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New Downtown Tacoma User Research Lab

GearLab, in partnership with digital agency SiteCrafting, Inc., has opened a user research and usability testing lab in Tacoma’s Dome District. The lab is the first of its kind in Pierce County.

GearLab, which stands for Guided Experience and Research, is a user research and usability testing lab outfitted with tools for testing how users interact with technology, including software for eye tracking, a mobile suite for testing across devices and platforms, and an observation room. GearLab’s focus on design thinking and user-centered design is part of an emerging industry trend centered around creating websites, software, and products that are designed, through research and evaluation, to be more efficient and effective for users.

Through a series of facilitated research and testing methods, GearLab enables companies to plan, test, and improve the designs of websites, software interfaces, and products. GearLab works on a variety of project types ranging from companies with in-house development teams looking to improve their own projects, government agencies needing to balance a wide range of audiences, to any business looking to improve their website interface through testing and research. Through a partnership with UW Tacoma, access to the lab will also be provided to students for conducting studies. Additionally, GearLab hopes to expand local partnerships for lab rentals to include other organizations and User Experience professionals.

GearLab Director, Chuck Johnston, is part of the Human Centered Design and Engineering Masters program at the University of Washington. As one of the only programs of its kind, graduates come away with a deep focus on creating solutions designed for real people with the things we use everyday. “Putting people first produces the best outcomes not only for technology and products, but also for entire organizations,” says Johnston.

The GearLab facilities include the lab itself for conducting usability tests and research, an observation room for learning and analysis, and a nearly 1,000 square-foot training room for workshops, sketching exercises, and other working sessions. GearLab is housed within SiteCrafting’s recently renovated office space in the Bowstring Building at 2716 A Street in downtown Tacoma.

While the two businesses share office space and collaborate on mutual projects, GearLab has its own client base that operates independent from SiteCrafting. GearLab is available for on-site testing as well as field testing.

GearLab will be open for demos during SiteCrafting’s open house for clients, partners, and the community on June 3, 2015 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visit HERE to attend.

IARPA Competition for Cybersecurity

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) is looking for a few good ideas.

The organization’s Office for Anticipating Surprise has initiated a competition for its Cyber-attack Automated Unconventional Sensor Environment (CAUSE) program, which aims at discovering ways to anticipate cyber attacks before they occur.

IARPA officials explain that industry has invested heavily in solutions that analyze the effects of cyber attacks rather than capabilities to analyze and mitigate their causes. As a result, today’s approaches typically focus on post-mortem analysis of the various attack vectors. However, as attacks have evolved and increased, these methods do not adequately enable cybersecurity practitioners to prevent attacks.

Cyber Security as a Regional Economic Issue

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber presents Cybersecurity at its Lunch & Learn session.


Join Cybersecurity Policy Advisor Mike Hamilton as he shares an all-state strategy to treat cybersecurity as an economic issue, and how the strategy centers around workforce development, infrastructure protection, and research.


Presented By:
Michael K. Hamilton
Cybersecurity Policy Advisor
State of Washington Office of CIO

Event Location
The Hub
203 Tacoma Ave. S
Tacoma, WA 98402
Date/Time Information
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
11:30 - 1:00 PM


Fees/Admission
$20.00 Member
$25.00 Non-Member
Includes lunch service

Registration HERE

Data Innovation Day

Today is Data Innovation Day, a celebration of the benefits generated by the current revolution in data. At events around the world, participants are showcasing the latest innovations in the use of data and the economic value of the information economy.

The keystone event is in Washington, DC, with over 100 global partners in Philadelphia, PA, Austin, TX, and Palo, Alto, CA, India, Ireland, England, Turkey, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine and Australia, will participate in social media and other virtual activities.

You can:
1.    Contact your representative with a short message about the importance of data to your work and your community.
2.    Follow and participate in the conversation on social media, using the hashtag #datainnovation. 
3.    Watch the Washington DC event live here. 

Small Business Tech Grants Open

Innovate Washington the statewide public-private partnership that is the catalyst for economic growth in Washington’s innovation economy, has launched its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant-writing program.

Innovate Washington connects innovators and researchers across the State with the entrepreneurial and financial capital needed to produce world-class companies and high-value jobs that will form the backbone of our region’s future economy.

