Posted by Jacqueline BeauchereDirector, Trustworthy Computing Communications, Microsoft
Each February, the world recognizes Safer Internet Day (SID), an event dedicated to promoting responsible use of the Internet and mobile technology, particularly among youth. Organized by Brussels-based Insafe and co-founded by the European Union, Feb. 7 marks the ninth installment of SID. This year’s theme, "Connecting Generations and Educating Each Other,” once again finds Microsoft playing an active role.
The company was part of the first SID, and has been a long-standing advocate ever since, particularly in Europe. Last year, the Trustworthy Computing (TwC) Group expanded Microsoft's involvement in North America by hosting three online gaming-related events in as many U.S. cities, keeping with SID's 2011 theme. This year, we're building on that success, and partnering with AARP.
Microsoft and AARP today released results of their first-ever "Connecting Generations" research study focused on technology and Internet use among teens (13-17), young adults (18-25), parents (39-58) and older adults (59-75).
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Posted by Fred HumphriesVice President, U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft
Consumer trust is vital to the growth of a vibrant Internet, and respect for privacy – putting people first – is essential to earning and maintaining that trust. Today’s release by the White House of their framework signifies an important milestone in the evolution of privacy interests of Americans and individuals around the world.
The Administration’s policy promotes an environment of transparency and meaningful privacy choices. Further, we are hopeful that the policy’s establishment of a robust stakeholder dialogue will lead to more specific solutions and help overcome challenges faster. We support the Administration in this effort.
Microsoft views today’s announcement as essential to a comprehensive approach to privacy that includes federal privacy legislation, technology tools for consumers, effective self-regulation, and all stakeholders working together on initiatives to improve privacy practices.
Posted by Lauren WoodmanGeneral Manager, Partners in Learning, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft
Today is UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day, and as we celebrate language diversity, we have a chance to reflect on the role Microsoft plays in the preservation of language and culture.
Our goal for more than 30 years has been to bring technology into the hands of more citizens around the world. However, with 7 billion people in the world speaking countless various languages, bringing technology to all their homes is a challenge, but one that Microsoft’s Local Language Program is working hard to surmount.
The Local Language Program focuses on developing and tailoring Microsoft products to grant minority language speakers similar access to technology as someone speaking a mainstream language. Consider Spain, a country with more than 47 million citizens and five languages. Seventy-four percent of the population speaks Castilian Spanish, but 26 percent speak Valencian, Basque, Catalan or Galician. In a modern world ripe with technology, these precious languages – symbols of culture and heritage – could be lost forever.
Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues
This morning, Brad Smith, Executive Vice President of Legal & Corporate Affairs at Microsoft, joined NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (pictured here) and other Seattle-area business leaders in a forum organized by the Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF).
They participated in a panel to examine some of the ways in which the public and private sectors can collaborate across all levels of education to align curricula with high demand jobs, particularly those in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Jody Holtzman, Senior Vice President of AARP Thought Leadership. The post is focused on a new nationwide survey that examines the growth of social networking and online communication among people of all ages.
Working together, AARP and Microsoft are exploring how technology is changing society for the aging population. In 2009, the two organizations looked at the unique relationship baby boomers have to technology and how those 78 million older Americans are actively shaping the devices, software and services of tomorrow by the choices they are making today.
We saw then that Boomers are connected, online, and comfortable with technology. Boomers like me have been using computers in the workplace since the eighties. Looking forward, this means that there will be a diminishing technology divide based on age, and usage and comfort will be ubiquitous - provided the tech industry produces products and services that are intuitive, not laden with features all designed with multiple tiny black buttons that only the eyes of a 20-something engineer could love.