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SmallerRichard Bellaver, associate director for the Center for Information and Communication Sciences
Bellaver is leading a team of graduate students studying whether wireless hand-held devices, such as eBooks, could encourage reluctant students to read more. Early indications were reported Aug. 2 in eSchool News' online Web site and in the Aug. 3LJNDawson.com site.
The early results indicate many elementary students who have been ambivalent toward reading have been more enthusiastic about reading on the hand-held devices.
"The evidence from teachers says that the kids are more interested and the poor readers are more eager to use the eBooks," Bellaver said. "If we can get one student in 100 to start reading just because of the novelty of the eBook, it's a great advantage."
Chris Cahoe, enterprise network engineer, University Computing Services
Cahoe was quoted in a July 30 Wall Street Journal online article about how colleges are dealing with file-sharing programs, Internet phones services and online videos that can dramatically slow campus computer networks.
Many colleges and businesses are using sophisticated traffic control systems that give higher priority to business-critical files and lower emphasis to less-important online material. The traffic-controlling technology is deep packet inspection (DPI), and according to the Wall Street Journal's article, it gives network administrators more flexibility than traditional firewalls.
Cahoe discussed how Ball State's implementation of a DPI system, Allot, in May significantly helped to alleviate slow connections across campus.
"I can't imagine a university in the United States without some kind of DPI technology in their network. It's just that important," he said.
Cahoe also was quoted in the Associated Press on July 30.
Chu-Yuan Cheng, professor, Department of Economics
Cheng, a Chinese economy expert, discussed the rapidly increasing cost of products in China for an Aug. 13 article in Epoch Times International.
Price increases have ranged from a 6.4 percent increase for grain to a 27.9 percent increase for eggs.
Cheng believes the price increases will not be temporary and could last until the end of the Beijing Olympics in August 2008.
"Everyone now believes, until the Olympics, China will not let its economy slow down because it wants to maintain a prosperous image," he said. "So from now until the Olympics, the stick market won't (be allowed to) go down. This psychological factor encourages people to buy. In my view, prices won't fall before the Olympics."
Tony Costello, Irving Distinguished Professor of Architecture
Costello commented in the July 9 edition of the Indianapolis Business Journal about one of the Circle City's largest advertising agencies, Young & Laramore, which plans to open a Canadian office.
The new office is part of the firm's 2nd Globe initiative, a 12-year-old division dedicated to bring art, architecture and commerce together. The division designs, fabricates and installs public art and often incorporates it in conjunction with a building's design.
Costello said the expansion is a solid move for the agency.
"Competition for their services will be greater there, but anyone in architecture and planning will tell you this region is at the very forefront of progressive planning and public artistic works woven through the fabric of their architecture," he said.
A guest commentary by Costello about a student design competition at Ball State also was published July 25 on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Indiana Web site, www.aiaindiana.org/News.
Larry Cox, director, Entrepreneurship Center
The Indianapolis Business Journal looked at the trend of younger entrepreneurs, a so-called "e-generation," in a July 30 article.
Few national studies track entrepreneurs' ages when they start a business, but experts are seeing an increasing number of adults, ranging in age from 20-34, creating their own companies. Some attribute corporate downsizing and layoffs as factors driving the e-generation trend.
Meanwhile, Cox noted younger people have less to lose than older adults, who have mortgages and families to support.
"In my father's day, you worked for a big company after college," he said. "Now people see working for a large company isn't what they want to do."
Digital Middletown Project
A July 24 article on campustechnology.com featured Ball State's project to digitize and make thousands of hours of content available through the campus libraries. The article also overviewed ongoing work to expanding the digital offerings to include high-definition television.
Production manager Alan Gordon and Ball State's Teleplex are working to digitize all campus video, including instructional footage and campus television broadcasts previously stored on tape, according to the article by Linda Briggs.
The content is being archived and later this year will be viewable in streaming form on the library Web server.
"Our viewer base will be very appreciative when we get this (completely) rolled out," Gordon said. "On the network side, people love it already. They are finding it very easy to use. We've implemented a small portion so far, with (the entire project) to be implemented in the fall. But people are loving it."
Thad Godish, professor of natural resources
An Associated Press article quoted Godish about formaldehyde's effects on Hurricane Katrina victims who have had long-term exposure while living in government-issued campers.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to move thousands of displaced residents out of the campers due to health concerns of formaldehyde contamination.
Godish, a formaldehyde expert, said levels of the gas were high - in some cases more than 1 part per million. At such levels, Godish said people, especially young children, are likely affected.
"You're simply sick all the time," Godish said. "It's basically upper respiratory, nose, throat irritation, headaches, fatigue."
Jo Ann M. Gora, president
Ball State's plans to name its new communication and media building after David Letterman received wide national publicity.
Gora said the idea to name the building after Letterman was first mentioned by trustees about a year ago as a tribute to the 1970 alumnus who consistently has supported his alma mater, including establishing a scholarship in 1985.
"It is entirely fitting that the university should respond in kind with this public demonstration of our admiration and respect for such an accomplished and loyal alumnus," Gora said.