Under the program Innovate Washington provides grant-writing support for qualified Washington-based small technology businesses interested in applying for SBIR/STTR Phase I federal R&D funding.  The program’s primary goals include enlisting first-time SBIR/STTR participants as well as those in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, minority and women-owned businesses and to increase their chances of submitting a successful proposal.

“This is an excellent opportunity for small technology businesses across Washington to increase their chances of receiving funding from these federal programs,” said Bart Phillips VP of Economic Development for Innovate Washington.  “As these businesses grow, Innovate Washington and its partners can provide additional business consulting services to help accelerate their growth.”

The program is made possible by a $55,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration under its Federal State and Technology (FAST) program. Interested technology businesses are strongly encouraged to first view the Innovate Washington SBIR/STTR introductory web presentation in order to gain a clear understanding of the program and eligibility requirements. All grants must be awarded on or before March 31, 2013.  Candidates are encouraged to contact Jim Sampson, Senior Program Manager, Special Projects for Innovate Washington for more details on how to apply.

“The SBIR/STTR program is but one example of how Innovate Washington is expanding market opportunities for the citizens of Washington,” said Phillips.  “Initiatives in advanced energy, aviation biofuels and the smart and efficient building technology sectors are just a few of the areas where Innovate Washington is creating value.”

Contact: Innovate Washington, Jim Sampson, 509.358.2006.

@ Tacoma Science Cafe

January Tacoma Science Café - 

"The Physics of Music: Using Light to Study Sound"

FREE for everyone.

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, at The Swiss Pub, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma

Featuring Rand Worland, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Physics Department, University of Puget Sound

From clarinets and violins, to drums and cymbals, vibrations create the complex sounds that we hear from musical instruments. At the January Tacoma Science Café, join the University of Puget Sound's Rand Worland, Ph.D., to discover how he uses lasers to produce images of these vibrations and how differences in vibrations alter how we perceive sounds.

Miranda Hayes | PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER

Special Events Coordinator | P (206) 443-2937 | mhayes@pacsci.org

Puget Sound Small Businesses Are Wired

Local small businesses are utilizing company websites and other online tools more than the national average.

Puget Sound, good job. You have done something that the majority of businesses across the nation aren’t – marketing their business online. A recent survey conducted by a graduate student at the University of Washington’s Masters in Communications and Digital Media (MCDM) program shows that nearly 82% of small businesses in the Puget Sound have a website. Other surveys conducted nationally show that only 44% of businesses are online(1).

The difference between the sites is not only the industries their businesses represent, but also how they are created. Practically 46% of small business owners hired out the creation of their site, while the other 54% employed various methods. The most popular choice was the help of a website, followed by the help of software, templates, raw programming and help from a friend with experience.

So, what does this mean for you?  As a marketing and branding professional, I see two main takeaways from this survey for small business.

First, your website alone is no longer enough. The online listings for businesses through searches on sites like Google, Bing and Yahoo are becoming saturated and making it harder for patrons to find you. Optimize your sites potential by utilizing other online tools like blogs, social networks and micro-blogging. Content on both Facebook and Twitter is now appearing on search results in Google and can no longer be considered a fad or simply a trend. By engaging with consumers through these channels and others will show them you’re authentic and willing to work for their business. The types of conversation to promote through online technologies need to be original and beneficial but do not need to be of expert quality.

Second is that with such a heavy saturation in the Puget Sound of businesses having an online presence, something about your site has to be better then the next guy. How you get there can be done through various strategies. Maybe you need to not only present your companies contact data on your site, but start to contribute informational articles for your customers about new products or “how-to” techniques. Integrate a more solid brand presence by doing a simple redesign with uniform layout, colors and text styles. It could also boil down to being honest with yourself about not having the knowledge base or time to build a presentable website and your ready to hire a professional. Where ever your sites at, don’t neglect it. By not strategizing and brainstorming ways to build your web presence, you are literally turning away customers. You wouldn’tlock your door during business hours would you?

The Puget Sound is unique in a lot of ways, and the way your are doing business is no different. With almost 82% of businesses having a website, business owners cannot afford to think they’re online therefore, they’re covered. Almost half of these sites are being professionally developed, so the need to present your business in a unique and trustworthy manner is more important here then if you were doing business in another part of the country. Don’t let your website or any other online tool sit idle. Employ them daily. By simply setting aside 10 minutes of each day to converse through your chosen channels, a business can increase authenticity, increase their ROI for their web strategy and grow their customer base.

