Pop City

Pop Filter Event of the Week: American Revival at the Byham

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Who's been raising the roof at prestigious venues across the country, from the Grand Ole Opry to A Prairie Home Companion? This Sunday, connect the musical dots between Doc Watson and The Dixie Bee-Liners and discover the lineage from The Carter Family to Uncle Earl all on one stage. Inside the elegant Byham, follow the sounds of traditional bluegrass, folk and country music to an all-star showcase that brings young stars of American roots music together for the first time.

Photo Slide Show: Why We're Choosing Pittsburgh

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pop City teamed up with G.L.U.E. (Great Lakes Urban Exchange) for a recent event that starred young talent in Pittsburgh. The question was posed: Why stay in Pittsburgh? Or: what would it take to stay in Pittsburgh? See their responses in this enlightening and entertaining photo slide show.

Pop Goes the Culture Club!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

While we won't be publishing next week for Thanksgiving, the Pop City team will be out in full force as we sponsor the Culture Club at Carnegie Museum of Art this Thursday, November 19. Join us for this artsy and creative Happy Hour when Raymund Ryan, curator of architecture, will talk about the about the new exhibition, Palm Springs Modern: Photographs by Julius Shulman. For only $5 plus admission you get two drinks and the chance to meet and hobnob with fellow art lovers.

Pop Star: Frank Toker

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:47:52 GMT

Why rewrite the definitive tome on Pittsburgh? Things have changed, says author Frank Toker. His new book reflects the idea that the city is dynamic. "It's freer, less constricted, much decentralized. A thousand voices are rising -- that's all to the good."

Pop Filter Event of the Week: ToonSeum opens new Downtown digs

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Small but mightyâmuch like the very characters that grace its wallsâcould be the tagline for one of Pittsburgh's most unique cultural gems. Previously housed within the Children's Museum, ToonSeum, our one-of-kind (and one of only three in the country) museum of cartoon art is making its Downtown debut with a daylong grand opening celebration on Saturday. So channel your inner Casper or Betty Boop and head to the Cultural District this Saturday. That's all folks!

New Girl in Town: What's New in Pittsburgh?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What's new and exciting in town? Follow New Girl as she gets the dish on the newest restaurants--one is a plum, the other is a contradiction in terms--along with unique museums and an architecturally stunning building with a big name (or two) on it.

Saving Lives One Global Link at a Time

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What began as an idea among three friends has blossomed into a powerhouse non-profit that improves patient care for thousands of people worldwide. Now celebrating 20 years, Global Links is a story of necessity, efficiency and most of all, generosity.

Pop Video: North Shore Riverfront Trails

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:42:00 GMT

If you want to look at just one thing that has transformed Pittsburgh, look at the Riverfront trails. In this video, recreational users, dog owners and even a wedding couple explain why they love the idyliic and scenic Northshore trails. May we suggest: Get out there while the weather is still good.

Pop Filter Event of the Week: Three Rivers Film Festival

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If it's November, it's time to pick up a Silver Screenie Pass and head to the Three Rivers Film Festival (3RFF). For the next 16 days, channel your inner auteur with films that span international boundaries, experimental methods and regional themes. From a profound portrait of 16-year-old Harlem girl "Precious" to an erotic vampire comedy, we've got your ticket.

Cool Digs: Pittsburgh Architecture Part Two

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

All across the city, young, visionary architects are helping to reshape the way Pittsburghers think about where and how we live. As one architect says, they're implementing new ideas, improving neighborhoods and proving that good design is sustainable. Not to mention creating very cool spaces for living.

A Taste of Peru in the Strip

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A fairly new Peruvian polleria in the Strip is attracting a lot of attention for its signature dish of marinated and roasted chicken. Meet the young and spirited owner from Peru, Shelbin Santos, who insists on an authentic experience and delivers.

Pop Filter Event of the Week: Calendar of Creepy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Whether you're sewing an elaborate getup or planning an 11th hour run to Costume World, don't get caught dead staying in this weekend. Not sure which spooky spots to hit first? Relax, we've got your calendar of creepy and cool all mapped out. So just boo it.

What Cleveland Has that Pittsburgh Wants

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When New Girl proposed writing a travel story about Cleveland, we countered with this idea: what if we did a feature on great things going on in Cleveland that aren't happening in Pittsburgh? In the interest of raising our game, we want to know what other cities are doing that we could get going here. So in that spirit, take a closer look at our closest city and see what there is to love and emulate. This could turn into a series. Next up: Baltimore or Detroit?

Pop Video: Washington's Landing

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Want to see one of the most unusual and appealing real estate developments in Pittsburgh? Check out Washington's Landing, a brownfield redevelopment on an island within view of downtown. With bike paths and boats and kayaks, it offers something out of the ordinary, with views to die for.

