Graham-Cumming's guide book covers everything from where Newton's apple fell to the pub where Watson and Crick announced they'd unlocked the secret to DNA. He also has a handful of entries specific to computers.

[ Think you're a tech fanatic? You've got nothing on these guys: True believers: The biggest cults in tech | And for a look at the most pivotal moments in the evolution of IT, see 15 turning points in tech history ]

"If you're a computer person, the three essential places to visit are the Computer History Museum in San Jose, Bletchley Park, and the London Museum of Science," says Graham-Cumming. "At the latter you can see a working model of Charles Babbage's Difference Engine, which they built using the tools available at the time. It's remarkable."

Those are hardly the only ones. We've identified the 12 most sacred places where IT enthusiasts can go to pay homage to the computing gods that passed before them -- or at least catch a peek at where some of the more exciting events in IT lore occurred. Fortunately, would-be pilgrims can do a lot of the traveling via the Web, saving wear and tear on the sandals and sackcloth.

Tech mecca No. 1: 367 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, Calif.Tech mecca No. 2: 2066 Crist Dr., Los Altos, Calif.Tech mecca No. 3: 232 Santa Margarita Ave., Menlo Park, Calif.Tech mecca No. 4: CERN -- Geneva, SwitzerlandTech mecca No. 5: Bletchley Park, EnglandTech mecca No. 6: Xerox PARC -- Palo Alto, Calif.Tech mecca No. 7: Ames Lab, Iowa State University -- Ames, IowaTech mecca No. 8: Moore School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania -- PhiladelphiaTech mecca No. 9: IBM's "Main Plant" -- Poughkeepsie, N.Y.Tech mecca No. 10: Room 2713, Dobie Hall, University of Texas -- Austin, TexasTech mecca No. 11: Kirkland House, Havard University -- Cambridge, Mass.Tech mecca No. 12: Lyman Residence Hall, Stanford University -- Stanford, Calif.

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John Slump, 23, and Jared Garfield, 23, are launching J & J Solutions and recently landed a $150,000 Iowa Department of Economic Development grant to support the business.

The company is developing a device that will reduce the risk to workers administering chemotherapy treatment.

Slump said the new product will create a safer environment for medical field employees.

"The technology is really a breakthrough," he said.

Slump and Garfield had the idea for the business about three years ago. They've worked since then conducting research, talking to staff at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and testing the device.

They're not sure when it will go to market, but said they've made significant strides. In addition to the state grant, the company has received $120,000 in support from investors and about $40,000 in winnings from business plan competitions.

Slump and Garfield have had relatives affected by cancer, so creating a device that will improve health and safety and lower cancer rates is a personal matter for them.

"At the end of the day, the passion keeps you going," Garfield said.

Slump and Garfield also have created an advisory board of professionals in various industries. Steve Mitchell, a pharmaceutical industry professional for more than 20 years, is one of the advisers.

Mitchell said there's a "huge market" for the technology J & J Solutions is working on. The market could include oncology clinics and physicians' offices.

"It's a very exciting technology," Mitchell said

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), the voice of Iowa’s technology industry, has announced the debut of IowaTechLinkz, a groundbreaking social media 3.0 innovation that will allow for the first time organizations and professionals associated with the Iowa technology industry to network and connect free of charge.  Unlike existing social networking sites, IowaTechLinkz allows tech industry professionals to connect state wide.

The IowaTechLinkz platform takes the best of today’s leading social networking sites and combines them to offer a valuable tool to interface with a diverse user-base.  The site increases discussion and collaboration on issues and best practices with colleagues and experts from around the state.   To build interactivity, users will have tools such as communities, blogs, note boards, inbox, calendars and contacts.

“TAI’s strategic priority of providing a professional network for Iowa’s technology leaders is significantly advanced through the introduction of IowaTechLinkz,” said Gary Scholten, Executive Vice President and CIO of Principal Financial Group.   “For companies like The Principal, IowaTechLinkz can help our IT professionals to connect with other Iowa IT professionals who work with similar technologies.”

Championed by TAI, IowaTechLinkz is the first and only online vertical networking site dedicated to the Iowa technology industry.  It is an innovative way for people to become part of a powerful network, drawing talent from diverse pools, such as technologists, executives, marketers, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, among many other business-centric fields. This new network fulfills TAI’s connectivity mission by allowing leaders in business, capital, academic, and government resources industries to connect across the state.

"Through the association's vision of a more connected technology community, ITL is one of the first vertical social media platforms in the country that will help improve business and communications within Iowa's technology industry," said Leann Jacobson president of the Technology Association of Iowa. "We hope that ITL will serve as a national role model of how social media 3.0 can prove to be an invaluable tool at interconnecting individuals within vertical markets that are harder to serve under traditional social networking sites."

