RAMPAGE

In partnership with SDG Systems, Juniper Systems is proud to announce the Mesa Rugged Notepad with Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system, known as the RAMPAGE 6. The RAMPAGE 6 will be distributed exclusively through SDG Systems and availability is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.

Don’t wait! Contact SDG today and jump to the head of the line to place your order or schedule a demo for the RAMPAGE 6, coming soon! This unique Android-powered rugged handheld is already in high demand.

Want the first sneak peek of the RAMPAGE 6? Be sure to visit us at the Esri User Conference in San Diego, July 23–27, 2012 in booth #719.

It is no coincidence that J Moses is introducing his social media innovation in Pittsburgh – the city where the emoticon (smiley face) was first created in 1982 by Professor Scott E. Fahlman of Carnegie Mellon University.

“In a way,” noted Moses, “I am honoring Professor Fahlman and the contribution he made to the web with the introduction of the emoticon 30 years ago here in Pittsburgh. It was the start of a revolution in communicating not just ‘What’ we are doing, but ‘How’ we are doing. And now, 30 years later, we are pushing the boundaries of this dimension. That is what WeChi is all about.”

The Bagooba team believes that every positive action on the web is a form of energy (Chi), and that this energy can help to create and contribute to the common good.
 J Moses has dubbed this approach, “Social Alchemy.” As Moses will relate in his forthcoming presentation, “

We accomplish this ‘alchemy’  by creating applications that enable people, causes and brands to work together in a meaningful way through products that  are innovative, entertaining, profitable,
 global, and socially responsible.

 This is our Chi.”

He is a veteran of both traditional and digital media, and  comes to Pittsburgh from his headquarters in New York City to talk about the next generation of social media. Moses has worked around the globe in many roles, including: Director on the Board of Take-Two Interactive Software; former President of BMG Interactive – where he green lighted Grand Theft Auto; former President of MTV Russia; Co-founder of UGO Entertainment which was sold to Hearst Media under Moses direction; and Executive Producer on an array of film and television projects.

What Moses has to say about the ways in which empathy is already changing the face of social media and the manner in which  this emerging trend will influence how we “friend” each other in the very near future is compelling, and certain to be of interest to your audience. Come out and meet J next Thursday in Pittsburgh to learn more about this exciting innovation in social networking!

The 2012 Design, Art and Technology Awards and Interactive Exhibition
EVENT DATE: Thursday, June 7, 2012 

5:00-6:00PM: Courtyard VIP Reception
6:00-9:00PM: Main Event
6:00-8:00pm: Cocktails, Food and Networking, Interactive Exhibition
6:00-7:30pm: People’s Choice Awards Tour + Tweet
6:30-8:00pm: Pop Up Awards, every 20 minutes
7:30 pm: Special Guest, J Moses
8:00 pm: Peoples Choice Award, Create-A-Video Contest Winner and Door Prizes

Location:
The Grand Hall at the Priory
614 Pressley Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212
North Side

REGISTER NOW
Seating is limited. All tickets must be purchased in advance.
Early registration is recommended.
Registration: events@pghtech.org | 412.918.4229
Related Links:

J Moses Biography
http://playwechi.com/downloads/JMoses_Bio.pdf

WeChi Backgrounder    
http://playwechi.com/downloads/WeChi%20Positioning%20Statement.pdf

Bagooba, Inc.   
http://bagooba.com

Sign Up to Play WeChi
www.wechi.com 

Also on Facebook:
http://apps.facebook.com/wechi_lite/  <http://apps.facebook.com/wechi_lite/>

And available on the App Store:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wechi-spread-some-sunshine/id456386850?mt=8

Emoticon Story (September 2007 – Now 30 Years)
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/technology/carnegie-mellon-celebrates-25th-anniversary-of-smiley-face-502172/

DEA is expanding this strategic office in order to better serve the Northeast Corridor. Drew, a member of the Pittsburgh Tech Council and the IIBA’s Pittsburgh Chapter, brings more than 20 years experience to the position. Using DEA’s best-of-breed Requirements Life Cycle process, she has helped businesses improve their project outcomes and has trained hundreds of business analysts. Drew explains that the business analysis professionals of today are “involved throughout the system development life cycle—from business-process improvement efforts to application enhancements and product development.” Because of this, many forward-thinking leaders realize that BAs can help them achieve the effective outcomes they need.

“And while the need is here, supply isn’t meeting demand,” Drew concludes. Closing this critical BA skills gap should be a top priority for any organization looking to increase its project success rates, and to grow and improve its business, she says. DEA can help you close the gap by providing skilled business analysts to conduct projects, mentor project team members, and increase business analysis competency within your organization. It offers a complimentary white paper to help assess where you stand when it comes to BA competency. Download “Closing the Business Analysis Skills Gap” by clicking http://doreenevans.com/free-white-paper-closing-the-business-analysis-skills-gap/. Rather talk with a member of our team about a project you are working on? You can reach Carol Drew at 724-733-5033 or via email at cdrew@doreenevans.com.

We have a star-studded cast ready to get behind the mic.

Gain insight on the latest tech trends in the manufacturing industry from Kennametal’s CIO Steve Hanna. Looking to expand into international markets? The PTC’s Tech Export Program can help. Learn what’s hot in the French market.

Hosted by the PTC’s CEO Audrey Russo and Director Visibility Initiatives Jonathan Kersting, TechVibe is on the air every Saturday at noon bringing you interviews and conversations from the Pittsburgh region’s fast-moving technology and entrepreneurial communities.