PPG Paints: The Color's the Thing

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What better time to feature a story on paint colors than this colorful time of year? And who better to do it than our color-obsessed writer, Beth Evans, who focuses on the amazing things going on at PPG Paints. Not only can they predict color trends years out but now, through online surveys, they can also determine your color personality. Our writer was humbled at their accuracy.

Public transportation makes Pittsburgh a top commuter-friendly city

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh has been named a top city by U.S. News for "people who hate driving and long commutes," reports Yahoo! Real Estate.

To compile its list, U.S. News included cities with populations of more than 50,000. They then considered the average commuting time in metropolitan areas throughout the country--24.4 minutes in 2009, according to the Census--and narrowed the list to cities with even shorter average commuting times.

In Pittsburgh the average commute time is 23.1 minutes, and 33.5 percent of commuters are non-car commuters, meaning they travel by foot, bicycle or public transportation.

"[Pittsburgh] has a large public transit system for its size," the study reports. "Pittsburgh's transit system, the Port Authority of Allegheny County, has a daily ridership of 240,000 on its buses and light rail. The city also has one of the largest bus rapid transit systems in the country, with three bus-only highways. Its light rail system has the 16th-most passenger miles traveled of any light rail in the country, according to the American Public Transportation Association."

Click here to read the complete Yahoo! Real Estate article.

Pittsburgh International Airport has $5.7 billion economic impact

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pittsburgh International Airport remains a major economic engine for the region, directly and indirectly supporting 71,000 jobs that last year pumped $5.7 billion into the economy.

Currently, Pittsburgh has 150 daily flights to 38 destinations.

According to last year's study, released Friday, Pittsburgh International directly and indirectly supported 71,160 jobs with wages totaling $2.1 billion, or $29,511 per job. Direct, on-airport employment totaled 12,100 jobs with combined wages of $540.2 million, or $44,645 per job.

Click here to read the complete Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article.

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Allegheny County offers Cleveland local government lessons in reform

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Cuyahoga County could learn a lot from Allegheny County in terms of local government reform.

The article states, "In 1998, Allegheny County voters sacked a three-commissioner government. Installed in its place: a home-rule, charter form of county government led by a powerful, elected county executive, and a counterbalancing 15-member County Council... Nineteen Browns losses to the Steelers later, Cuyahoga County is following suit."

Pittsburgh leaders--including the first county executive Jim Roddey; Morton Coleman, director emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh's Institute of Politics; and Duquesne University's Chancellor John E. Murray, Jr.--give advice, such as: "People are still the key, "remain vigilant and hold the county's chief accountable, "don't over-concentrate black voters, "demand more" and "be patient."

Click here to read the complete Cleveland Plain Dealer article.

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Pittsburgh one of safest metro areas in U.S. for pedestrians

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Need an excuse to take a walk? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Pittsburgh has been ranked as one of the top 50 safest cities for pedestrians by Transportation of America, a coalition of groups seeking to shape federal transportation policy to positive effect.

Pittsburgh was ranked 49th out of 52 in degree of danger.

Click here to read the complete Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

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Dozen, CoCo's battle it out for best cupcake in the Burgh

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The battle for "best cupcake in the Burgh" emerges once again, this time as a poll on blog Boring Pittsburgh.

The contenders: CoCo's in Shadyside and Dozen, which last week opened its fifth location, this one on the South Side.

Currently, Dozen is in the lead with 56 percent of the votes, CoCo's got 20 percent, and 24 percent of the votes go to write-ins.

Looks like Dozen's got this match in the (pastry) bag, but we say: Don't count out Vanilla Pastry Studio to rear its pretty little head.

Click here to read the complete Boring Pittsburgh blog post.

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Landesberg Design: Behind some of Pittsburgh's most recognizable logos

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There's a new Pittsburgh art, design and architecture blog on the block. Steeltown Anthem looks great and the content provides a fresh, fun perspective on the people and places we get all too used to seeing out and about.

The blog features posts on: Art installations at the Mattress Factory; the sustainable, affordable architecture at FISHER ARCHitecture firm; the font on 21st Street Coffee's sign; and more.

A recent post calls attention to Landesberg Design, which has designed logos, signage, websites and more for everyone from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture to the City Theatre and the John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.

Click here to read the complete Steeltown Anthem blog post.

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Mister Rogers set temporarily rebuilt and opened to public

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh's most famous neighborhood--Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe, that is--came back to life this past weekend, reports the Los Angeles Times. The set was rebuilt and opened for two days to the public at the WQED studio, where the show was taped, in honor of the studio being renamed for Fred Rogers.

Replicas of parts of the set exist elsewhere at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pa., and at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, which has a play area based on the set.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, now in its 41st year, is the longest-running show on public television.

