SiliconPrairieSocial - Chicago Suburban Tech News and Events

After Splitting Off, Motorola Solutions Schaumburg Sees Good Year

admin — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:15:31 +0000

Original Post (1/26/12): After breaking away from Motorola Inc. in January 2011, the company saw a profitable full year. The company will not only keep its Schaumburg office, but it will be hiring and expanding to a Chicago office. Continue reading here.

Update (5/1/12): Motorola Solutions is looking to move into a somewhat iconic building on S. Michigan Ave. as its downtown site for roughly 100 workers. The building is known for its “Santa Fe” light up sign which Motorola is seeking to replace with its own. However, the sign will be consistent with the current one. Continue reading here.

Update (5/25/12): Motorola Solutions just signed a letter of intent to lease a floor at the Santa Fe Building on Michigan Ave. The company will also be changing the sign atop the building. Continue reading here.

This image posted on ChicagoGeek's Flicker account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicagogeek/7197024656/ shows the Santa Fe building in Chicago. Motorola Solutions will be changing the sign atop the building and moving into one floor.

Harper College Hosts Web Marketing Seminar for Professionals

admin — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:15:50 +0000

Held on May 9th, Harper College’s Continuing Education Program hosted a seminar on web marketing for a group of students, and sales and marketing professionals. The event was hosted by a suburban tech organization called HandsOn Tech with the purpose of training and consulting suburban tech individuals on new technology. Continue reading here.

HandsOn Tech was formed through a partnership with Americorps Vista. The organization seeks to bring technology education and information to non-profits and is in 8 cities around the county. Photo from handsonnetwork.org

Catching Suburban Texting Drivers Hard to Enforce

admin — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:00:55 +0000

Legislation to ban texting and browsing the internet while driving took effect in 2010, but police officers state-wide are finding it difficult to enforce, especially in the suburbs. Many officers pull multi-hour stakeouts sitting on the highway only to find that a driver was fiddling with a GPS or grabbing dropped change, not using a cell phone. Continue reading here.

As more states enact laws to prevent mobile phone usage while driving, Police officers are trying to find ways to enforce the law. Photo from northmobilepost.com

Technology Helps University of Illinois Football Get Recruits

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:21:27 +0000

Though five Big Ten Conference head coaches have Twitter accounts, the University of Illinois’ new head football coach Tim Beckman definately tweets the most. Twitter is just one of many technology tools the Illinois football recruiting team is using to obtain verbal commitments from upcoming high school stars, and it seems to be working. Continue reading here.

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign's head football coach Tim Beckman uses twitter and other technology to find and attract players for the 2013 recruiting class. AP Photo/The News-Gazette, Darrell Hoemann

Arlington Heights Teachers Ramp Up Technology in the Classroom

admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:10:38 +0000

Thanks to two grants, Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights will receive nearly 100 new iPads for its teachers to use in classes. With the amount of new education apps and resources available on the tablets, tablets are quickly becoming effective teaching tools as well as helpful resources for teachers and classes wanting to stay on top of new technology . Continue reading here.

Students at Naselle High School in Naselle, Washington show their iPads. More schools are adding tablets and computers to aid in teaching. Photo from www.emergingedtech.com

AT&T Expands 4G LTE to Chicago and Suburbs

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:24:38 +0000

The latest generation of high-speed wireless technology has just been launched in Chicago’s South Side and suburbs. The roll out of the service means faster speeds, the ability to use the most recent high-tech mobile deviecs, and lower latency. Continue reading here.

AT&T Service Coverage as of September 2011 including 4G and 4G LTE. AT&T has sense expanded its 4G service to include many suburb cities and Southern Chicago. Image from http://gigaom.com

Chicago Suburban Men Combine Silent Bidding and Technology

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:43:11 +0000

Mobile technology allows nonprofits and organizations better conduct silent bidding by allowing members to receive text updates, charge credit cards, print invoices, and display information via cell phones or tablets. Continue reading here.

AuctionsByCellular allows bidders to bid and be updated on silent auctions regardless of their physical location. Photo from www.nwitimes.com. Story by Lesly Bailey | Times correspondent

Inventor of Wireless TV Remote Passes Away

admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:01:39 +0000

Eugene Polley of Glen Ellyn “…invented the first wireless TV remote control in 1955 while working as an engineer in Chicago for Zenith. The ‘Flash-Matic’ is now in the Smithsonian Institution.” He had been living at the Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove and passed away at 96. Continue reading here.

This undated photo provided by LG Electronics shows engineer Eugene Polley. A spokesman for Zenith Electronics says Polley, the inventor of the "Flash-Matic," the first wireless TV remote control, died Sunday, May 20, 2012, of natural causes in Downers Grove, Ill. He was 96. (AP Photo/LG Electronics)

Google Officially Acquires Motorola Mobility

admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:49:14 +0000

The Libertyville-based cellphone manufacturing company has officially become part of Google as of today and is switching out CEOs. This article from Mashable explains the merger in more detail and highlights the reasons behind it in terms of Google’s future Android efforts. Continue reading here.

In August 2011, Google reached a purchase deal with the cellphone company for $12.5 billion in order to expand into hardware for its Android phones. Photo from www.syednetworks.com

Northwestern Sophomore Using Technology to Build Apparel Empire

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:29:42 +0000

Zoe Damacela, a fashion-design entrepreneur and sophomore at Northwestern University is using the web and social media to expand her clothing lines which are mainly sold online. Growing up on food stamps, Zoe Damacela is now CEO of a thriving apparel company. Continue reading here.

Zoe Damacela runs her own apparel company after winning 2nd place in a national competition that earned her a visit to the White House to meet President Obama. Photo from chicago.cbslocal.com credited to CBS