Posted on 04/28/2008 5:29:36 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Madison's profile in the high-tech world just received its second boost of good news in less than a week.
The Capital Times confirmed that Internet giant Google has set up an engineering office downtown to focus on hardware and software systems design.
"I think Google coming to Madison, a big part of that is because we have a strong (computer sciences and electrical computer engineering) program and we have good students here," said Parmesh Ramanathan, chair of the electrical and computer engineering department at UW-Madison. "I think this is a real positive for both the university and for Madison."
According to a source familiar with the situation, Google has been running a lab just off the Capitol Square, at 10 E. Doty St., since October. Representatives of Google said the company has signed a lease for an office at 301 S. Blount, just off Williamson Street, and plans to move into that space in the fall.
Google representatives would not comment on other specifics, including how many employees work at the facility, but the company did provide The Capital Times with a release that stated: "We are opening an office in Madison because the city offers an excellent quality of life, a deep local talent pool and commitment to education at all levels, including the University of Wisconsin."
It is the third nugget of uplifting high-tech news to hit Madison since the fall of 2007. On Wednesday it was announced that Microsoft, the world's largest computer software company, was opening an advanced development lab on West Main Street in a unique partnership with UW-Madison's highly regarded computer science department. And in the fall of 2007, Microsoft purchased Middleton-based Jellyfish, a comparison shopping search engine. Terms of that sale were not released, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cited sources familiar with the deal in reporting it was worth $50 million.
However, unlike last week's announcement of the Jim Gray Microsoft Lab, which will support a number of graduate research assistantships in the computer science department beginning in the fall, the Google office has no direct connection to UW-Madison.
Nonetheless, many at the UW still are excited about Google's presence in town.
"Clearly, in the long run it's going to be an excellent thing," said Ramanathan. "Many students will be getting experience there. It is easier to build research relationships if they are here. Because the first place they are going to be looking for collaboration is here (at the UW)."
Google's engineering office in Madison will be directed by Jim Laudon, who received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the UW in the mid-1980s. Laudon was not available for comment.
Another prominent member of the Google lab in Madison will be Jim Smith, who recently stopped teaching as a professor of both computer sciences, and electrical and computer engineering at UW-Madison. Smith's research area was in computer architecture, a UW-Madison specialty.
"After Jim Smith stopped being a professor (in the summer of 2007), Google wanted to hire him," said Guri Sohi, the chair of the UW-Madison computer science department who collaborated with Smith for many years. "But he wasn't willing to move to California, so Google basically said they'd start a site in Madison for Jim. And then they found some other people to run it with him."
Sohi was mentored by Smith.
Google is a Web search engine that is one of the most popular Web sites in the world. Google also provides specialized searches through blogs, catalogs, videos, news items and more.
"Google's decision to open an engineering office in Madison is another sign that Wisconsin has world-class talent across the spectrum of information technology, from database technology to search engines," said Tom Still, the president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. "Coming on the heels of the Microsoft announcement, it's another coup for the region and the state. Google's decision is a testament to the quality of the Department of Computer Sciences at the UW-Madison, but also an indication the company sees potential across Wisconsin."
In other exciting news...
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/283624
Two UW students to be on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
The Capital Times — 4/28/2008 3:22 pm
Two University of Wisconsin-Madison students will be giving the “Wheel of Fortune” a spin on TV this week as part of the popular game show’s College Week.
Kelly Clinton-Cirocco, a junior biology major from Gurnee, Ill., will appear on Tuesday’s show. Nick Lamantia, a senior finance major from Arlington Heights, Ill., will be on Thursday’s show.
The shows were taped at Chicago’s Navy Pier in March.
“Wheel of Fortune,” in which contestants solve a word puzzle letter by letter, is celebrating its 25th season on the air. It airs weeknights at 6:30 p.m. on NBC 15.
Madison, Wisconsin. Named after James Madison, the author of our Constitution. The streets on the isthmus are all named after the signers of that most American of all historical documents. Ironic, isn’t it?
And totally LOST on the Citizenry...
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