Click here to read the complete Los Angeles Times article on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Grant programs help Pittsburgh school buses reduce diesel emissions

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A feature in Keystone Edge, Pop City's Pennsylvania-wide sister publication, highlights the problem of school buses spewing diesel exhaust, and how Pittsburgh is working toward a solution.

In May, the Pittsburgh School District proclaimed that bus contractors must make their bus engines cleaner by 2013, writes Christine O'Toole.

Two local grant programs have offered to help bus contractors pay for retrofits that will reduce emissions, thus promote healthier air and healthier kids. The Heinz Endowments gave $500,000 to a Healthy School Bus Fund to help city bus contractors. And the Allegheny County Department of Health offered to pay 75 percent of the cost for most districts in the region. Additionally, two local citizens' groups, the Group Against Smog and Pollution and Clean Water Action, have been instrumental in the public campaign.

Click here to read the complete Keystone Edge article.

CAPA student percussionist plays for first lady for second time

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jason Yoder, a 16-year-old junior at CAPA, has performed not once, but twice, for first lady Michelle Obama. In September, the percussionist performed with world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma for Obama and the other G-20 delegates' spouses during the summit. And Yoder, a Squirrel Hill resident, performed again by invitation on Wed., Nov 4, Yoder in the White House Music Series' Classical Music Student Workshop Concert.

"It is just truly an honor for Jason and for the school and for our district. We tell our students all the time that the arts will take them anywhere, and this is especially true for Jason," CAPA principal Melissa Pearlman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Click here to read the complete Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on Jason Yoder.

Pittsburgh food bloggers dish on new Giant Eagle Market District

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Who better to dish on the new Giant Eagle Market District in Robinson's Settlers Ridge shopping center than Pittsburgh's food bloggers?

Just a sampling from the buffet:

FoodBurgh writes, "Every time I thought I found the end, I ran into yet another dining possibility," and makes sure to explain that Giant Eagle specially courted bloggers, holding a reception and tour just for new media types in the Burgh.

Burghilicious states, "This is not a grocery store. This is a grocery hangar. First of all, the prepared foods cafe in this Market District is ginormous. In addition to a truly massive traditional salad bar, there is a hot bar and also a cold bar featuring things like lentils, curried couscous and hummus. But then there's also a crepe stand, sushi, a rotisserie, tossed-to-order salads, a pizza counter, a curry and stir-fry corner, and more options that I am not able even to remember, let alone enumerate. Plus free wifi."

She also highlights the produce section (which features entire hydroponic system right in the middle of the room), the meat counter and cheese locker, and the carryout beer section.

Finally, Culinary Cory details a very cool cooking demonstration by Ted Allen, host of Chopped on Food Network, and promises to post more pics shortly.

Local mutt acts as mom for Zoo's orphaned African painted pups

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nine African painted dog pups were born just days ago at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Sadly, the mother died shortly thereafter. Luckily, a surrogate mixed breed dog was found who was happy to step in, reports a blog called ZooBorns. "Honey," the mixed-breed mom, had delivered six pups several weeks earlier. Staffers at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society had just started weaning Honey's pups so she was still able to nurse.

Sure, there are more "reputable" news sources than ZooBorns that featured this story, but ZooBorns has the distinction of including a video, which, yes, is adorable.

Click here to read the ZooBorns blog post in the African painted pups, and view the video.

Kenny Chesney's Pittsburgh stop makes star's upcoming 3-D movie

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One of country music's biggest stars, Kenny Chesney, is releasing a 3-D movie this spring, and Pittsburgh's going to have a starring role in it.

For Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D, more than 20 cameras followed this past summer's stadium concerts in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco and Foxborough, Mass., reports USA Today.

The film will feature more than just Chesney's stage show, though. And that's where Pittsburgh comes in. For example, before Chesney's June concert at Heinz Field, 3-D cameras filmed Chesney performing on a houseboat on the Ohio River.

"We did a 35-minute show with all the tailgaters, right on the water. Unless you're down there, nobody gets to see that," Chesney says.

Nobody except all the audiences watching the film, that is. And everyone lucky enough to call Pittsburgh home.

Click here to read the complete USA Today article on Kenny Chesney.

Steelers' Hines Ward helps biracial youth embrace two cultures

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Steelers receiver Hines Ward is profiled by the New York Times for his work with biracial youth. Ward was born in Seoul to a Korean mother and an African-American soldier father, and was raised mainly in Georgia by his mother, the article states.

Through collaboration with Pearl S. Buck International--which has provided social services to biracial children in South Korea since 1965--Ward inspires "Amerasian" children to never be ashamed, and to embrace the opportunity to be part of two cultures.

A group of eight such youth were invited to spend time with Ward in Pittsburgh in October. They waved Terrible Towels and cheered the Steelers to victory over the Minnesota Vikings, and shared an intimate dinner with Ward before turning to South Korea.