Guest Blogger:  Scott Loughran is a Marketing Strategist and local entrepreneur, currently working on a dot com. Having worked with Fortune 500 and small businesses alike, Scott brings a diversified perspective that is based on applied common sense. Dedicated to the success of local businesses, Scott consults companies with various needs and is well networked for those situations outside his expertise. The survey mentioned above was managed by Scott for his graduate work at UW MCDM and can be contacted through his site.

Sources:
(1) Are you really connecting? (2009, March 23). Furniture/Today, 33, 2-2. Retrieved November 4, 2009, from Business Source Complete.

Small Businesses on the Web - Or Should Be?

Small businesses can thank Tacoman Scott Loughran for a better understanding of small businesses and their use of the web for marketing.

Loughran is in the Masters in Communications and Digital Media program at the University of Washington. His project, only available for a few days, is open to you.

Loughran is studying digital media and communications. You can learn more about the program here. The Flip the Media blog (work of the faculty and students here) is also a great resource for the Chamber and those businesses we serve.

Loughran's research is specifically investigating if micro (0-4 employees) & small businesses (5-25 employees) have websites, and if so, how they are using them to communicate and market their goods and services. His theory is that these businesses strongly rely on hiring out the construction of websites, and may not understand how popular tools like social media, blogging and pod casting could help customer retention and word-of-mouth advertising (the two most trustworthy forms of business growth to this sector.)

He hopes his research will accomplish two things:

First, consumers who want to shop local, some reports say 90% of them have started by searching for local businesses online. Other reports are saying that as little as 44% of micro/small businesses even have a website. With the health of our local economy largely being supported by the success of local business, we need to find a way to close this statistical gap.

Second, there are people in the community wanting to help local businesses. If we find there is enough of a need in the community, we can educate local businesses how this technology is beneficial to business. This could be through the Chamber for example, as a workshop, in service or part of a regular meeting.

Life Sciences Economic Impact

The Washington Research Council has published an economic impact study of Washington's life sciences industry. To read the full report, click on the link preceding or log onto the Research Council’s website and look under Recent Publications.

Kudos for Tech-Based Economic Development

Washington Technology Center was named one of six recipients of The State Science and Technology Institute's 2009 Excellence in TBED awards for initiating successful programs to sustain the nation's position as a global leader for innovation and competitiveness.

WTC's Research and Technology Development (RTD) Program was honored as a best-practice model for demonstrating leadership and meaningful impact to state and regional economies.

The WTC has assisted state companies over 17 years. Impressively, the RTD Program's more than 330 funded projects have resulted in almost a half-billion dollars in follow-on support from private and federal sources.

WTC awards $1 million in applied research funding each year to teams comprised of companies and researchers in the state of Washington.

About SSTI: The State Science and Technology Institute is a national nonprofit organization that leads, supports and strengthens efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation.

About WTC: Washington Technology Center channels state, federal, and private resources to help companies develop and commercialize new products and technologies. For more information how Washington Technology Center can help research and development projects succeed, call 206-685-1920.

Cyber-Security Begins It All

The Technology Alliance announces a new season of the Science & Technology Discovery Series beginning September 11th with a presentation by Dr. Yoshi Kohno, Assistant Professor in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington.

Dr. Kohno's research focuses on security and privacy of technologies such as wireless medical devices, electronic voting machines and RFID systems. He was named one of the world's top innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2007, and is the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship. Dr. Kohno also has earned national recognition for his teachings on "the security mindset."

The Discovery Series meets on the second Friday of the month September through May at the Rainier Club in downtown Seattle. Visit them online to learn more, or contact Amy Bell Rousso at 206.389.7261 with questions about membership.
These other leading researchers as part of the 2009-2010 Discovery Series:

• Alan Aderem, co-founder and director of Institute for Systems Biology, specializing in how our body's immune system responds to infectious disease, particularly global threats such as AIDS and swine flu;
• Bruce Montgomery, senior vice president at Gilead Sciences, specializing in the treatment of potentially fatal respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis and tuberculosis;
• Sam Wasser, director of University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, a world-renowned pioneer of non-invasive wildlife forensics and monitoring methods; and more.

The Tacoma Tech Consortium is an associate member of the Technology Alliance.

Tech Deck 2009

How do you know what you haven’t measured? No, this is not a lament about Robert McNamara.