“With roughly 100,000 people engaged in Iowa’s technology industry, IowaTechLinkz will bring this vast growing industry together in an online community like no other,” said Leann Jacobson. “Our professionals can communicate with other professionals about subjects happening within this market.”

IowaTechLinkz, a free service to all of its users can be found on the Internet at www.IowaTechLinkz.com. 

About Technology Association of Iowa
TAI is a member-based, not-for-profit organization accelerating the success of Iowa’s technology industry. TAI creates and sustains a positive environment for technology-based economic growth and job creation through innovation, advocacy, and leadership. TAI members include organizations of every size, involved in virtually every aspect of technology creation, production, application and education in Iowa.   For more information about TAI, please visit http://www.technologyiowa.org

"The academy was developed to get young women interested in technology," said Ryan Luering, an organizer of the Des Moines event whose title with the camp was "special agent."

"We're putting technology in their hands," he said.

The day camp was set up with five stations, each offering a different one-hour class on topics such as how to build computers and Web sites, green technology, Internet safety, multimedia tasks and making digital music.

A couple of the classes progressed through the week by adding increasingly challenging material. For instance, over three days girls learned the function of all computer components and how to completely rebuild a computer. Instruction is tailored to the teens' age and experience level, and it's meant to be fun, by emphasizing encouragement and teamwork.

Best Buy employees volunteered to teach the classes. This summer, the Geek Squad Summer Academy is being conducted in 10 cities across the country. This was the first Geek Squad Summer Academy in Iowa.

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Kuder selected Spindustry as its strategic partner to design and introduce the “first-of-its-kind” assessment-through-activity evaluation tool for Elementary students - Kuder Galaxy. Kuder looked to Spindustry to understand the nuances and desires of each age group in the elementary school to maximize the success of the new brand and product.  Additionally, Spindustry’s role includes strategic work in repositioning and structurally organizing other existing Kuder products.

Spindustry worked with Kuder to create the goals, framework, parental feedback mechanism, and characters used in the site.  The site is now much more than one game and let's students Play, Watch, Do, and Explore their way to career awareness.

Please click here for additional information.

Along with the new showroom and store experience, Homemakers is launching a new online experience.  The site introduces Homemakers new branding and gives a preview of the expanded showroom.  It also allows customers the ability to sign up for informative emails, learn about special offers, and access the weekly ad.  Later this fall the next stage of the site will launch providing a full online experience including online browsing of store offerings, design/style consulting, and more.

Please click here for additional information.

“NEW Cooperative continually strives to provide its members and customers with the most innovative and efficient means of information and services.  Our new website does just that.  It includes all the pertinent information and tools that our visitors most commonly use, but adds advanced features that now make the experience easier and more informative.  We look forward to the ability to adapt to the needs of our customers by adding tools and features that will further increase our communication efficiency,” said Afton Holt, Communications Specialist at NEW Cooperative, Inc.

In addition to cash bids that are searchable by location, the website also provides the following features: weather forecast and radar, cash bid emails, text alerts, job opportunities, and e-newsletters.  The importance of developing an advanced website like this is to increase the accessibility and accuracy of information for agricultural business people.

“Projects like this NEW Cooperative website are exceptionally rewarding, because it is positively impacting Iowa’s economy, as well as representing the strong partnership between the tech and ag industries,” said Nelson Akkutlu, Business Manager at Global Reach.

About Global Reach:  Global Reach is one of the leading web development firms in the Midwest -- consistently delivering results to over 500 clients through a drive for excellence and innovation, as well as a continual focus on providing customers with valuable and affordable solutions.  With over 10 years of experience in the in the industry, Global Reach is an expert in designing and building complex and reliable web-based applications.  The firm’s extensive experience comprises of delivering internet, intranet, and extranet applications for the following clientele: educational institutions, government and military agencies, non-profit organizations, banking institutions, industrial manufacturing, as well as other technology companies.  In addition to Global Reach’s core competency of web development, the firm also provides an array of complimentary services including: consulting, graphic design, web hosting, e-mail hosting and spam protection, and network support.  More information about Global Reach can be found at its website, located at www.globalreach.com.