Click here to read the complete New York Times article on Hines Ward.

Mayor Ravenstahl faces challenges... the election, it seems, is not one of them

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The New York Times featured a profile of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on Nov. 1, just a day before Tuesday's election, which stated, "Mr. Ravenstahl is expected to win."

The piece chronicles Mayor Ravenstahl's achievements--from streamlining snow removal and cutting Pittsburgh's work force by 2 percent--as well as his challenges--such as repairing the city's pension system.

The article also makes sure to swoon over the fact that Pittsburgh "has done fairly well in replacing its steel industry with jobs in education, health care and a variety of 'green' businesses."

Click here to read the complete New York Times article on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Carrier may restore daily regional flights to and from Pittsburgh

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh International Airport may see more service to smaller cities starting the first quarter of 2010.

Gulfstream International Airlines, a Fort Lauderdale-based airline, is in negotiations with the Allegheny County Airport Authority to add nonstop service to six to eight cities, including Harrisburg and Du Bois.

"Pittsburgh has been without nonstop flights to the state capital since September 2008, when US Airways discontinued the service," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article states.

Click here to read the complete Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on Gulfstream International Airlines.

Silicon Vox races to market its silicon-speed speech recognition tech, hiring

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The next time you hear the words "this conversation is being recorded for quality control purposes," think of Pittsburgh-based Silicon Vox.

Speech recognition technology is a $10 billion market, so the system that can translate human speech into text most efficiently and quickly will ultimately win a large piece of that pie. Silicon Vox is in the race and believes it's ahead of the competition.

A Carnegie Mellon spinout, the company, in semi-stealth mode, has raised $1.3 million to date, is seeking another $400,000 in seed funding and anticipates a $5 million Series A round in late 2010.

What makes Silicon Vox unique is a hardware platform that compliments the software, enabling the system to run 20 times faster than systems currently on the market, and for half the price. Its slim suitcase-size also consumes far less space.

"Nobody currently in the market is selling anything that could compete reputably with what we have," says Anthony Gadient, CEO. "There are other researchers looking at hardware implementation at UC Berkley and in South Korea, but we hope to be the first on the market."

The product, still in development , hopes to be ready by July 2010. Silicon Vox believes the company will be profitable by early 2011 with projected revenues of $2 million in the first year. The company currently employs 11 and plans to double to 21 employees within the year.

Initial users of the Silicon Vox system will come from the telecom, financial and national security areas where conversations are mined for business intelligence: to understand which sales promotions are most effective, to determine if frauds are being perpetrated and to understand the problems encountered by customers and what the competition is doing.

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Anthony Gadient, Silicon Vox

Image courtesy of Silicon Vox

Pittsburgh, the electric car commuting capital of the world?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The electric car is back in a big way for Pittsburgh commuters.

Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute researchers have succeeded in converting a gas-fueled Scion xB into a humming electric car, and that's not all. Dubbed ChargeCar, the electric vehicles are equipped with the artificial intelligence to conserve battery life and a "supercapacitor" that allows it to run more efficiently, meaning Pittsburgh could be behind the wheel of an electric car in the next two years.

Managing the power of the cars is a primary goal of ChargeCar research. An intelligent electric car controller could recapture almost half of its energy during braking; a supercapacitor could reduce 56 percent of the load on the batteries and reduce heating of the batteries, which shortens battery life, says Illah Nourbakhsh, associate professor of robotics.

"Instead of waiting for batteries to get better, we can do something clever to give us cheap electric cars faster," says Nourbakhsh. "Pittsburgh can be a cottage industry town where you can take your car and convert it to electric."

Nourbakhsh and his team have big plans for the new technology. Researchers have already realized 80 percent in fuel savings commuting between Mt. Lebanon and Oakland, he says. The team hopes to work with local mechanics to supply the tools and know-how to give customers an electric option. New car makers will follow.

ChargeCar has also created a national clearinghouse for commuter data and invites everyone to participate. The database, available to all, will help researchers tailor the algorithms that manage the capacity and improve vehicle efficiency. To partcipate, click here.

"We can be the first in the country to go electric," says Nourbakhsh. "It will make our world quieter, less polluted, reduce asthma and will require less energy because the cars are charged off-peak at night. We will become the place where the future of car technology is meeting the present."

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Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Illah Nourbakhsh, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute

Image courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University

deeplocal does it again with Waffle Wednesdays

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Need marketing, tech or design advice or just have a hankering for waffles on a Wednesday?

Deeplocal is opening its studio on select Wednesday mornings to mingle and munch gourmet waffles while imparting free consulting advice. The tech staff has been busy practicing their best waffling skills leading up to the event, says Nathan Martin, CEO.