The article also appeared in The Indianapolis Star, the Star Press, the Associated Press, U.S.News & World Report, The Houston Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cincinnati Post, London Free Press, Forbes, NewsLink Indiana, Myrtle Beach Sun-News, News Day, the St, Louis Post Dispatch, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Philadelphia Daily News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press, Kansas City Star, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel, Wabash Plain Dealer, Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram, StarPulse.com, MSN Entertainment News, American School and Universities Online, Anderson Herald Bulletin, Herald Times (Bloomington), Palladium Item, and countless others.
Michael Hanley, assistant professor of journalism
Hanley's research about cell phone ads was included in the July 31 online edition of MediaPost Publications.
Hanley's study found that 56.3 percent of students he tracked for two years accepted ads if they got something free in exchange.
"Just a couple of years ago few college students accepted ads on their mobile devices because they felt it was an invasion of their privacy," he said. "Now all you have to do is offer free ring tones, cash or access to the Internet because this age group has grown up with cell phones and other mobile devices. It's the way they communicate with each other as well as with the outside world."
Richard Heupel, senior project director, Building Better Communities
Members of Swayzee and other towns learned about how to make rural communities grow strategically. In the July 19 Marion Chronicle Tribune, Heupel and Phillip Anderson, executive director of Indiana Rural Development Council, offered tips.
Among the advice, both men suggested looking at other communities to emulate the successful or innovative ideas and to learn how they are solving problems.
However, Heupel cautioned there is no perfect plan.
"You make one and you do the best you can with it," he said. "People might be afraid of failing but will learn from it."
iTV Project
Inside Indiana Business published an Aug. 2 article about how Microsoft is using Ball State in its marketing campaign.
The campaign focuses on the interactive news industry, where viewers - not news producers, reporters or anchors - are in control of their news.
Interactive television will allow viewers to examine stories in depth using remote controls to click on graphic elements that lead to additional information.
Telecommunications professor Tim Pollard said the Ball State students involved in the project are learning how to think differently about television news and graphics that can create a richer experience for viewers. In addition, they are learning that broadcasting can be a two-way experience during which viewers control the content and experience.
"Interactive television offers increased control over programming by enabling the viewer to respond to programming and alter it," Pollard said. "By offering such control, interactive television has the potential to redefine television. It is coming very soon and will transform how we watch television forever."
In addition to Pollard, other Ball State professors working on the iTV project include Jennifer Palilonis and Vinayak Tanksale.
Robert Papper, professor of telecommunications
Papper was quoted in a July 9 Indianapolis Business Journal story about why a Hispanic format radio station's ratings more than doubled in a year.
The Indy station, WEDJ-FM 107.1, doubled its Arbitron ratings because it general manager forged strong connections with the Hispanic community during the year, Papper told IBJ reporter Anthony Schoettle.
"The key to growing in such a niche market is to connect in a significant way with the audience through community events and unique services," Papper said. "I think Russ Dodge has been able to do that at WEDJ."
For instance, Dodge requires employees to be involved in at least one community organization or cause. In addition, he uses cross promotions with local Hispanic newspapers and television stations to connect with his audience.
Kevin Smith, associate professor of history
The Public Broadcasting Service and Ball State are interviewing local World War II veterans for a program, "Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One," to air in September.
Smith was quoted in a July 10 Palladium Item article about the project, which he described as "a major production."
The local programming will allow viewers to ask questions of veterans, historians and curators of the 1st Infantry Division Museum in Wheaton, Ill. This segment will be aired live online from the museum. In addition, schools can register online to access lesson plans, activities and other resources relating to the live program.
Stan Sollars, telecommunications instructor
Sollars was quoted in a July 30 article in The Indianapolis Star about the new communication and media building's technology.
It includes a $1 million postproduction studio, a surround sound recording and editing suite and a high-definition and surround sound playback studio.
"You'd have to go to Nashville, Tenn., to find the nearest postproduction facility with the resources we have here," Sollars said. "And it's all available to Ball State students!"
Billy Taylor, head men's basketball coach
Taylor was quoted in the Aug. 9 edition of The Indianapolis Star about becoming the Cardinals' new coach.
"This is a tremendous opportunity. There's great history in the coaching ranks - coach (Rick) Majerus, Steve Yoder, Ray McCallum, who did tremendous things here," Taylor said. "That history, that tradition, the level of play in the Mid-American Conference, I'm excited about it."
Sadatoshi Tomizawa, professor of Japanese
The Greensburg Daily News reported about a Ball State quiz conducted during a recent fair to see how much Decatur County residents knew about the Japanese culture.
The informal survey included 10 questions intended to get the local community residents thinking about what it will be like to have Honda come to its community and bring Japanese employees with it, Tomizawa said.
Of 113 fairgoers surveyed, nearly half had some knowledge about the Japanese culture.
"I was pleasantly surprised. It looks like the people of Decatur County are willing to, or have already started to, learn about the Japanese culture," he said. "No one got all 10 questions correct, but many got at least half right. That was a nice number. I admit these were very difficult questions, especially for people who have never studied Japanese culture."
Questions included information about Japanese currency, driving habits, population, weather and automobiles.