About NEW Cooperative, Inc.:  NEW Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned cooperative with 23 locations throughout the Northwest region of the state.  In addition to their continually strong grain services, NEW Cooperative also offers feed, fertilizer and seed resources through a professional staff and quality facilities.   Further agronomic opportunities in soil mapping, site-specific field management and precision technology services are offered through their MAPS department.  The service and solutions found at NEW Cooperative demonstrate that they continue to be an innovative and efficient provider for today’s producer, carrying with them a proud past and promising future.  For further information about NEW Cooperative’s products and services, please visit www.newcoop.com.

Scott Rogers, CEO of Powel, Inc, says, “We are excited to be partnering with PCS.  PCS has shown exactly the kind of committed integration development that is needed for utilities to get the most value from their software.  PCS will now be able to use the WorkStudio Suite to offer their customers a complete solution for work orders and service orders.”
“PCS strives to provide an enterprise solution,” comments Kim Ingerslev, President and CEO of PCS.  “Not only do we want to bring our core accounting, billing, e-Commerce and hosting options to our utility clients, we want to provide options to integrate seamlessly to other 3^rd party applications.  PCS can provide this enterprise by integrating with key vendors like Powel who are experts in their field.  It is just one more way to bring increased value to our customers.”

About PCS:
PCS has been serving the utility industry with billing and accounting solutions for over 28 years. PCS offers Utilit-e Solutions, an integrated suite of premier products for the utility industry.  The suite includes: Utilit-e Connect, a Customer Information System and Billing application, Utilit-e Online, an e-Commerce solution, Utilit-e Insight, a comprehensive financial accounting solution, and Utilit-e Central, an innovative application software hosting service.  PCS’ world-class customer support is second to none, providing personalized support personnel who know your utility and understand your support needs.  For more information on PCS visit www.pcsco.com.

About Powel, Inc.
Powel, Inc, headquartered in St. Paul, MN, delivers software solutions that realize our mission of “Helping Utilities Work Smarter.”  Powel WorkStudio is a Mobile Work Management platform with office-based analysis that helps utilities work smarter through the entire asset lifecycle, from design to construction to service, including right-of-way clearance, maintenance and storm assessment.  WorkStudio incorporates Powel’s industry leading StakeOut field design application.  Powel, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Powel ASA, a publicly held company serving customers worldwide.  For more information on Powel, visit www.powelinc.com

Global Reach also created an online application and scoring system for the Local Infrastructure Program of I-JOBS. These cutting-edge tools are designed to ensure a smooth process for program applicants and to allow members of the I-JOBS Review Committee to quickly and easily score applications.

“Global Reach’s role was to respond with immediacy and accuracy in executing this online resource,” said Nelson Akkutlu, Business Manager at Global Reach. “Launching it in two days was really a testament to effective communications between all parties and sophisticated development within our staff.”

About Global Reach: Global Reach is one of the leading web development firms in the Midwest -- consistently delivering results to over 500 clients through a drive for excellence and innovation, as well as a continual focus on providing customers with valuable and affordable solutions. With over 10 years of experience in the in the industry, Global Reach is an expert in designing and building complex and reliable web-based applications. The firm’s extensive experience comprises of delivering internet, intranet, and extranet applications for the following clientele: educational institutions, government and military agencies, non-profit organizations, banking institutions, industrial manufacturing, as well as other technology companies. In addition to Global Reach’s core competency of web development, the firm also provides an array of complimentary services including: consulting, graphic design, web hosting, e-mail hosting and spam protection, and network support. More information about Global Reach can be found at its website, located at www.globalreach.com

About I-JOBS: Governor Culver's signature initiative, I-JOBS will strengthen Iowa's economy, help the state recover from the natural disasters of 2008, and preserve or create thousands of jobs. The $830 million three-year program includes several parts but focuses on the following key areas: public improvements, disaster recovery, transportation, rebuilding universities, environment and water quality, housing needs, and telecommunications and renewable energy. I-JOBS is funded with existing state gaming revenue, meaning no increase in taxes. More information about I-JOBS can be found at its website, located at www.ijobsiowa.gov

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This is disruptive technology that will revolutionize the way medicine is practiced," said Curt Carlson, chief executive of the Ames company created to market the body visualization software.

The software will change doctor-patient relationships by allowing physicians to show patients exactly what is inside, said Gregory Kolbinger, simulation lab director at Des Moines University. It has been testing BodyViz technology in the past year.

The BodyViz software is priced low enough, about $5,000 for the basic software, and is easy enough to use — images are manipulated with an Xbox video game controller — that physicians soon will be using laptop computers to show patients their internal ailments, said Dr. Thom Loeb, a Des Moines surgeon who helped the Ames engineers develop the concept.

BodyViz will save time and money in operating rooms by providing surgeons with a virtual road map of key organs, so they can see potential hazards before they cut, Loeb said.