"Waffle Wednesdays takes multi-tasking to a new level," adds Heather Estes of deeplocal. "We've been training with hand grips and juggling flash drives all week to ensure that we're ready."

The studio will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Nov. 18 (that's this morning!), Dec. 2 and Dec. 16. Future times to be announced. Everyone's invited, it's totally free, very informal and no RSVP is necessary. Check here for directions and more!

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Image of Dimitry Bentsionov, with Heather Estes in the background making waffles, courtesy of deeplocal

Source: The deeplocal staff

Computers that can read minds and more at Intel's Open House

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Imagine changing channels on your TV just by thinking about it. Looking up the calorie content of a Chipolte Chicken sandwich by taking its picture with your cell phone. A computer that recognizes your face.

Science fiction meets the real world during the annual Intel Labs Pittsburgh open house at Carnegie Mellon, and this year was no exception. Pioneered by Intel, the industry-university-research center encourages long-term research with the ultimate goal of achieving major breakthroughs on some of the biggest challenges of our times in the fields of computers, robotics and healthcare.

There's Dean Pomerleau of the NeuroSys project who wants to make our encounters with computers and mobile devices as natural as thinking. "This will revolutionize the way we interact with devices," he says, demonstrating an exotic brain imaging program that is able to infer which of two words you may have on your mind.

Imagine a day in the future telling your cell phone to call your friend Joe, Pomerleau says. "We will think and make it happen."

The home robot, bartender and housekeeper named Herb has evolved from a baby stage last year to a troubled teenager, jokes Sidd Srinivasa, senior research scientist. "Now he takes tasks and links them together in a progression," he explains while Herb carries a box of Pop Tarts to the sink. "Next year Herb will have two arms and be pushing for full autonomy and an infinite loop."

With each passing year, it becomes all the more evident that the imaginations of the scientific researchers at Intel are moving in a world beyond physical boundaries, probably in a computing cloud somewhere. Intel employs 2o full time Intel employees who work with students, both undergrad, graduate and PHd's as well as Carnegie Mellon facility.

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Dean Pomerleau, Sidd Srinivasa, Intel Labs

PittCult, the new local event website with swarm intelligence

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:47:14 GMT

Move over YouTube and Flickr. Join the swarm with the city's latest wiki-like website for cultural events, PittCult.

More than just an events calendar, the site is an experiment in building digital communities. It was created by Danielle Lee, a doctoral student in Pitt's School of Information Sciences. PittCult relies on the willingness of its members to participate in the flow of digital information, highlighting events throughout the city, reviews and rendezvous plans with friends.

"The site is a kind of informational ant colony," explains Peter Brusilovsky, a Pitt professor who runs the lab where the platform was created. "As more people post events and interact, the more useful PittCult becomes and the more enticing it is to others looking to be in the cultural know."

PittCult uses "swarm intelligence "--the use of a large digital group to stay informed--to harness the collective wisdom of the society. Above all, it serves as a research platform to investigate the most useful features in the process. The findings will hopefully help us do more important things in the future like save lives, says Brusilovsky.

Users can promote or recommend events to friends through the social network as well as post comments and follow each other. "Friends can watch friends," he adds. The site is averaging 300 hits and day and has 91 members since its debut in October.

Check out PittCult.

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Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Peter Brusilovsky, University of Pittsburgh

Image of Danielle Lee courtesy of Pitt

Millions for new technologies, apply here

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Technology startups with the right stuff can benefit from two new sources of funding.

Got a new energy product or a great idea for a new coal or wind process? The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center is offering grants for the development of new products and companies using advanced materials technologies within the energy industry.

The Center will provide federal matching funds with $500,000 in state money made available through the PA Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, a $ 1.1 million program that will be accepting application through the end of 2009.

The goal is to generate new ideas as well as researcher-industry partnerships to commercialize new energy technologies, says Dr. Alan Brown, executive director. "We really want to boost (the state's) visibility as a hub of innovative new ideas to solve the nation's energy problems; portray to the world that we are a hub for research, robotics and green energy."

For more information on applying for grants visit www.pananocenter.org or contact Leoné Hermans-Blackburn at leonehb@pananocenter.org or (412) 918-4239.

The Technology Collaborative has likewise announced that it will award $1.5 million in technology commercialization funding to universities, startup companies and established companies in Pennsylvania.

"Our goal is to continue funding projects that present the best opportunities for commercialization and economic growth for southwestern Pennsylvania, says David Ruppersberger, president and CEO.

Through a competitive selection process, TTC intends to award funding for projects ranging up to $150,000 each that address key engineering design challenges, show a high degree of innovation and identify a clear path to commercialization with the potential to significantly impact digital and/or robotics-related companies in Pennsylvania.

For more information, click here.

