Industry Briefs
:: NEWS
THREE NEW AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES. AV equipment manufacturer D&M Professional has launched its Education Solutions division, offering information
and advice on trends, techniques, and technology for all types of audiovisual enterprise. InfoComm International, the trade association of the professional audiovisual and information communications industries, has released its AV Installation Handbook: The Best Practices for Quality Audiovisual Systems, an illustrated reference
guide for proper cable termination techniques, rack building, cable handling, and mounting. Mounting solutions provider
Chief Manufacturing has introduced a new online Design Center offering architects, designers, and consultants tips and resources on integrating technology into their projects.
eTELEMETRY AWARDED PATENT. Network traffic management vendor eTelemetry has received a patent for its “People DNS” technology, which identifies users by name and location on an organization’s
network. The technology can help catch individuals downloading copyrighted files, locate and disable infected computers,
and alert IT administrators when people or PCs move onto the network.
CULMINATION OF iCAMPUS. At the end of 2006, the Massachussetts Institute of Technology saw the completion of work funded by its $25 million
alliance (begun in 1999) with Microsoft Research. Through projects like iLab, XTutor, iMoat,
and others, iCampus research has spanned such areas as course content delivery, student-instructor
interactions, pen-based computing, spoken lecture processing, cross-media annotation systems, and remote online laboratories.
:: M&A, ETC.
MERGING TO ENHANCE CONTENT SECURITY. Web security and filtering
software provider Websense has announced a definitive agreement to acquire PortAuthority Technologies, a developer of information-leak-prevention technology. Through an existing
OEM technology alliance, Websense has been working with PortAuthority to enhance its Websense Deep Content Control
technology, so as to deliver security solutions that protect users and data from internal and external
threats, both known and emerging.
:: PEOPLE
ACS PROMOTES: Paris to head up
ACS' commercial education services biz.
HUGHES TO TEGRITY. Student
achievement system provider Tegrity has appointed Kathryn Hughes to VP of
marketing. Prior to joining Tegrity, Hughes served as VP of marketing for Jenzabar, a maker of higher ed ERP and portal solutions.
NEW ACS EXEC. Affiliated Computer Services, a provider of business process outsourcing and IT solutions, has promoted
Nancy Paris to operations VP of education services. Paris, who has an extensive background
in ACS’ Campus Products and Services (CPS) management and operations, will oversee the company’s
CPS business, including business strategy and acquisitions, Perkins loan servicing operations,
and the Tax Credit Reporting business.
JOINING THE HORIZON WIMBA BOARD.
Carol Vallone, former CEO of WebCT, has become a member of the Board of Directors at Horizon Wimba, a manufacturer of collaboration tools and software applications
to the online education market. Vallone served as WebCT’s CEO from 1999 until 2005, when the
company was acquired by Blackboard.