innovation : Innovation + Job News

The winners of the 10th annual Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards were announced last Tuesday. The awards, presented by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), RSM McGladrey Inc., and Saul Ewing LLP were chosen by a selection committee comprised of venture capitalists and government and business leaders. They recognize the achievements of eight companies currently located in Maryland's incubators and one graduate company.

"The finalists and winners of this year's awards program demonstrate the success that can be achieved through Maryland's Incubator program," says Gov. Martin O'Malley. "I congratulate the winners and thank all participants for playing an integral role in keeping the State of Maryland at the forefront of the U.S. technology marketplace."

"To ensure that incubator companies continue to grow, the Governor has introduced InvestMaryland, a new initiative to promote jobs and spur innovation, and invested in job-creating tools like the Biotech Tax Credit, which has been increased to $8 million this year, created a Hiring Tax Credit to help businesses both large and small put Marylanders back to work, and developed a Small Business Loan Guaranty fund to help push small business lending. These award winners demonstrate the success of those State programs," adds Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian S. Johansson.

The winning companies were selected based on the organization's goals and its success in achieving their objectives. Judges considered factors such as technology or product development; proprietary intellectual property; increase in employee numbers; growth in revenue or earnings; engagement of significant customers and strategic partners; receipt of awards or grants; attraction of outside investors; innovation; self-sufficiency; impact on the region; and usage of the incubator's services.

The categories and award winners are:

Life Science Company of the Year � CSA Medical Inc. (Emerging Technology Center, Baltimore) Created the CyroSpray Ablation System, a novel, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared energy based medical system that allows physicians to have the ability to quickly and easily freeze, destroy and remove unwanted tissue, freeing patients from discomfort and worry.

Information Technology Company of the Year � Moodlerooms, Inc. (Emerging Technology Center, Baltimore) Created the world's most widely used open-source learning management system (Moodle) that offers educators fully supported, feature-rich learning management tools at a fraction of the cost. 

Technology Service Company of the Year � B&D Consulting, Inc. (Technical Innovation Center, Hagerstown) A veteran, Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) small disadvantaged business founded by security engineers and information security professionals with more than 20 years experience in providing security services and solutions for both government and Fortune 500 organizations.

New Incubator Company of the Year � Kempbio, Inc. (Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.) Specializes in the production of recombinant protein expression services which is used in the areas of drug discovery, vaccine research and diagnostic assays.

Technology Transfer Company of the Year �FlexEl, LLC (Technology Advancement Program, University of Maryland College Park) Commercializing a low-cost, high energy density power source for use in devices that require thin, safe, lightweight and flexible batteries. 

Homeland Security Company of the Year � Lookingglass Cyber Solutions (Emerging Technology Center, Baltimore) A cyber security software company delivering vision awareness and intelligence beyond the traditional boundaries to protect enterprise networks and critical infrastructure. The company's core product, ScoutVision™, monitors impacts to critical communications networks during cyber attacks, power outages, terror attacks and natural disasters.

Graduate Company of the Year � Get Real Consulting (Graduate of Shady Grove Innovation Center) Provides customized solutions to make cutting-edge technology user friendly through a cooperative approach to project management. The company has worked with clients such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Planned Parenthood and Kaiser Permanente to develop web applications that give patients more control of their personal health records.

Green Company of the Year (new category for 2010) � Clean Currents (Rockville Innovation Center) Provides area businesses, residents, and institutions with innovative green solutions to today's most pressing environmental and energy challenges. 

Robert A. Spar Hall of Fame �Ception Therapeutics (Shady Grove Innovation Center) A biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes novel products to address areas of unmet medical needs. It offers Reslizumab for eosinophilic inflammatory conditions. The company also provides Anti-TNF, a class of small molecule anti-TNF receptor agents with the potential to be orally administered. As of April 5, 2010, Ception Therapeutics, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Cephalon Inc.

Source: Maryland Technology Development Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore-based Integrated Systems Research (ISR) Corporation recently announced the integration of its core technology with Garmin personal navigation devices. The integration adds dispatch and in-vehicle navigation capabilities to the ISR FleetTrack mobile resource management platform. QuickRoute, is integrated solution combines Garmin portable navigation devices with ISR's Silent Position Monitor (SPM) series of in-vehicle tracking hardware. 