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Wellspring Worldwide acquires Flintbox of Canada, hiring

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wellspring Worldwide has taken an expansive leap with the purchase of Vancouver-based Flintbox Innovation Network, a leading global intellectual property exchange.

Founded in 2003, Wellspring aspires to be a global leader in technology commercialization software, helping universities, small businesses and non-profits to translate intellectual property into successful commercial enterprises. Acquiring Flintbox, a sort of Ebay for university technologies, allows Wellspring to combine the two platforms and expand the client base, says Rob Lowe, CEO.

"Our client base historically hadn't overlapped," says Lowe, formerly the founding director of Enterprise Creation at Carnegie Mellon University where he advised aspiring startup companies. "We see this as the beginning of a bigger opportunity for more services down the road."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Wellspring operates in Europe and North America while Flintbox clients are in Canada and Asia. The acquisition will extend Wellspring's Technology Gateway product to encompass over 160 universities, government labs and companies able to post, exchange, license, and purchase technologies online.

The company currently employs 24 and has an office in Cambridge, England, in addition to its Pittsburgh headquarters. Wellspring plans to hire five to seven people in the next 18 months in software development.

"We see this as a big opportunity for growth in Pittsburgh, once we've got the software systems integrated," Lowe says.

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Rob Lowe, Wellspring Worldwide

Image of CEO Rob Lowe courtesy of Wellspring

The state of the technology industry tells a steady story

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The technology industry, and the energy sector in particular, has continued on a steady upward trajectory, good news for the region.

The Pittsburgh Technology Council released its State of the Industry Report for 2009 this month. While the report was upbeat--with more tech companies and jobs and significant strides in annual payroll--it really wasn't "exponentially exciting," says Audrey Russo, president and CEO.

"It's a slow, steady upward journey," reflects Russo, who is hesitant to put any spin on it. "We shouldn't be resting on our laurels. The story here is really diversity, small diversity, and big diversity. The medical, the educational, the seedlings. The proof in the pudding will be when the economy picks back up."

The report covers the 13-county region and examines the role played by tech industry clusters and other key factors in the economy of southwestern PA from 2005 to 2007. Among the findings:

The region has 8,438 tech companies that employ more than 248,000 with a total annual payroll in excess of $14.5 billion in 2007. This was up from 8,321 companies and 242,164 jobs in 2005.

Regional technology industries' total annual payroll represented 27.5 percent of the total payroll for the region, indicating that technology jobs do pay more than the average wage.

This marked the first time the report included the energy tech sector, which had the largest growth in number of companies and jobs and included coal, nuclear, petroleum, natural gas, power storage and hydroelectric.

Health services represented a significant portion of the life sciences industry cluster, with more than 2,900 companies and employing more than 105,000. The health services subcluster has a total annual payroll of $5.5 billion.

"Telling the story here is a little complex," says Russo. "We have a high density of really smart people working really hard to innovate and change the world."

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Audrey Russo, Pittsburgh Technology Council

Pittsburgh-based political comedy network Zolitics debuts online

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Two Pittsburgh political consultants have teamed up to help create the world's first online network devoted exclusively to the irreverently funny world of politics.

Zolitics.com was created by several prominent political consultants including Pittsburgh's own John Brabender, a Republican media consultant who worked on the campaigns of Rudy Giuliani, Tom Ridge, and Senator Rick Santorum, and political consultant Leslie Gromis Baker, a Mt. Lebanon resident. Baker worked on the Bush 2004 re-election campaign and was a top consultant on the McCain 2008 presidential bid.

"Moving Numbers" is the first up, an originally scripted show that was filmed in Brabender's production studio on Mt. Washington. Shot last May, the dramedy tells the story about the "dysfunctional but never boring" campaign of a fictional Pa. U.S. Senator. Set in Pittsburgh, it gives viewers a real-world, behind the scenes look at the highs and lows of running a high profile campaign, says Baker.

"The candidate is based on people we've worked with in the past," says Baker, who insists this isn't a backdoor attempt to pull any political punches for clients. "We have no other motive than to just be entertaining. After all, look what Tina Fey did for the election last year."

On the heels of "Moving On" is a reality-based show called "Scoops," which allows everyday citizens to compete on real life news stories along with famous politicians and reporters. "Look Who's Coming to Dinner," a joint production of Zolitics and Politics Magazine, introduces viewers to some of the most famous dining establishments in D.C. and allows them to eavesdrop on candid political conversations.

"My America" is a unique social experiment, bringing an outspoken liberal and conservative together to let the diversity sparks fly. The first show will feature former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and Democratic strategist, author, professor and Political Analyst for CNN, Donna Brazille.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Leslie Gromis Baker, Zolitics.com

Survey says PA slow to embrace social media marketing strategies, but it's not too late!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pennsylvania businesses and organizations aren't clamoring to adopt emarketing technologies to build their brands, but they are moving in the right direction.

