Unlimited Potential World Updates

ICT in Africa, A Central Theme at the African Union Heads of State Summit This Month

Lori Keam — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:55:00 GMT

This week at the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa leaders from the continent are meeting on the theme of: “Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Africa: challenges and prospects for development.” Growing out of an increased recognition that technology is a critical element in supporting regional economic growth and competitiveness, the aim is to determine concrete action for the establishment of an Africa-wide information society.

The Heads of State will discuss the development of a harmonized policy framework for the ICT sector, and the development of national ICT promotion plans. It is expected that this will result in commitments to create an enabling environment for ICT development in order to promote investment in the sector and build infrastructure.

Microsoft has been a long time believer in the power of ICT to help regions develop internally and through sustainable means, especially by supporting local entrepreneurship and the growth of a local software economy.

Dr. Cheick Diarra, Microsoft Chairman for Africa, attended the opening session of the Summit. In September 2009 he co-chaired the EU-Africa Business Forum, also attended by many of the same African leaders, which provided recommendations on how ICT can be leveraged as a critical backbone of economic development and regional integration—among other factors like trade, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and energy.

African Union Heads of State Summit - UNECA Signing

Left to right: Richard Kiplagat, Microsoft, BDM Africa, Global Strategic Accounts;
Mr. Abdoulie Janne, UNECA Executive–Secretary; Dr. Cheick M. Diarra,
Chairman of Africa, Microsoft; Frank McCosker, Microsoft, GM, Global Strategic
Accounts

In Dr. Diarra’s own words:

“We are at the cusp of a transformation here in Africa. We are witnessing how investment, development and technology are helping to harness Africa’s abundant human capital, and helping create an environment in which rural and urban communities can realize their potential.

But to realize the potential of the broad range of technologies – mobile phones, computers, software and the Internet – resources must be matched by resourcefulness. The most constructive applications of technology will be the ones that are combined with initiatives by public-private partnerships, government leaders, educators and entrepreneurs.”

On the sidelines of the event, Microsoft signed new partnership agreements with three inter-governmental organizations to support the promotion of ICT and ICT policy in Africa: the World Bank, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the East African Community (EAC). More information on these announcements is available here.

African Union Heads of State Summit - EAC Signing

Left to right: Hon. Beatrice Kiraso, Deputy Secretary General, EAC; Cheick
Diarra, Microsoft Chairman for Africa

Introducing Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK 1.5 and Microsoft Mouse Mischief

Lori Keam — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:47:00 GMT

This week, some of our MultiPoint team members are lucky enough to be attending BETT—the world’s largest education technology event—in London. Since we’re focused on creating new technology products that can make teachers’ lives easier, it’s always a fantastic opportunity to be able to talk to them directly about what they are looking for from technology in the classroom.

No matter where we are, there’s one thing we hear that’s always the same: educators the world over want access to affordable, secure, and easy-to-use technology that gives them the tools to increase quality and variety in delivering their curriculum. These tools can help them and their students to be better prepared for success in the real world. We listened to this feedback when developing our shared resource computing technologies, our MultiPoint solutions, which give policymakers, teachers, and students access to such technology at an affordable and competitive price point. Today, we’re introducing two new MultiPoint solutions—Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK 1.5 and Microsoft Mouse Mischief.

Why? Well, for starters, publishers and education ISVs need a solution to help create new software that can harness the opportunities presented by shared resource computing scenarios. The Windows MultiPoint Mouse Software Development Kit (SDK for short) helps developers create interactive applications allowing up to 25 students, each with their own mouse, to interact on the same PC. It’s a simple but powerful solution that lets more kids use shared computing resources—and a great collaborative tool.

Today, we’re announcing the availability of MultiPoint Mouse SDK 1.5, available worldwide for download at www.microsoft.com/multipoint/mouse-sdk. Any education, casual gaming, or other ISV that would like to develop a product using the SDK can download it free from MSDN.

The MultiPoint Mouse SDK solution is also open to any and all partners who want to create new and compelling education content for students, and we’ve already seen numerous education publishers and ISVs developing solutions on the MultiPoint Mouse SDK around the world. Now, we’re happy to announce a couple of new programs built on MultiPoint Mouse SDK technology. Our partner Scholastic has developed Story Stage, an interactive and highly creative virtual puppet-based literacy application.

