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St. John’s eLearning developer Bluedrop has been awarded the contract to provide the Hercules Observer Trainer (HOT) to the Australian Department of Defence. This project will see Bluedrop and its partners build and deliver the Hercules Observer Trainer (HOT) training device for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) by the end of June 2011. The contract is worth approximately $1M CAD. The HOT will help the loadmaster aboard the Hercules to learn how to better spot and deal with Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) and Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) threats as the Hercules is operating in hostile territory. The system has been successfully used for since 2008 at CFB Trenton by 426 Transport Training Squadron. This contract is being completed in partnership with Gladstone Systems Solutions (GSS), also based in St. John’s.

The HOT system is based on DRDC’s VirtualScan technology. It is comprised of a Trainee Station; an Instructor Operating Station (IOS); and a synthetic environment that includes a visual database and a threat generator. Hercules fleets experience ground threats to aircraft from Surface-to-Air Missiles and anti-aircraft fire. Although the aircraft are fitted with defence systems, these are dependent on sufficient early warning of the threat for the defence systems to be deployed in time to be effective during flights. Non-flying aircrew, such as loadmasters and flight engineers, provide early warning while observing the ground from side observation windows.

A HOT simulation system maximizes the ability of aircraft crew members to provide timely warning of external threats to the aircraft captain, thus enhancing the aircraft’s survivability in a hostile environment. The system is so intuitive and effective that in a recent study, trainee loadmasters were at the same level of effectiveness at threat detection within two lesson plans, as that found with experienced loadmasters with significant experience.

Before the HOT, the training was provided in a live environment and the threat reporting was practised during live flight under the supervision of an experienced loadmaster against imaginary threats. This was a very expensive and inefficient way of conducting that training. The HOT provides a cost-effective way to provide real-time training that is easily re-deployable to meet training needs in a variety of locations.

“The HOT will help Hercules aircrews better detect and respond to any threats to the aircraft from the ground. We are confident that DRDC’s VirtualScan technology will hold great promise for efficiently and inexpensively addressing threat avoidance training as well as for Search and Rescue training,” said Emad Rizkalla, Bluedrop President and CEO. “We are pleased to be expanding our focus to Australia and are already engaging with several potential global clients in the Hercules and Search and Rescue community.”

Ontario record management company, MES Hybrid Document Systems, Inc., is pleased to announce the launch of Digital ReeL, a cost-effective microfilm scanning solution that emulates traditional microfilm reader printers for high operator acceptance and accessibility.

Digital ReeL is a complete microfilm conversion solution that creates a digital replica of original microfilm or microfiche. This conversion solution includes a software application that emulates traditional microfilm reader printers and allows users to retrieve digital microfilm rolls from a PC workstation. Additionally, this software application allows users to avoid the hassles that are commonly associated with traditional reader printers.

“If you have a substantial microfilm archive, you’re most likely already spending a lot of money – from readers and reader-printers, to their annual maintenance and ultimate replacement cost – the expenses adds up quickly,”said Kevin D’Arcy, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of MES Hybrid Document Systems. “Digital ReeL allows you to convert your substantial library of microfilm to an easy-to-use, digital PC platform, at breakthrough pricing. Plus, it comes from MES Hybrid Document Systems – a leader in quality record management solutions since 1971.”

MES Hybrid Document Systems Inc. has been successfully supplying and supporting document scanning solutions in public and private organizations across Canada since 1971. MES provides document management solutions to improve business processes, reduce paper-based tasks and focus key knowledge workers.

TransGaming Inc. is proud to announce the celebrity judging panel for the $50,000 GameTree TV Developer Competition. The panel will consist of actor, director, producer and writer LeVar Burton, president of development at Jerry Bruckheimer Games Inc., Jay Cohen, and Lorne Lanning, cofounder of Oddmobb, Inc. TransGaming will announce the winner of the competition at Casual Connect, the world’s premier casual games conference, taking place July 19-21, 2011 in Seattle, WA.

The GameTree TV Developer competition gives independent game developers the chance to win more than $50,000 in cash prizes by bringing their games to GameTree TV, the premier on-demand gaming platform for Smart TV. Finalists will have their game featured on GameTree TV, putting them in front of millions of consumers around the world as the adoption of Smart TV continues to grow.