Rather, it's that traditional challenge for Tacoma-Pierce County. How do you measure our local tech industry? Many years ago, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber developed a tech directory of local firms. It’s pre-bust; now's post-boom and it's too dated. And, the Chamber's blog here, had a blog author publish in 2008 her local tech directory . It’s still one of the most currently visited articles on the blog’s history.

The bestest current local tech directory is considered to be on the webpage for Thrice All American under "tech company listings".

Other communities (Wenatchee and Bellingham) have published tech directories, linked via the Technology Alliance webpage (and their own), although other communities have given up because of the administrative workload to keep a directory current.

Now, great news from Andrew Fry, Institute of Technology, UWT. He will be having a student catalog and describe the technology companies in the South Sound for the upcoming SST 2009.

WTC Awards Over $360K

The Washington Technology Center awarded $376,454 to spur innovation and jobs. Five company-researcher projects have been awarded state funding for the development of innovative commercial technologies.

The $376,454 in state funding went to five researchers working with companies to develop commercially promising technologies. The company defines the research challenge and provides access to the commercial market. The university or nonprofit researcher executes the research with funding from both Washington Technology Center and the company partner. The companies expect commercial adoption of their technologies to create 175 new jobs in Washington during the next five years.

The company partners are: Data Data, of Vancouver; Healionics, of Redmond; Modumetal, of Seattle; Paine Electronics, of East Wenatchee; and Simulab, of Seattle. Winning proposals from the University of Washington and Washington State University Vancouver described innovation in computer systems and microelectronics, advanced materials and manufacturing, and biotechnology and biomedical devices.

Washington Technology Center competitively awards around $1 million in state funding annually. Applications for the next funding round are due to the Washington Technology Center October 22, 2009.

Payback for Angel Investing

At the Members meeting of the TacomaAngel Network on Wednesday June 10, guest speaker, Professor Rob Wiltbank, revealed his landmark study of Angel Investor Investment Returns in the US and Britain and how they compare to those of Venture Capitalists.

Angel Investors are private individuals who give of their time and money to help new growth companies in ways similar to VC’s, but generally do so at an earlier stage, and for smaller amount than do Venture Capitalists.

Some of his findings:

• Poor returns come back quickly, while big returns can take longer—about 56% of investments returned under 1 times the investment in less than 1 year, about 34% returned from 1 to 5 times the initial investment in about 3 years, 7% returned 5 to 30 times in just under 5 years, and an additional 3% returned over 30 times in about 6 years.


• This produced an average a portfolio weighted return of about 27% which compared favorably to the British 22% and the VC returns of 17% and 15% respectively, before and after fees respectively. The presentation also included a series of returns improving guidelines derived from the study.

Rob also shared key principles from his new and highly praised book on Catalytic Leadership. He was also available to talk one on one with guests and for book signings after the session.

Rob Wiltbank (right) receiving a TacomaAngel Network Pad-folio from Founding Co-chair Larry Kopp (left) in remembrance of his talk.

Rob Wiltbank is Professor of Strategic Management at Willamette University—at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, a Batten Fellow, and partner of Buerk Dale Victor, a growth stage venture capital fund based in Seattle, Washington. His ground- breaking research includes the first empirical examination of the outcomes achieved by angel investors, and the role of entrepreneurial expertise in decision making

The "S" in STEM Comes to the Foss

Today marked "ground- breaking" for the Urban Waters project facility on the eastern shore of Foss Waterway.

A dazzling little display of science - with dignitaries pouring flasks of liquid into a bigger container of blue fluid, turning the solution within clear - utilized the miracles possible with science as a demonstration of promises with a new facility dedicated to the science of the environment commenced.

This positive development in our community is a dividend with the University of Washington Tacoma. The cooperative effort among the City of Tacoma, UWT, Port of Tacoma and Puget Sound Partnership, is a seminal event for our community.

Does Broadband Boost ED?

A new study released by IEDC (International Economic Development Council) seeks to answer the question if broadband boosts economic development.

The study, "The Economic Development Impact of Municipal Broadband," by Craig Settles of Successful.com, is not a study of the economic impact of municipal broadband systems, but rather a survey of economic development (e.d.) professionals' opinions of the contribution of broadband to effective economic development.