And our Russian content partner Noviy Disk is releasing the English version of Curriculum Curiosity, which draws on elements of creativity, construction and modeling, design and project work via five interactive workshops, encouraging teamwork and positive influence on communication skills development for young students.

Finally, to empower teachers to create their own content that can inspire and excite students, we developed Mouse Mischief—a new, free state-of-the-art MultiPoint-enabled tool that they can use to create interactive PowerPoint classroom presentations. With Mouse Mischief, students can use affordable, off-the-shelf USB mice as clickers to answer multiple-choice, yes/no, and matching questions – which teachers can insert in their presentations. A free beta download is available now at www.microsoft.com/multipoint/mouse-mischief, and a full version of Mouse Mischief is expected to be available in the first half of 2010.

So check out MultiPoint Mouse SDK and Mouse Mischief today, and help become a part of the future of personalized learning that’s possible through shared access computing solutions like these. We can’t wait to see what kind of new programs and solutions that teachers, developers, and students the world over come up with set loose to innovate with these free, powerful learning tools.

-Ira Snyder, General Manager, Startup Business Group

7 Ways Winner: Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula

Lori Keam — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:00 GMT

Today we are delighted to announce the seventh and final winner of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. Congratulations to Peter Pheap who submitted the video on behalf of Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula. The winning entry shows how a high school student uses his PC in different ways to support his community on his way to work at the Boys & Girls Club.

For 50 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula has provided places where children are welcome and can belong. The Club has evolved and is now regarded as one of the most comprehensive youth development organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, the Club has eight sites – three club house and five school based locations. Over 1,100 youth attend the Club daily.

Video - 7 Ways: Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula

We would like to congratulate Peter and everyone involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula for a great winning entry.

Why not take a look at some of the other video submissions for the 7 Ways to Change the World competition which you’ll find in the online gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date with the latest news by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter

7 Ways Winner: SkiDUCK

Lori Keam — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:35:00 GMT

Today we are announcing the sixth winner of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. Congratulations to Clint Lunde who submitted the video on behalf of SkiDUCK. The video explains how technology can help the team at SkiDUCK to be more efficient, spending more time helping deserving children and less time on administration.

SkiDUCK is a national non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of disabled and underprivileged children by sharing the joys of skiing and snowboarding. It is committed to partnering with local organizations with similar goals of serving disabled or underprivileged children. In areas where the skiing and snowboarding needs of disabled or underprivileged children are not currently being served, SkiDUCK seeks to establish a sustainable model of service with local resources and volunteers.

Video - 7 Ways: SkiDUCK

We would like to congratulate Clint and everyone involved with SkiDuck for a fun submission.

Tomorrow we’ll be announcing our seventh and final winner in the 7 Ways to Change the World competition.

In the meantime, why not take a look at some of the other video submissions which you’ll find in the online gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date on the winners by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter.

7 Ways Winner: Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Bremerton Branch

Lori Keam — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:00 GMT

Today we are announcing the fifth winner of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. Congratulations to Elizabeth Wallace who submitted the video on behalf of the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound: Bremerton Branch. The video: “Our new club member” takes a creative look at how a new PC with Windows 7 gets welcomed into the club.

Boys & Girls Clubs programs have taken members from the Clubhouse to the White House; from the games room to the corporate boardroom; from the high school orchestra to Carnegie Hall. Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today's most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. More than 25 national programs are available in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, leadership development and athletics.

Video - 7 Ways: Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Bremerton Branch

We would like to congratulate Elizabeth and everyone at the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound Bremerton Branch for a creative and fun submission.

On Monday we’ll announce our sixth winner in the 7 Ways to Change the World competition.

In the meantime, why not take a look at some of the other video submissions which you’ll find in the online gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date on the winners by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter.