It also should help doctors produce more accurate diagnoses, as well as create ways for students from high school through medical school to learn anatomy, Loeb said.

BodyViz was developed by ISU engineers James Oliver and Eliot Winer. Oliver is the director and Winer the associate director of Iowa State's Virtual Reality Applications Center. In that capacity, they constantly look for real-world applications for the virtual reality technology developed at the center...

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“First, you have the great incubator system at the ISU Research Park, and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,” Jacobsin said.

 “If you’re looking for examples of technology spinoffs that are succeeding and created head-of-household jobs, there’s Palisade Systems (creators of “cyber defense” products that help protect databases from unwanted intrusion), or iSEEK, (a search engine that can find data by looking at the geometric shapes in searchable databases throughout the world),” she added.

 TAI’s board of directors includes James Oliver, who leads ISU’s virtual reality applications Center and the CyberInnovation Institute.

 The Body Viz business is transforming how physicians diagnose and treat illnesses by rendering the human body electronically, she noted.

 “When you look at these successful companies, it puts a recognizable face on what the technology industry is doing in Iowa,” Jacobson said.

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Alliance Technologies, a Des Moines-based full-service information technology solutions firm, announced today the launch of cloud computing services to enable remote delivery and management of IT services related to data accessibility, storage, backup and disaster recovery.

Alliance Technologies has leveraged a newly opened data center in West Des Moines to house the cloud computing platform. Combining a state-of-the-art hosting facility with expertise in network management and server virtualization allows them to deliver services through a cloud infrastructure that can change the way businesses think about and receive their IT services. Although the data center is located in the Des Moines metro, Alliance Technologies’ cloud computing services can be used by customers throughout the United States.

One local Des Moines business has migrated their entire IT infrastructure to the Alliance Technologies cloud platform. This solution has enabled over 200 employees in 10 different office locations to essentially function as one. All workers now access, share and save all of their data and other computing resources directly from the Alliance cloud. Essential office technology, including software applications, server files and email are all accessible via their wide area network from Alliance's secure data center. With the hosted cloud infrastructure, the data center equipment, backups, heating, cooling and security are all provided ‘as a service’ by Alliance Technologies.

“One of the biggest business needs we’ve identified is centered around business continuity and disaster recovery”, said Mike Lang, CEO of Alliance Technologies. “With flooding and tornadoes, Iowa has seen its share of natural disasters. Businesses have seen first-hand the impact that an unforeseen disaster can have on their operations. Our cloud can be used to create solutions for backup and disaster recovery so businesses do not have to worry about compromising their information or experiencing long periods of downtime. Businesses can remain up and running or we can get them back up quickly with almost no time or effort on their end. Cloud computing can also keep workers connected remotely as they can access files and applications anywhere via the Internet.”

For more information about Alliance Technologies’ new cloud computing services, please contact Jason Lamping at 515-245-7682, or visit:
http://www.alliancetechnologies.net/solutions/technology/cloud-computing

Students can opt to receive messages via their computer or cell phone. Skloop is scheduled to go live at the start of the school year. It is only available to Waukee High School students. Skloop will use student identification numbers to verify users.

The club, which calls itself HyperStream, met twice a week to develop the idea and then implement it.

But it didn't do it alone. Volunteers from GeoLearning, a technology company, worked with the students to help them along the way.

The six students used their individual skills to help create Skloop.

Nick Rizzi, 17, of Urbandale, created the design of the Web page.

"I use a futuristic look with a black background," he said. "I wanted to make it user friendly. "I also showed our school spirit with the Waukee Warrior."

Jacob Richardson, 17, of Clive used a scripting language called PHP to make the site functional.

While he was familiar with the language, he said the experience expanded his abilities.

"I enjoyed working with developers like Matt (Poush), who is an expert in his field."

Poush, who works for GeoLearning, also brought the students to his company.

"We worked on the program in a professional environment," Richardson said.

Richardson will be a senior at Waukee in the fall. He said he plans to attend Iowa State to major in computer science and programming.

Chelsey Unger, 16, of Waukee thinks she will have a computer-related minor when she attends college.

Unger said she enrolled in technology classes at the urging of her mother. When teacher John Blanchard told his classes about HyperStream, she signed up.

"I've learned a lot," she said.

Marketing students have also been involved with the project. With the help of teacher Chris Guess and OnPoint Strategies, a marketing company, they are getting the word out.

Unger said she is excited for the launch.

"I like seeing it run," she said. "My peers and I worked hard on it."

