponent of the legislation, has sent a letter to all members of Congress urging them to quickly pass the bill so President Obama can sign it into law. Click Read More to see the text of Mr. Ballmer’s letter:
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Microsoft Hails Senate Passage of Stimulus Package
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Posted by David Bowermaster
Administrator, Microsoft on the Issues
If you’ve been reading this blog since we launched it last month, you’ve probably figured out that Microsoft is a big proponent of the stimulus package working its way through Capitol Hill.
We have had one post highlighting the workforce development components of the proposal, and another examining the important science and technology provisions. Friday, we shared with you Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s remarks urging Congress to pass the legislation and to preserve its strategic investments in technology and innovation.
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