Wurman confronts UMd’s innovative idealsTED 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 World’s Social Challenges” on October 21, in

Stamp’s Grand Ballroom,

but what they heard was

not the message they may

have expected.

The basis of their

expectation revolves

around the university’s

pride in its innovative

ideals. One outlet of

these ideals, the Academy

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.

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.

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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.

Wurman’s 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

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.

“What is innovation? Incremental change?”

-Richard Wurman

Wurman | Page 2

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The lack of flexible education also worried Wurman. He recognized the rigidity

of classes, which reflects the results of

Gallup’s “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

system, innovation evolves from a

significant idea to a meaningless word in Wurman’s 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 university’s education system,

students’ limited lifestyles and what makes students generate social change.

“You’re 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 latest online innovation course

Wurman uses a laid-back approach to create converse with the audience regarding innovation. Photo source: Naomi Harris.

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Wurman | Page 3

Installment of innovation course expands on university idealsBy 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

outlets.

The new course educates students about strategies for entrepreneurship and

innovation, which builds upon the university’s 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.

UMd expands its innovative ideals online where anyone with Internet access can obtain a specialization certificate in the course.Photo credit: coursera.org

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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 world’s 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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Innovation | Page 2

Richard Wurman to discuss social change on TuesdayBy 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 World’s Social Challenges.”

University program VO!CES of Social Change will host Wurman’s speech at 6

p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Stamp’s Grand Ballroom to discuss how to solve today’s 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.

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Untethered Labs unveils new capabilities for its GK-ChainGateKeeper’s 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, we’re realizing that opportunities for the GK-

Chain 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-Chain’s 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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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.

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About GateKeeper GK-ChainThe 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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GateKeeper | Page 2