7 Ways Winner: United Way of Central Carolinas

Lori Keam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Today we are announcing the fourth winner of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. Congratulations to Sherill Carrington who submitted the video on behalf of the United Way of Central Carolinas. The video: “Impacting the Non-Profit Need” looks at how technology can help non-profit organizations to do more with less, helping them to reduce costs, and drive efficiencies, enabling non-profits to develop creative solutions to address the needs of their communities.

United Way of Central Carolinas is a local and regional partnership of volunteers, donors, staff, agencies and people served, that raises and distributes funds and strives to strengthen community capacity and individual ability to care for one another.

Video - 7 Ways: United Way of Central Carolinas

We would like to congratulate Sherill and everyone at the United Ways of Central Carolinas for a thoughtful and useful entry.

Tomorrow we’ll announce our fifth winner in the 7 Ways to Change the World competition.

In the meantime, why not take a look at some of the other video submissions which you’ll find in the online gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date on the winners by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter.

7 Ways Winner: American Red Cross: Dallas Area Chapter

Lori Keam — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:50:00 GMT

Today we are delighted to announce the third winner of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. We’d like to congratulate Jennifer Jackson who submitted an entry on behalf of the American Red Cross: Dallas Area Chapter which presents a humorous look at how Windows 7 will help the Dallas Area Chapter to snap it, shake it and stick it.

The Dallas Area Chapter provides all Red Cross programs and services throughout its twelve county - 144 city service delivery area: Collin, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rains, Rockwall, and Van Zandt counties. Each year the Dallas Area Chapter helps more than 3,200 people across North Texas affected by disasters such as home fires, flooding, and tornadoes.

Video - 7 Ways: American Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter

Congratulations to Jennifer and to everyone at the American Red Cross Dallas Chapter on a fantastic entry.

Tomorrow we’ll be announcing our fourth winner in the 7 Ways to Change the World competition.

In the meantime, why not take a look at some of the other 135 video submissions which you’ll find in the online gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date on the winners by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter.

7 Ways Winner: Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group

Lori Keam — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:11:00 GMT

Today we are delighted to announce the second winner of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. We’d like to congratulate Danielle DeVoe who submitted an entry on behalf of the Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group.

The Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that works with communities to maximize self-sustaining salmon populations. In King and Eastern Kitsap Counties, we work cooperatively with private landowners, agencies, tribes and others to identify, design and implement projects that improve salmon habitat.

Video - 7 Ways: Windows 7 Helping Salmon

Congratulations to Danielle and to everyone involved in the Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group.

Check back tomorrow when we’ll be announcing our third winner in the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. Why not browse through the incredible contest submissions which you’ll find in the gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date on the winners by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter.

7 Ways Winner: The More than Me Foundation

Lori Keam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:05:00 GMT

Starting today, until November 24^thwe’ll be announcing the 7 winners of the 7 Ways to Change the World competition with one winner being announced each working day.

We are delighted to announce our first winning entry, submitted by Stephanie Hood on behalf of the More than Me Foundation.

The More than Me Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that strives to bring education and mentorship opportunities to students in countries where access is commonly denied while strengthening and building our local community through the project work. Currently, More than Me is working in post war Liberia in an effort to bring primary education to all of her children.

Video - 7 Ways: More than Me Foundation

Congratulations to Stephanie and to everyone involved in the More than Me Foundation.

Check back tomorrow when we’ll be announcing our second winner in the 7 Ways to Change the World competition. While you are there why not browse through the incredible submissions which you’ll find in the gallery.

You can also keep up-to-date on the winners by following @msftcitizenship on Twitter.

Update: 7 Ways to Change the World - Video Contest

Lori Keam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

Good morning.

The deadline for submissions to our 7 Ways to Change the World competition closed last week.

The objective of the competition was to encourage people to share their ideas on how a PC running Windows could help an organization to have a greater impact in the community.

We would like to send our congratulations and thanks to everyone who took the time to share their ideas and we’d strongly recommend you view the entries in our online 7 Ways Gallery.

The response to the competition has been incredible, both in terms of the quality and the volume of entries. It has provided our judges with an incredibly hard challenge in selecting just 7 winners.

Later today we will announce the first winner here and we’ll then be announcing the other six winners each working day until November 24^th 2009.