On November 13, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will host it’s next Washington Area Trustworthy Computing Hour (WATCH) talk. The talk will be “The burden of authentication: What friction points reveal.” The speaker will be Dana Chisnell, from the Center for Civic Design. From the abstract: Everyone whines about dealing with passwords and authentication, but what is the real cost to individual users? In a study conducted with 23 people at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, we asked participants to tell us about every time they authenticated in a 24-hour period. From this, we learned that the friction of authentication goes beyond the specific act of authenticating, spilling over into tasks, productivity, and […]

The National Science Foundation recently featured University of Missouri computer scientist Marjorie Skubic in a Science360 radio episode. Skubic is engineering high speed networks that can remotely monitor movement and vital signs. The goal is to help provide independent living for the elderly. In this photo at the Smart America Expo, Skubic is showing sensors that are placed under a mattress to monitor vital signs. As part of the Closed Loop Healthcare team at the Expo, Skubic worked to connect the technologies she’s created with those developed by other teams with similar health care goals. Marjorie Skubic was a recent participant at the CCC Aging in Place Workshop. Aging in Place was a trans-NIH/interagency […]

The following is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) by the Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Acting Assistant Director, Dr. Suzanne Iacono.   Dear Colleagues: Through its CISE Research Infrastructure (CRI) program (NSF 14-593 – http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf14593), the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) supports world-class research infrastructure enabling focused research agendas in computer and information science and engineering. The CRI program funds both the creation of new infrastructure as well as the enhancement of existing infrastructure. CISE recognizes the importance of stable community infrastructure for its researchers. With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), CISE notes particular interest in proposals that […]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) requested that the National Research Council (NRC) carry out a study examining anticipated priorities for advanced computing infrastructure in support of NSF-sponsored science and engineering research. The study encompasses advanced computing infrastructure activities and programs throughout NSF, including but not limited to, those of its Division on Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (ACI). In response to this request, the NRC established the Committee on Future Directions for NSF Advanced Computing Infrastructure. The committee has begun its work by gathering and reviewing relevant materials, receiving testimony and comments from individuals, and identifying additional experts to receive testimony from along with additional information. Information is still being collected, but some important […]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computing & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) has a number of new funding opportunities. National Robotics Initiative (NSF  15-505)  Full Proposal Due: January 14, 2015 The goal of the National Robotics Initiative is to accelerate the development and use of robots in the United States that work beside or cooperatively with people.  It will development the next generation of robotics, to advance the capability and usability of such systems and artifacts, and to encourage existing and new communities to focus on innovative application areas. Major Research Instrumentation Program (NSF  15-504) Full Proposal Due: January 22, 2015 The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access […]

The following is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) by Director Dr. France A. Córdova.  October 16, 2014 Dear Colleague, In light of the recent emergence of the lethal Ebola virus in the US, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical care research that can be used immediately to better understand how to model and understand the spread of Ebola, educate about prophylactic behaviors, and encourage the development of products, processes, and learning that can address this global challenge. I invite researchers to use the Rapid Response Research (RAPID) funding mechanism, which allows NSF to receive and review proposals having a severe […]