Wurman confronts UMds innovative ideals

TED founder expresses disdain for word: innovation

By Tish Carmona
Students flocked to hear Richard Wurman, founder of TED Conferences, talk
about The Next Great Solutions to our Worlds Social Challenges on October 21, in
Stamps Grand Ballroom,
but what they heard was
not the message they may
have expected.
The basis of their
expectation revolves
around the universitys
pride in its innovative
ideals. One outlet of
these ideals, the Academy

239 students and faculty gather to gain insight to how Wurman

thinks and develops his ideas.
Audience size according to Facebook event page.
Photo source: Naomi Harris.

for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, prepares students to find innovative solutions to

world problems through classes, programs and creative environments.
Wurman praised the program, but discredited the poster word it endorses.
Contrary to the innovation and social change mantra the university promotes
through the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Wurman claimed the word
innovation does not mean anything anymore in the structure of our education system.

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Wurman | Page 2
Wurman described how he did not believe in legacy; rather, he saw life as a
continuous renewal of experiences. He then expressed the importance of asking good
questions in the learning process. Only toward the end of his speech did he analyze
innovation and its place in society.
Wurmans stance on innovation
Wurman described the acronym he created to characterize innovation, A NOSE,
which stands for additional, need, opposites, subtraction and epiphany. Each element

What is innovation?
Incremental change?
-Richard Wurman

contributes to innovative ideas, but Wurman distinctly

separated the forces behind innovation and the word
itself, stating that innovation lacks meaning.

Wurman belittles innovation, but Meenu Singh, innovation specialist for the
Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, thinks the term encourages students to
achieve social change.
We have the responsibility as a campus to empower students to believe in
the potential of their ideas, Singh said.
Wurman rebutted and claimed the program may demonstrate support for students,
but the education system does not display the same support.
Education and innovation
The education system is broken because students are focused on studying for
tests, and then forget the information they regurgitated to get good grades, Wurman said.

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Wurman | Page 3
The lack of flexible education also worried Wurman. He recognized the rigidity
of classes, which reflects the results of
Gallups Inside Higher Education survey
that states only 54 percent of higher
education institutions try to increase the
flexibility of their course structure to
increase degree completion rates.
Because of this flawed and limited

Wurman uses a laid-back approach to create

converse with the audience regarding
innovation.
Photo source: Naomi Harris.

system, innovation evolves from a

significant idea to a meaningless word in Wurmans eyes.
What is innovation? Wurman rhetorically asked the audience. Incremental
change?
Wurman implied innovation is not as easy to define as the university may claim,
calling attention to what students consider innovation.
Stone Chen, sophomore marketing major, attended the speech and understood the
general idea that innovation was doing something new.
To be innovative, you have to do what you want and not care about what anyone
thinks, Chen said.
Wurman reinforced this idea in a final nod to the universitys education system,
students limited lifestyles and what makes students generate social change.
Youre here at school to have meaning in your lives, Wurman said. But that is
not what makes us innovative. You must get permission to be more of yourself.

SEO: UMd launches

course

latest online innovation

###

Installment of innovation course expands on university ideals

By Tish Carmona
Since launching in January
2013, more than 500,000 students
have enrolled in Developing
Innovative Ideas for New
Companies, an online class offered
through the university. Now, the
university released its latest online
course, Entrepreneurship:
Launching an Innovative Business,
to satisfy student demand and
university production of innovative

UMd expands its innovative ideals online

where anyone with Internet access can obtain
a specialization certificate in the course.
Photo credit: coursera.org

outlets.
The new course educates students about strategies for entrepreneurship and
innovation, which builds upon the universitys Academy for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship, founded by university President Wallace Loh. The academy enriches
students learning processes through special programs and events on campus.
The university continues its commitment to make innovation and
entrepreneurship the highest priority through the academy as well as this online
program, Loh said.

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Innovation | Page 2
James Green, Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute professor, guides the
online course. The course is $49 and available to anyone with Internet access.
Our goal is to really help you understand the startup process and help you build
skills to identify and act on innovative opportunities now and in the future, James said in
a video clip about the program.
Students will learn about the connection between entrepreneurship, creativity and
innovation, the worlds most innovative companies and different types of innovation.
Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business launches its first session
on Nov. 10, with a second session starting Dec. 1. For more information about the
program and other university online courses, students can visit
https://www.coursera.org/umd.

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Richard Wurman to discuss social change on Tuesday

By Tish Carmona
Students with a passion for innovation and social change have the opportunity to
listen to Richard Wurman, founder of TED Conferences, spread ideas in his speech, The
Next Great Solutions to our Worlds Social Challenges.
University program VO!CES of Social Change will host Wurmans speech at 6
p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Stamps Grand Ballroom to discuss how to solve todays global
problems.
The ballroom will allow students to enter until they fill every seat, as it is free and
open to the public. For more information, contact Craig Slack at cslack@umd.edu.
###

Untethered Labs unveils new capabilities for its GK-Chain

GateKeepers enterprise system will continuously update this year
By Tish Carmona
After introducing the GateKeeper Chain as a single-connection device,
Untethered Labs decided to not only expand the number of computers the GK-Chain
could lock, but expand the market for the product as well. With the release of the
enterprise system, Untethered Labs prepares to tackle HIPAA compliance, special access
commands and personalization of the GK-Chain
Our original concept of the product revolved around solely computer access,
Siddharth Potbhare, CEO of Untethered Labs, said. Now that we have increased interest
from large corporations and hospitals, were realizing that opportunities for the GKChain extend far beyond its current market.
Because of hospitals interest in integrating the GK-Chain into computer systems
to help with HIPAA compliance codes, Untethered Labs focused on developing new ways
to increase the GK-Chains value. Some upcoming features include personalized access
to certain computer terminals based on which GK-Chain the hospital employee is
assigned to.
More plans for hospital integration include a smart badge that will not only
perform the basic locking and unlocking functions of the GK-Chain, but also fingerprint
identification and an e-display of notification alerts. Untethered Labs hopes to eliminate
the need for pagers, swipe access cards and keys by combining all necessary devices into
a smart badge employees can wear in the pocket of their shirts.

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GateKeeper | Page 2

This combining of multiple functions in one device applies to more industries

than solely hospitals. Large corporations can also benefit from the granted and restricted
access to certain offices through personal GK-Chains. Confidential meetings can be free
of unwanted visitors and records can be kept safe through the assignment of access to
selected employees only.
Untethered Labs has ideas to spare, but also plans on allowing users to develop
personal software for the device based on individual needs. For the enterprise system of
the GK-Chain, the golden word is personalization.
Untethered Labs will announce updates on their website, www.gkchain.com and
Twitter, @GKChain. For more information, contact pcarmona@gkchain.com.
###
About GateKeeper GK-Chain
The GateKeeper Chain is an electronic key and lock set that works over Bluetooth 4.0
(Bluetooth SMART) wireless technology, combining a personal sensor with an encrypted
connection that unlocks your computer. The password is encrypted and stored on your
PC, not the GK-Chain, so no one can steal it. The result is effortless security for your
computer when you walk away, and easy access when you return. After a successful
Kickstarter campaign, GateKeeper is in the midst of a large beta test.
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