“LeVar, Jay and Lorne bring a unique combination of experience and influence that makes them ideally suited to discover the next generation of games that will transform the connected living room. The submissions we’ve seen thus far demonstrate the incredible talent of pioneering developers from around the world,” said Vikas Gupta, CEO and President of TransGaming Inc. “GameTree TV is shaping the future of Smart TV, and we are thrilled to have some of the industry’s most innovative creators and respected personalities involved in this competition.”

GameTree TV is commercially available on next-generation set-top boxes and connected consumer electronic (CE) devices. Developers can find more information and submit their games at online until 11:59pm ET on June 15th 2011.

Annex Pro invites anyone running Pro Tools 8 and earlier versions, on Apple G4, G5, first-gen Mac Pro, iMac or  Windows PC to come in for a hands-on Native Performance test drive with the new Avid Pro Tools|HD Native. Experience for yourself the new high-performance, low-latency, PCIe-based I/O of Avid Pro Tools|HD Native, running on the New 8 and 12 core Apple Mac Pro
Pro Tools is now faster and more affordable, using host-based processing of new Apple multicore Mac Pro computers.  Bench-mark tests show that Pro Tools|HD Native analog to analog throughput latency is far lower than competing FireWire, USB 2.0 and other PCIe interfaces, with the added benefits of:

Yangaroo Inc. has launched its U.S. Advertising Division with key agencies on board for the delivery of their clients’ television commercial spots. Yangaroo’s patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS), led by veteran broadcast and advertising industry executive Karen Dealy, enables advertisers to send high quality SD and HD video spots to television broadcasters digitally via the Internet, helping both the advertising and broadcast industries transition to more efficient digital workflows.

DMDS offers advertisers and their brands an efficient and cost effective means to distribute campaigns in both SD and HD formats throughout the broadcast marketplace. Yangaroo’s patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) is cloud-based and requires no dedicated hardware.

Yangaroo’s DMDS Advertising network continues rapid growth as it has expanded to over 1000 leading US broadcast destinations.  Advertisers and their agencies can now send content securely and immediately to networks and broadcast groups including the ESPN Network Group, Discovery Networks, MTV/Viacom Network Group, ABC Television Group, Belo Television, CBS Networks and the CBS Station Group, Fox Television Stations, Hearst Argyle Television Group, Sinclair Broadcasting and the Tribune Broadcasting Company. The rapid rate of adoption is a result of the streamlined and effective integration of the DMDS technology solution. Read the rest of this entry »

Halifax company Upstart Industries has launched Vantage: A Social Approach to Project Management. Vantage is an online, subscription-based (SaaS) application which integrates project and portfolio management capabilities with enterprise social media. You can try it free for 30 days.

Upstart co-founder Kelly Kazimer notes, “Anyone who has managed or participated in a project understands the challenges of maintaining focus on project goals, and ensuring that every project team member is on the same page. These challenges are often further compounded by adopting project tools at the project level, which creates information and communication silos within the organization.  We created Vantage specifically to tackle these problems head on.”

Vantage provides a collaborative web-space for project teams to manage, work with, and share projects. Tasks, resources, budgets, schedules, project plans, issues, risks can all be managed on a per project basis, using only a web browser. Beyond individual project management, Vantage provides you with an organizational view of all of your projects and resources. Every project’s status and health can be viewed on a single page; every resource’s allocation & participation can be viewed across all projects; every resource can view an integrated task list of their assignments from all of their projects.

Vantage uses its own secured social media channel, VantagePoint, to source not only user-generated content but also project activity within one central activity steam. When a schedule is published, a new resource added, or a new task assigned, VantagePoint notifies the team.  At the same time, team members can use VantagePoint to update statuses, request approvals, seek consensus, flag issues, identify risks, and work together to achieve goals.

Kelly Kazimer explains, “As a solution, we created Vantage to support what we feel are the cornerstones of project success: communication, collaboration, visibility, and accountability.  As a tool, we designed Vantage to be a business application that’s as easy to use as the tools we use every day as consumers. Producing and consuming information has never been easier. And we applied those principles and expectations to Vantage.”

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G7-cw0UiDE]

Microsoft Canada and the University of Toronto are pleased to announce that UofT is the latest higher education institution to deliver Microsoft’s Live@edu e-mail and document management service. This joint initiative enables UofT’s 77,000 students to join a rapidly growing community of 11 million peers in more than 10,000 schools worldwide who are benefiting from the power of Live@edu.

