Microsoft Research Blog

Systems

  1. Data in the Fast Lane 

    May 21, 2012

    By Douglas Gantenbein, Senior Writer, Microsoft News Center A new approach to managing data over a network has enabled a Microsoft Research team to set a speed record for sifting through, or “sorting,” a huge amount of data in one minute. The team conquered what…

  2. A New Way to Get Climate Information 

    April 19, 2012

    By Douglas Gantenbein, Senior Writer, Microsoft News Center Climate scientists, environmental scientists, governmental officials, shipping companies, business owners, farmers—all need access to accurate information about the weather. The challenge certainly isn’t the availability of data about weather. Climate scientists are swimming in it. The National…

  3. Bahl Achieves Alma Mater’s Distinction 

    April 17, 2012

    By Rob Knies, Managing Editor, Microsoft Research In Boston on April 17, in the Great Room of the Massachusetts State House, Victor Bahl, director of Microsoft Research Redmond’s Mobile Computing Research Center (MCRC), will be introduced as one of six recipients of the University of…

  4. A Fresh Perspective on Internet Security 

    December 20, 2011

    By Douglas Gantenbein, Senior Writer, Microsoft News Center People don’t do enough to protect themselves on the Internet. They don’t use good passwords. They’re poor at recognizing the URL of “phishing” sites. They ignore certificate errors. Yet, to Cormac Herley, that’s perfectly rational behavior, because…

  5. Two Extremes of Touch Interaction 

    October 17, 2011

    By Janie Chang, Writer, Microsoft Research Microsoft Research Redmond researchers Hrvoje Benko and Scott Saponas have been investigating the use of touch interaction in computing devices since the mid-’00s. Now, two sharply different yet related projects demonstrate novel approaches to the world of touch and…

  6. Eliminating Duplicated Primary Data 

    October 13, 2011

    By Douglas Gantenbein The amount of data created and stored in the world doubles about every 18 months. Some of that data is distinctive—but by no means all of it. A PowerPoint presentation might start bouncing around a work group, and within a week, many…

  7. Kinect Body Tracking Reaps Renown 

    September 26, 2011

    By Rob Knies, Managing Editor, Microsoft Research By any standard, Kinect for Xbox 360 has proved to be a technological sensation. Kinect, the controller-free interface that enables users to interact with the Xbox 360 with the wave of your hand or the sound of your…

  8. Top Researchers Inspire Interns 

    August 25, 2011

    By Janie Chang, Writer, Microsoft Research Each summer, Microsoft Research facilities from around the world welcome a fresh crop of interns. Microsoft Research considers the intern program a vital part of its interactions with the academic world, with some facilities increasing their head count by…

  9. U.K. Researcher Garners TR35 Accolade 

    August 23, 2011

    By Douglas Gantenbein, Senior Writer, Microsoft News Center Pioneering research into programming biology has earned a Microsoft Research scientist a prestigious TR35 award, presented by Technology Review. Andrew Phillips, a 34-year-old scientist who leads the Biological Computation group at Microsoft Research Cambridge, received the award,…

  10. .NET Gadgeteer: Launch Pad for Devices 

    August 1, 2011

    By Douglas Gantenbein, Senior Writer, Microsoft News Center When Microsoft Research hardware engineer Steve Hodges was developing SenseCam—a wearable digital camera that automatically takes pictures that track the wearer’s activities—he needed months to create a workable prototype. “It took me six months to get something…

  11. A Touch Mouse’s Tale 

    July 26, 2011

    How do you take a concept from research to product? In the case of the Microsoft Touch Mouse, it took a collection of prototypes, collaboration between transatlantic teams, and a lot of user testing. It also helps when the research that launched the project won…

  12. Researchers Cherish University Roles 

    July 18, 2011

    By Janie Chang, Writer, Microsoft Research For the past 11 years, the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit has brought academic and government research professionals together to share perspectives on new research, the challenges facing the research community, and ways to break new ground. The 12th version…