All the more reason to learn more about it at Duquesne's upcoming 4th Annual Pa. Business Technology Conference on Nov. 12, geared to help firms develop the tech tools they need to drive sales and growth.

In anticipation of the event, the first annual Pennsylvania Technology Use Survey was compiled to measure the local impact of emarketing practices on small to medium sized businesses. Not surprisingly, LinkedIn was the clear winner for promoting products and services with 22%, followed by Facebook at 18% and Twitter at 12%.

In addition, only 42% of regional organizations have social media marketing strategies in place and 9% plan on moving in this direction. Local companies are less inclined to use sites like YouTube than national counterparts.

Nationally, Twitter has become the most adopted social media tool with 54 percent of Fortune 100 companies reporting a Twitter presence, according to another 2009 survey. The local survey was sponsored by Duquesne's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Ennect, a Pittsburgh emarketing software firm.

"The Internet has made it possible for small businesses to utilize technologies that once were only available -- at a much higher expense -- to larger companies," says Carol Wolicki, marketing director for Ennect. "Online software tools put the ability to research customer attitudes and preferences in the hands of small businesses at a fraction of the cost. This opens up a whole world of possibilities."

"Adapting to the Digital World--Becoming a Socially Savvy Business" will give companies strategies to better use digital social media. The conference will feature workshops on blogging, social media, search engine marketing, green tech and online advertising. The keynote speaker is Adam Kmiec, director of Interactive Marketing Innovation at MARC USA, and features panelists Audrey Russo of the Pittsburgh Tech Council and Tracy Certo of Pop City.

Source: Carol Wolicki, Ennect; Debbie Shiring, Elliance

Pittsburgh highschoolers star in new reality TV science show

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Of the hundreds of strains of salmonella that exist, why does only one make humans sick?

Pittsburgh's future scientists will explore this question and others in a new competitive reality TV show that pits high school student teams against one another as they unravel scientific mysteries. Science Mission 101, the first pilot in a potential future series, will air in Pittsburgh and across the country on American Public Television.

Catch it tomorrow night, Thursday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. on WQED-TV and encore programs on Nov. 15 at noon and Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

The show was inspired, in part, by the excitement generated by the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt Mobile Science Lab, an18-wheeler laboratory that goes from school to school, bringing the world of science to students beyond the ordinary Bunsen burner and Petri dish, says Darryl Ford Williams of WQED.

"I saw it and thought to myself, this is a show," says Williams. "The excitement of the truck engages students in a way that makes science more relevant."

The teams are judged based on cooperation, creativity, interpretation of experimental data, presentation and scientific thought. Team Awesome includes team leader Olivia Iannone, 14, of South Park High School; Jason Chen, 16, of North Allegheny High School; and Aliya Taylor, 16, of Riverview High School. Team Dominate is led by Dominic Stokes, 16, of Valley High School; Pietra Bruni, 16, of Seton La Salle High School; and Guthrie Gintzler, 16, of Taylor Allderdice High School.

Funding to produce the pilot for Science Mission 101 was provided by the PA Department of Education through the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (PPTN), PPG Industries Foundation and the University of Pittsburgh.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Darryl Ford Williams, WQED

Image courtesy of WQED

How will Obama's $100M Innovation Strategy impact the region?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:54:39 GMT

Just what is President Obama's Innovation Agenda all about?

The Pittsburgh Technology Council and Innovation Works have teamed up to take a look at this key national initiative, which involves $100 million in funding in 2010 to support regional innovation clusters and business incubators that will bring together the geographically shared resources of universities, research centers, companies and more.

Guest speakers Ed Paisley and Jonathan Sallet are authors of "Geography of Innovation: The Federal Government and the Growth of Regional Innovation Clusters," a powerful report published by the Center for America Progress, one of the most influential groups inside the beltway, says Time magazine.

"Pittsburgh has the history and experience in creating new innovation clusters, which is its own competitive advantage," says Paisley. "This is not just about university innovation, it's about workforce development, the bigger picture."

For the first time in American history, an administration is addressing the implementation of a national strategy to boost regional competitiveness. Pittsburgh is a perfect candidate as a city that is part of a region that encompasses three states. The session will reflect on the role of the U.S. Economic Development Administration in coordinating innovation policies with the White House and the potential impact of those policies on Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia.

The event will be held at Innovation Works Alpha Lab, 2325 Carson Street, on Thursday Nov. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. For more information, email events@pghtech.org or call 412-918-4229.

Source: Ed Paisley; Terri Glueck, Innovation Works

Hot Events: Mobile Art && Code at Carnegie Mellon and a CivicScience app contest

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Mobile Art && Code symposium at Carnegie Mellon and a cool $3,000 contest for a CivicScience-inspired Facebook application highlight this week's events.