This cloud-based collaboration suite will help the University reduce costs, improve communication and collaboration between students, and equip them with the tools they need for their academic career.

“Live@EDU is an outstanding addition to UofT’s robust student support services,” says Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost for the University of Toronto.  “Our students are very much looking forward to having this powerful tool to help them get the most out of their university experience.”

Outside of the classroom, Canadians are increasingly using collaboration software and services and now expect these same capabilities in their learning experience. Extensive consultation with students led by the University’s Chief Information Officer, Robert Cook, showed that students wanted more comprehensive tools to complement their academic involvement.

The platform provides the flexibility of Office Web Apps that include web-optimized versions of Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint – essential tools now accessible to UofT students anywhere, anytime, via any popular web browser or mobile device. Live@edu also includes Outlook for e-mail plus a 10 GB inbox, and enables powerful document sharing and collaboration with 25GB of password-protected online storage.

“Now more than ever, universities such as the University of Toronto require security-enhanced cloud services to deliver the flexibility and functionality that students need to succeed in their studies and in their future careers,” says Mike Tremblay, Vice President, Public Sector, Microsoft Canada. “Live@edu is arming University of Toronto students with tools that drive success in the classroom, and eventually the boardroom.”

The University of Toronto joins more than 10,000 schools in more than 130 countries around the world that have chosen Live@edu as a platform for student communication and collaboration. Live@edu innovations include great tools such as:

• Communication Services: Free, hosted email and calendaring with a 10 GB inbox and instant messaging through Outlook Live
• Collaboration Services: Ability to access, share and collaborate through SkyDrive, with 25 GB of free online storage space
• Productivity Services: Create, view, edit, and share Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote files online with SkyDrive

Mundo Media has re-launched the social commerce site Living Deal as the newest component in an expanding portfolio of performance-based marketing tools. Mundo Media purchased the well-known site in August 2010 and now Living Deal will focus on matching merchants with high net worth customers.

Since 2010, Living Deal users have saved more than $3.7 million through over 29,000 discounted deals. Living Deals are offered on food, drink, attractions, products and a host of unique services.  The social commerce platform operates in Calgary, Mississauga and Toronto, with plans to expand to further Canadian and U.S. markets.

“Living Deal’s business structure perfectly complements Mundo Media’s focus on performance metrics and lifetime value of consumers,” explained Mundo CEO Jason Theofilos. “Living Deal brings Mundo Media’s knowledge of consumer habits and performance marketing to those small businesses on the lookout for long-term customers.”

Leveraging Mundo Media’s knowledge of consumer online behaviours, Living Deal targets those consumers most likely to convert from deal purchase to redemption.  With this efficiency, the most appropriate users are brought to merchants seeking to build a repeat customer base.

The model for Living Deal creates high long-term value for small businesses entering the market for daily deals.  Mundo Media’s performance metrics gather information on online click-throughs of consumers, so partners have an understanding of how users interact with ads and other marketing assets.  By applying this knowledge, Living Deal offers deals that appeal to consumer interests, leading to repeat customers for merchants.

In concert with Mundo Media’s focus on the net worth of consumers, Living Deal encourages customers to become repeat deal buyers through its affiliate program.  Living Deal pays affiliates money every time one of their friends buys a deal voucher.  Users sign up for an affiliate program and receive a referral link to send friends or post on social networks and sites when they purchase the deal.  When a friend purchases the same deal using that link, affiliates earn money.  Each deal has a payout amount posted the day said deal goes live.

Living Deal also partners with other social commerce platforms in cities without a Living Deal presence through a revenue sharing model.

As the economy slowly recovers from the recession, we need to do what is necessary to achieve a strong recovery in the short term and to begin repairing our fiscal situation federally and provincially. But our long-term challenge remains – raising our productivity, which is synonymous with improving our innovation capabilities and performance. Robust innovation results can be achieved through more key business investments and by the right government policies and strategies for innovation. This is the major conclusion of the 2011 Report on Canada, Canada’s innovation imperative (PDF), released today by the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity at at its 2011 Conference taking place today in Toronto.

In its Report, the Institute reaffirms that Canada’s economy is one of the world’s most successful among countries with populations greater than 10 million.  But against the United States, Canada’s GDP per capita continues to trail significantly. This gap represents lost prosperity potential, which negatively affects Canadians at all income levels.