The survey begins with the observation that "elected officials have abandoned their free-muni-WiFi (broad)bandwagons, weaker but wiser." Nevertheless, Settles says this survey supports his 2005 survey of e.d. professionals that broadband investments improve economic development. The targeted population came from the IEDC (International Economic Development Council) membership.

Here are some highpoints from the 22% of respondents that report having muni broadband systems businesses can access. Most often respondents said, to the question of broadband's impact:

• new businesses moved to the area: too difficult to measure
• existing businesses stayed: too difficult to measure
• local companies bettered: too difficult to measure
• more tourists visiting: too difficult to measure
• increase in large events: no impact
• revitalized business areas: too soon to tell

Overall, the majority of e.d. professionals believe broadband is a major tool, especially if targeted, that should lead to significant economic benefits. Wireless networks are cast in a negative light (he cites the WiFi network failures in 2007). And, Settles asks the obvious question: if the existence of broadband is not an economic development catalyst, how do e.d. professionals use this tool boost e.d.?

Cheeky Tongue in Particle Accelerator

Although a forwarded email purported to credit the Lawrence Livermore Lab with the creation of a new heavy material, it's suspected that this is just an amusing spoof of the real accomplishment. Being partial to spoofs and prejudiced for puns, couldn't resist posting it for all:

Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.

The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from four days to four years to complete.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 - 6 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.

In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.

When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

Research Funding Available from Washington Technology Center

Are you working on innovative technology applications with near-term commercial potential? Consider applying for a Washington Technology Center grant to offset the costs of your R&D.

Washington Technology Center awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to Washington-based research teams in an effort to help transition great ideas out of the laboratory and into the marketplace.

If you are a Washington technology business looking to partner with an academic or non-profit researcher on a collaborative research endeavor, you may be eligible for a funding award through Washington Technology Center's Research & Technology Development (RTD) grants program. These awards help Washington companies grow faster, create jobs and attract investors by providing the critical funding needed to advance scientific research and product development.

RTD awards pay up to 80% of the cost of research projects -- allowing you to channel your capital to other business growth needs or continue working on breakthrough scientific discoveries. Project teams are eligible to receive up to $100,000 for initial proof-of-concept projects and up to $300,000 total for multi-phase projects.

Washington Technology Center allocates $1 million annually for these grants, which are awarded on a competitive basis to collaborative research teams working on innovative technology projects with strong commercial potential. Washington Technology Center is now accepting proposals for its next round of grants which will be awarded in June. Projects begin July 1. But hurry, application deadlines are drawing near.


Notice of Intent deadline is

March 19 and

applications are due April 23.

Free informational meetings are held throughout Washington state each year.

For more information about the RTD Grants Program, visit here. Here you will find everything from Eligibility Criteria to Downloadable Proposal Materials. Or, for additional information, please contact Russell Paez, 206.616.3102.

More than 300 companies have benefited from the RTD grant program. You could be next.

Facing Up to the Challenge

Military Affairs Committee Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Meeting Notice
Wednesday, Jan. 7
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
La Quinta Inn
1425 E. 27th St.
Tacoma 98421

AGENDA

Preview of the 2009 State Legislative Session
Sen. Derek Kilmer will give us an overview of the upcoming legislative session, with particular attention to military and veterans’ issues.

MorphoFace Investigate, Facial Recognition for Criminal Justice and Intelligence Communities
Eric Hess, Sr. Biometric's Product Manager’s presentation is covering the MorphoFace Investigate application, its recent successes at PCSD, and a little about Sagem's history in Tacoma.

Sagem Morpho is an integral part of Sagem Securite's global success in the development, manufacture and integration of biometric technologies including fingerprint, iris and facial recognition. Based in Tacoma WA, Sagem Morpho provides R&D support, engineering, technology and customer support services for systems throughout North America, including law enforcement, Federal Government, Homeland Security, civil identification, and applicant background check systems, and is the biometric algorithm provider for the FBI AFIS.

Sagem Morpho actively engages its customers in development of emerging technologies. Its recent work with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department lead to the arrest and conviction in a local identity theft case involving numerous local victims, showcasing the potential of facial recognition for investigative tasks within law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Breakfast Buffet: $12.00 with RSVP. Non-reserved attendance: $15.00
RSVP: Rose Crist, 253-627-2175; DUE 12 noon, 01/05

(Non-RSVPs welcome, but PLEASE call to help with plans for meals and seating arrangements.) Those persons reserving and not attending or canceling before the RSVP deadline will be billed.