Art && Code is an online community and series of events on the artistic and tactical potential of using various forms of mobile media for the democratization of computing tools for artists, young people and anyone interested.

The three day event, Nov. 6 to 8, features practical and arts programming workshops for popular mobile platforms such as the iPhone, Android, Nokia, Smartphones and more, along with an all-day FREE lecture that puts these technologies into the context of contemporary critical, artistic and design practices.

Sponsored through a grant from Microsoft Research, the program is a project of the Carnegie Mellon Studio for Creative Inquiry.

Feeling inspired to build a great Facebook app and a possibly win $3,000?

CivicScience is offering cash and prizes to a team or individual with the best Facebook app using the CivicScience polling, data analysis, user comparison and social networking platform. The winner will be selected by a team of experts including prominent software execs, engineers and venture capitalists.

Selected apps will be used for six weeks; the most down-loaded app wins. First prize is $3000 and a 3-month paid internship at CivicScience. Prizes for runners up include a new Netbook and Android Phone.

Source: Carnegie Mellon University; Civic Science

As billions roll in, BPL Global ready for big "smart grid" energy business

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:40:39 GMT

Pittsburgh's BPL Global is emerging as a leader in the bid to help America modernize its aging electricity infrastructure.

With $3.4 billion available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, BPLG is positioned to help utilities and other companies get to work. Last month the first funds were awarded, targeting private companies, utilities and other partners. The grants range from $400,000 to $200 million.

BPLG was identified by 19 of the 100 grant recipients and will be working in the next two months to secure more contracts as the work gets underway, says Keith Schaefer, co-founder, president and CEO.

"BPL Global will play a pivotal role as one of the leaders transforming the way energy will be delivered," Schaefer says. "We believe that the DOE and others have concluded that we have a proven scalable software answer to manage the distribution of data."

Schaefer believes that the overhaul of the nation's "smart grid" is every bit as historic as when NASA was formed to catapult the nation into space and the national Interstate highway system was created. The "smart grid" includes everything from enhanced monitoring and control of the existing electrical grid to improved consumer energy management. Companies across the country stand ready to take a piece of the stimulus pie.

The funding will create tens of thousands of jobs across the country, including smart meter manufacturing workers, engineering technicians, IT system designers, business and power system analysts, and more. BPLG figures it will quadruple revenues and double its employees in the next three years as business increases. For now, the company will add five more software developers and one IT management employee.

Now it's Pittsburgh's turn to tell its clean energy story to the world. Local leaders and the newly formed U.S. Center for Energy Leadership (USCEL) have set that as a goal.

"Our regional energy industry includes more than 800 firms, contributes more than 10 percent to our regional gross product and supports â directly and indirectly â more than 105,000 jobs," says Kathryn Klaber, executive vice president, Allegheny Conference on Community Development. "The combination of experience and expertise in the Pittsburgh region means that Pittsburgh can do for energy what the Silicon Valley did for computing."

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Keith Schaefer, BPL Global

Photo of Keith Schaefer, BPLG, courtesy of the company.

Getting enough zzz's? Pittsburgh sleep center expands, take the sleep quiz!

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:53:54 GMT

Pittsburgh needs its sleep. That's where LifeLine Specialty Outpatient Centers comes in.

The Forest Hills center for sleep disorders has expanded its 5-year-old operation from 10 to 22 centers over the past two years with the purchase of The Washington Hospital sleep clinics, marking the company's emergence as one of the first fully-integrated sleep centers in the region.

LifeLine was originally founded as an outpatient clinic to evaluate sleep disorders and sleep apnea, a disorder that results when a sufferer intermittently stops breathing due to partial or complete closure of the airway. With hospitals today moving away from the sleep therapy business, care for patients is shifting to clinics like LifeLine, explains Dann Scheiferstein, president and CEO.

LifeLine offers a range of stays, in both a hotel and clinical environment, and a full range of services, from evaluation to treatment and care, helping to restore patients to health.

"Testing is really just the front end of the patient experience," says Scheiferstein. "The treatment is the endgame. In most parts of the country treatment and testing is integrated. We are the only provider in Western Pennsylvania that is a full-service sleep company."

LifeLine works closely with Pittsburgh-based Philips Respironics to provide patients the sleep products they need. In addition, the company is forming partnerships with health care providers, such as Excela Health, to provide services. The company employs 65 and plans on more hiring in the future. Scheiferstein anticipates 20 percent annual growth in the next few years with the expansion of the operation.

Suffering from a a lack of sleep? Take the sleep quiz!

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Dann Scheiferstein, LifeLine Specialty Outpatient Centers

Photo of Dann Scheiferstein by Kevin Scheiferstein, Courtesy of LifeLine