Technology

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Groundbreaking set for Parkland's diesel center

CHAMPAIGN – Parkland College is about to break ground on a diesel center that's part of a program where 100 percent of students get a job.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Parkland College's new Diesel Technology Addition will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the campus's Tony Noel Agriculture Technology Applications Center.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Tests this week on elevator to space

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) – Rocketing into space? Some think an elevator might be the way to go.

That's the future goal of this week's $2 million Space Elevator Games in the Mojave Desert.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Army to set up computer center at UI

CHAMPAIGN (AP) – The U.S. Army is financing a new research center at the University of Illinois to develop technology for computer networks used on battlefields and in other similarly difficult environments.

Lawmakers seek ban on laptops in airline cockpits

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lawmakers are moving to ban the use of computer laptops and other personal electronic devices in airline cockpits to prevent another incident like the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, chairman of the aviation subcommittee, said in an interview that his staff is working on a bill that he expects to introduce in about a week. He said he was surprised to learn after the Oct. 21 incident that the Federal Aviation Administration doesn't specifically prohibit pilots from using laptops, DVD players, MP3 players and other devices during flight except below 10,000 feet while the plane is taking off or landing.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Urbana library offers home history online

URBANA – More than 800 pictures, title abstracts and maps showing the history of homes and neighborhoods in Champaign County are available online through the Urbana Free Library.

"Historic Champaign County Neighborhoods and Homes" is seen as a "first phase of a portal" to a digital record of the county, according to Anke Voss, director of the historical Champaign County archive at the library.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Two companies share promising plans for future

URBANA – It's been a difficult year for many businesses, but two local companies said Thursday they won't let that stand in their way.

The chief executive officer of Champaign-based EpiWorks outlined his company's plan to expand into solar technologies, and the founder of iCyt Mission Technology introduced a new piece of cell-sorting equipment the company plans to distribute internationally.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Work on basins mostly on track, despite rains

CHAMPAIGN – Construction on two water detention basins between University and Springfield avenues have resulted in some big holes.

But the project, scheduled to be done by the end of next year, is mostly on track.

Friday, October 16, 2009

UI takes second in solar decathlon competition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A solar-powered house designed by University of Illinois students took second place in a competition sponsored by the Department of Energy.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

'Judge Joe Brown' to feature Champaign litigants

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign case will air on the television program "Judge Joe Brown" at 3 p.m. today on WRSP Channel 55, the Fox Network affiliate in Springfield, and on WCCU Channel 27, the network affiliate in Champaign.

According to a release, in the case, Passyone Grady, 34, claimed her 22-year-old niece, Alicia Duckworth, borrowed her car in Champaign for one purpose but took it somewhere else. While there, she wrecked it and then ran away from the police, Grady said. Grady is suing her niece for $4,559, according to producers for the TV show. Grady said this is the cost to repair her vehicle.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Champaign, Mattoon share in federal grant funds

Police in Champaign and Mattoon say money from a federal grant will help them identify and prosecute child predators, fight child sexual exploitation over the Internet and enforce sex offender registration laws.

Champaign and Mattoon police are two of eight Illinois police agencies sharing a grant of nearly a half-million dollars from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Microsoft online training vouchers to be distributed

DANVILLE – The East Central Illinois Community Action Agency, in collaboration with the "Elevate America" program, will distribute 20 Microsoft online training vouchers.

This is a free chance for customers to increase their technology skills, gain marketable job skills and attain certification.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Beckman Institute marks 20 years of collaboration

URBANA – In 1985, the Illini baseball field, Strawberry Fields and a cinder track, five laps to the mile, dominated the area near Wright and University.

Within four years, a $50 million facility jutted from the area, a 20-year experiment in bringing scholars from different fields under one roof that has paid off with research that benefits our daily life.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Tokyo Game Show 2009: Great things are coming our way

From Sept. 24 through 27, I was at the Tokyo Game Show 2009, held at the Makuhari Messe convention center just outside Tokyo, experiencing some of the many games that will be coming our way in future. The following are my impressions of just a few of the games I saw, and more is on the way.