Posted by Mark WhittingtonGeneral Manager, Worldwide Public Safety & National Security, Microsoft
Effective information delivery for both proactive and reactive response is one of the most frequent challenges I encounter across our industry. Sharing critical, real-time situational awareness is crucial for government agencies, and in particular public safety and law enforcement agencies around the world to succeed at their missions. Something as seemingly simple as linking two data points to a place on a map can provide the puzzle piece that thwarts a terrorist attack or warns a neighborhood in time to evacuate before flash floods hit.
Global corporations can face similar security challenges to those of nations, working to get the right information into the hands of those who can help secure or protect a company. Microsoft has invested heavily in securing our people, our facilities and our assets. Today at the Worldwide Public Safety Symposium, we announced we’re implementing our new data visualization and analysis technology across our three Global Security Operations Centers (GSOCs).
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Posted by Horacio GutierrezCorporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft
Earlier this week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office released information on its Proposed Patent Fee Schedule. In announcing the Proposed Fee Schedule, Director David Kappos noted that the key principles of the proposed fee schedule are to ensure a more sustainable funding model for the USPTO, and to reduce the backlog of unexamined patent applications and decrease patent application pendency. The USPTO is holding public hearings later this month and inviting feedback and public input on the proposed fee schedule to guide it in making adjustments. A final proposed fee schedule is anticipated in June 2012, which will open a 60-day public comment period to submit written input directly to the Office.
Microsoft strongly supports the ongoing efforts of the USPTO to improve patent examination quality, and enhance the efficiency and operations of the Office.
Posted by Fred HumphriesVice President, U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft
Earlier today, Microsoft and Politico hosted a conversation with White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra on the future of technology at Microsoft’s Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. The event, moderated by Politico tech policy writers, featured an interactive discussion covering the top tech issues of 2012, including privacy, piracy, patent law and spectrum reform.
An overall theme that emerged was the vital role of technology innovation in driving today’s global marketplace. Chopra emphasized the link by pointing out that it is not “just about technology itself, it’s how technology can modernize sectors of the economy to improve economic growth.” This discussion was especially timely coming on the eve of the President’s State of the Union speech tomorrow night to the U.S. Congress.
Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues Blog
Ahead of President Obama’s Jan. 24 State of the Union Address, White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra will be the featured guest on Jan. 23 at a joint Microsoft-POLITICO “innovation conversation” at Microsoft’s Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Reporters from POLITICO will be on hand to ask Chopra about the status of the President’s innovation agenda, to preview the State of the Union speech, and to get insights on the Administration’s 2012 tech policy agenda.
Those outside of Washington, D.C. can still participate by viewing the live Webcast starting at 8 a.m. ET. The event Webcast will also be archived for later viewing.
A new study released yesterday by the American Enterprise Institute confirms the powerful job-creation effects for American workers when well-educated foreign nationals are welcomed into our workforce. According to the study, each additional 100 foreign-born holders of advanced degrees from U.S. universities working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields create an additional 262 jobs among U.S. workers.
This conclusion lines up with prior research, and with our experience at Microsoft. Our workforce is made up overwhelmingly of U.S. workers, but foreign experts on work visas are a critical part of our innovation and job-creation dynamic. This means not only direct job creation, but dramatic downstream economic effects as well. According to a 2010 study by the University of Washington’s Economic Policy Research Center, every job at Microsoft supported 5.81 jobs elsewhere in the state’s economy.