Stream TechVibe Radio on www.wpgb.com or iHeart Radio.
Missed a previous broadcast? We have a massive library of podcasts right here.

TechVibe Radio is sponsored by EyeFlow, Concert-oh!, The Hartford, Sierra w/o Wires, PTC Employee Benefits Group, Pittsburgh International Airport and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

To like your favorite projects on Facebook, visit: http://www.facebook.com/events/299386820141957/

To join the Art + Technology Initiative group, visit: http://www.facebook.com/groups/19328927839/

RJ Lee Group

RJ Lee Group, Inc., industrial forensics laboratory and consulting firm, announced a new initiative that will provide insights from RJ Lee Group experts on issues relating to science, policy, and regulation.  The major elements of the initiative will be an e-mail newsletter entitled “Scientific Insights at the Intersection of Policy and Regulatory Matters” and a supporting microsite.  The inaugural edition of the bi-monthly newsletter was sent to subscribers last week.

“We are very excited to offer this resource that will provide up-to-date information on relevant technical and scientific issues.  It has been a few years since we have had a regular newsletter to share with clients, so we are eager to get this rolling again,” commented Dr. Richard J. Lee, Chief Executive Officer.  “We continue to strive to share our experts’ knowledge with the public.  This newsletter and website allow us to further that goal by offering insights that would not otherwise be available.”

The Scientific Insights e-mail newsletter will feature analysis of new policies or regulations, highlight new key publications, showcase subject matter experts that have joined the company, share resourceful articles read by our company experts, and more.  The microsite will support the newsletter with full length articles, biographies of experts, and a comprehensive downloadable resource section.  Both the newsletter and microsite will have content addressing issues in the current spotlight, such as those dealing with construction materials, corrosion, nanotechnology, root cause failure analysis, particle characterization, air quality, and post-disaster assessments, as well as those dealing with traditional and recurring issues such as asbestos and fly ash.

The microsite is accessible online at http://www.insights.rjlg.com/ and contains a form to subscribe to receive the Scientific Insights e-mail newsletter.

ANSYS

ANSYS, Inc., a global innovator of simulation, and Esterel Technologies S.A. a leading provider of embedded software simulation solutions for mission critical applications, announced today that they signed a definitive agreement whereby ANSYS will acquire Esterel Technologies for a cash purchase price of approximately euro 42 million (or approximately US$53 million), subject to certain working capital adjustments at close.

The agreement also includes retention provisions for key members of management and employees. Headquartered in Elancourt, France, Esterel has about 80 employees and reported revenues of approximately euro 15 million for fiscal year 2011. The transaction, currently anticipated to close in the third calendar quarter of 2012, is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

The Esterel SCADE solution enables software and systems engineers to design, simulate and produce embedded software, the control code built into the electronics in aircraft, rail transportation, automotive, energy systems, medical devices and other industrial products that have central processing units.

Get more details here.

Ideal Integrations

Ideal Integrations, Inc. has announced the hiring of Valerie Levanduski who will serve as Ideal’s Marketing Manager.  She will be providing support to the sales staff and working to increase brand awareness and social media presence.

Valerie is looking to bring her experience to help the organization expand and grow, starting with a focus on communications for the upcoming new business segments Ideal will be launching later this year.  “My goal is to showcase the unique offerings Ideal Integrations has to the Pittsburgh business community using a wide variety of campaigns involving social media and special events,” said Valerie.  “I am really looking forward to the future including a special campaign that will run in 2013 celebrating ten years of Ideal being in business.”

Valerie received her undergraduate business degree from the University of Pittsburgh and recently completed her MBA from Chatham University.  Valerie brings with her a background in social media, online, and print marketing with a specific focus on professional services.  She previously worked in the marketing department for Tucker Arensberg, P.C. and has consulted on event planning and social media targeted projects.

Ideal Integrations, Inc. is an IT systems integration company specializing in design, implementation, maintenance and management of infrastructure – ranging in scope from single projects to complete services and solutions.  From start-ups to companies generating over $2 billion in annual revenue, our customers span numerous industries and locations across the U.S.  For more information on Ideal Integrations, Inc., please visit www.idealintegrations.net.

Don’t Scare Them Away

When presented with a generic 404 page, many people immediately assume that they are in the completely wrong place. That’s especially true when they land on one through links from major search engines. Instead of accepting the 404 error page as an unavoidable nuisance, you should embrace it as an opportunity. A carefully designed and customized 404 page can actually improve your customer retention rate and enhance the effectiveness of your website.

The Problem with Default 404 Pages

By its very nature, a default 404 page is impersonal and generic. After landing on one, it’s easy for a person to assume that they aren’t anywhere near where they want to be. A generic 404 page generally makes a person’s frustration even worse. It’s easy to click away from such a page, and many people do so automatically. In the case of a customized 404 page, though, you can grab a person’s attention and increase the odds that they will stick around for a while.

Customizing Your 404 Pages

Some of today’s most successful tech companies have customized 404 pages, and creating one for your own site is easy. The first thing to do is to give it the same look, feel and personality as the other pages on your site. The next thing to do is to make it easy for someone who lands on it to find what they need. Add a search bar so they can search within your site, and include navigational links, too. As an added bonus, you might even throw in a little humor. When done properly, this will assuage a person’s annoyance and give them a favorable impression of your website.

At the end of the day, creating customized 404 pages is simple. It’s a quick and easy way to improve the experience that a person has while visiting your site. Make sure to create customized error pages for your site right away.

Creative 404 Page Examples