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The Solar Panthers traveled to Lake Fayetteville in Fayetteville, Ark., for the 16th annual world championship of intercollegiate solar boating. The events for the competition began Wednesday, May 27, and ended Sunday, May 31.

Points are earned in seven categories, including technical inspections and reports, engineering design visual displays, workmanship and on-the-water sprint, endurance and slalom competitions. During the five days of competition, the Solar Panthers brought home four trophies, including outstanding electrical system design, a third-place finish in the best visual display, a third-place finish in the solar slalom and the overall third-place trophy.

"This year's UNI 'eBoat' design featured several modifications and improvements," according to team member Kyle Ross, a senior electrical engineering technology (EET) major from Montezuma.  "We are extremely proud to have created a variable-pitched propeller from UNI's Industrial Technology Department.  This enabled the drive train's setup to increase or decrease allowing the propeller to push more or less water per turn."  

Other improvements included a quick-change spring and endurance motor assembly, which helped make the conversion from sprint to endurance configurations easier.  "Lifting strakes," were added to help keep water away from the boat, and a "skag," used to improve turning at high speeds, was added to further improve efficiency.

The third place finish put UNI behind the champions of Cedarville University from Ohio and second place finishers, University of New Orleans.  UNI finished ahead of teams from the College of New Jersey, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Washington State University, Kansas State University, Carnegie Mellon, Geneva College, University of Southampton (U.K.), State University of New York Stony Brook and others.

"This success involved year-long design, implementation, construction, testing and troubleshooting. It was an honor to rank better than many very prestigious universities and engineering colleges, including the University of Arkansas' College of Engineering, the host of the competition.  I am proud of my Solar Panthers," said Reg Pecen, UNI associate professor of industrial technology and faculty adviser of the Solar Panthers.  

Along with Ross, members of the 2009 Solar Panthers included team leader Douglas Bechthold, a senior EET major from La Porte City; Paul Johnson, a sophomore EET major from Osage; Ben Kambach, a senior EET major from Sioux City; Damon Knowling, a senior EET major from Coralville; Hannah Loan, a junior EET major from Iowa City; Jorunn Musil, a graphic design major from Ely; and Tony Wagner, a senior technology education and training teaching major from Bellevue.

The UNI solar electric boat project is funded by an Iowa Energy Center grant, and partially sponsored by BP Solar; Solid Works; John Deere Waterloo Works; Bechthold Enterprises; Mike Boomer, former team leader and John Deere engineer; and supported by the UNI Department of Industrial Technology, Office of the Provost, College of Natural Sciences Dean's Office, and the Iowa Space Grant Consortium at UNI.

For more information about UNI's solar electric boat team, contact Pecen at (319) 273-2598, r.pecen@uni.edu or visit www.cns.uni.edu/eboat.  For more information about Solar Splash, visit www.solarsplash.com.

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The EDC is a private/public-sponsored organization established in 2003. CEO Curt Nelson said they work with new and existing businesses mostly in Johnson, Linn and adjacent counties.

"Everything has to start somewhere, and the EDC is about fostering ideas," Downer said. "The efforts that the EDC has launched are vital if the technology corridor is going to reach its potential."

The event dubbed "Informational Breakfast Regarding Entrepreneurs and Local Economy" was held at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

Mason said that through technology transfer and finding commercial applications for research, UI could continue to help the EDC make businesses grow.

She said that transferring what's learned in the research lab to the marketplace generates economic development.

Since 2007, when Google said it was coming to Council Bluffs, technology giants like Microsoft and IBM have announced they would set up operations in Iowa.

Microsoft in January put on hold plans for a $550 million data center in West Des Moines, citing a deteriorating economy. IBM is expected to move ahead with creating 1,300 jobs in Dubuque in a high-tech support center.

Gov. Chet Culver said Tuesday he feels confident Microsoft will move ahead once the economy begins rebounding. "They've always said it's not a question of if, but when," said Culver, who met with leaders of the Redmond, Wash., software giant in March.

Culver said he expects to attract smaller data centers in Iowa after state leaders agreed this month to provide smaller companies with sales tax refunds for equipment and electricity that had been provided to Google and Microsoft.

"I think we're taking a number of big steps forward," said Culver, also noting that the state is adding high-tech wind- and renewable-energy jobs. "Half the battle is making a name for yourself as a state that's open and interested in IT and renewable energy."

Hanafan said technology companies will find Iowa attractive for the same reasons as Google: abundant, inexpensive energy, available land and water, good fiber-optic networks and skilled workers.

Hanafan is optimistic that Google will expand beyond the facility's 60 acres. It owns an additional 1,180 acres nearby. "It has an opportunity to be much larger," he said.

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