The Institute reports that Canada’s GDP per capita – a measure of the value created by workers and firms in Canada from the human, physical, and natural resources in the country – trailed the US by $9,500 or 17 percent in 2010, essentially unchanged from the 2009 gap of $9,200 in constant (2010) dollars. “What’s really troubling,” observed Roger Martin, Chairman of the Institute, “is that the prosperity gap has more than tripled since 1981 when it was only $2,700. That has to be a call to action for all Canadians.”

The Report identifies Canada’s lower productivity as the key challenge in closing this prosperity gap. “Canadians are among the leaders in developed economies in work effort, hours worked per person, but we are laggards in creating economic value per hour worked.” said Martin.  “This comes from a poor innovation record. For a variety of reasons, we are not leading the world in creating innovative products, services, and processes in our businesses and workplaces.”

The Report concludes that businesses need to step up their investments in technology – from R&D to patents to adapting existing technology to their businesses. Equally important is the ongoing need to develop stronger management capabilities in our businesses. Although the research shows that Canada’s management capabilities are among the world’s best, there is still room for improvement.

The Institute recommends that governments improve their innovation policies by shifting their efforts from new-to-the-world inventions to relevant-to-the-market innovations. As Martin observed, “Our public policies are skewed toward creating science-driven inventions which are very important to our society, but we shouldn’t assume that much of this will lead to products and services that will respond to consumer needs and improve Canada’s innovation capabilities.” The Report shows how important business-led innovations in product design, service improvements, processes, and mergers & acquisitions have propelled our most successful companies to global leadership.

The Institute applauds recent provincial tax policy changes, including the introduction of the HST, as important initiatives that will stimulate business investment. In particular, it encourages British Columbia voters to affirm the adoption of the HST as it will benefit them and all Canadians. According to Martin, “Canada is moving to become one of the better tax jurisdictions in the world, but we’re simply adopting best practices from others. It’s time Canada became a world leader in innovative tax policies and we have some suggestions for further exploration.” Read the rest of this entry »

The secret to finding a suitable job today lies in mastering the digital search environment used by employers, says noted author and managing partner of Perry-Martel International David Perry. Perry, co-author with Jay Levinson of “Guerrilla Marketing for Job-Hunters 3.0“, says that a rapid transformation in hiring practices has gone unnoticed by those looking for work.

“Every year, 50-million jobs are filled in the United States — almost all without a job posting,” stated Mr. Perry. The executive search professional who the Wall St. Journal called the “Rogue Recruiter”, explained that “this is happening because employers can’t deal with the avalanche of resumes they would get. Today, employers are relying on a brand new digital suite of tools and tactics to find the handful of “most qualified” recruits that they want to interview.”

The revolution in recruiting is taking place at the same time as the job market itself is under huge strain, according to Steven O’Hanlon, President and COO of Numerix, an analytics firm headquartered in New York. “The current state of the global job market is more challenging than it has been in over 25 years. The magnitude of job force reductions is unprecedented. Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0 is the most important and critical tool to use as a competitive advantage. When you think about the quantity of people who are vying for the few job openings that might exist, the job hunter must be clever and think outside of the box. This book provides ample ways to stand out head and shoulders beyond all others in a very crowded job market.”

“Because of this, we have shifted emphasis put a booster rocket on our earlier book, going beyond previous book ‘where to look’, to include ‘how to be found’. The market has changed — no one advertises anymore. America is in a revolutionary new era, defined by digital employer searches”, says Perry. “There is no doubt that employers are using radical new search techniques to find their candidates, and if you don’t know how to show up on their radar, you will be looking for a job forever.”

While still addressing the other critical elements of the job hunt, such as resumes, getting past the door keepers, and advice on talking to the hiring managers, Perry and Levinson lay out the digital strategies job-hunters need to light-up employers’ radars. Sub-titled: “How to Stand Out from the Crowd and Tap into the Hidden Job Market Using Social Media and 999 other Tactics Today”, Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0 is the first multi-media book for job hunters, and provides the tools and lays out the innovative digital tactics that job-hunters should use.

Stop wasting time with resumes and newspaper searches, advises Perry. “The job-search paradigm has shifted. You need to use a Force Multiplier effect to shine on different social media at the same time.” Guerilla Marketing 3.0 tells precisely how to leverage online resources like ZoomInfo, LinkedIn, and Facebook, to take advantage of “the secret lives of top corporate recruiters”. Job-hunters are advised on little-known search-engine optimization tricks used by those looking for employees.
Read the rest of this entry »