The technology platform allows easy dispatching of job assignments directly to a driver's Garmin device. Drivers receive a single message containing detailed job assignments, and turn-by-turn directions, with voice prompts. Using QuickRoute, dispatchers can communicate directly with Garmin units in the field to find out what time a vehicle is projected to arrive at its assigned destination. The system also automatically sends dispatchers a confirmation message once a vehicle reaches an assigned job site.

QuickRoute enables fleet owners, managers and dispatchers to send job assignments to, communicate with, and monitor the activities of individual vehicles or the company's entire fleet. Incorporating Garmin's in-vehicle navigation and two-way text messaging capabilities with ISR FleetTrack should significantly increase the productivity and safety of companies using the QuickRoute solution.

"Garmin is at the leading edge of what they do, so we are excited to partner with them on this," says Yukie Novick, Integrated Systems Research Corporation's CEO. "The integrated solution gives our customers a powerful, easy-to-use, yet affordable way to dispatch job assignments and stay in touch with their drivers throughout the day. It's something our customers were asking for. We listened, and QuickRoute is the result."

Source: Integrated System Research Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Constellation Electric, a subsidiary of Constellation Energy, has launched a new program offering a renewable electricity supply option to residential customers in the BGE utility service area in Central Maryland. The program, Constellation Electric CleanEnergy, gives customers the ability to match 100 percent of their electricity with renewable energy certificates from clean, renewable wind power sources.

"Our customers have been making smart environmental choices by reducing their energy demand through energy efficient products and services, and with Constellation Electric CleanEnergy we wanted to give them the option of improving the sustainability of their energy supply too," says Kevin Klages, president & CEO of BGE HOME, the company offering Constellation Electric service. "Restructured energy markets like Maryland's give customers the ability to shop for their power, and this creates more options, such as the ability to select 100 percent wind power for their homes."

Constellation Electric has a 100 percent wind product offered at a one- or two-year fixed rate option. Constellation Electric CleanEnergy is accepting enrollments for its current wind offer through June 25. Current Constellation Electric customers who wish to add the wind option to their existing electricity supply contract can do so for an additional 1 cent/kWh by calling Constellation Electric through June 25 at 1-888-219-4239. 

BGE customers can also select non-renewable supply options and choose between fixed prices that vary depending on term and offer date. The company will not apply any additional fees, taxes or charges for consumers enrolling with Constellation Electric.


Source: Constellation Energy
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore beer lovers had an extra reason to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend following the launch of the canned version of Resurrection from local celebrity bar Brewer's Art.

As they paid homage to the troops who've given their lives fighting our nation's wars, while simultaneously kicking off the unofficial start of summer, those who love Brewer's Art beers cold heft a cold one in the comfort of the own home.

The newly canned Resurrection joins Brewer's line of bottled beers available at about 100 liquor stores in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County and Howard County, says Tom Creegan, co-owner.

"Resurrection is far and away our biggest seller. It was a way to get it out in an easier format," he says, adding that there aren't any current plans to offer additional varieties of its beers in cans.

It took about two years to adjust the recipe and produce the best beer for bottling and now canning. "We do it here and have what we like here, but doing it at a different brewery it takes a little while to get it where you want it. It's a learning curve, working at a different facility on different equipment. You don't just add four times as much stuff," Creegan explains.

Governor Martin O'Malley announced the submission of a sweeping set of new regulations that will clear the way for implementation of Maryland's proposed Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan. The plan to expand oyster sanctuaries and aquaculture leasing areas for their ecological and economic benefits was initially outlined by the governor in December.

"After decades of doing the same thing year after year, the citizens of Maryland are becoming united in the view that we need to change course and take bold action to rebuild our oyster population -- both for their ecological values and for the jobs and economic impact that an expanded aquaculture industry will provide for Maryland families for generations to come," says Gov. O'Malley

The submission of regulations to the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) is the next critical step in Maryland's efforts to restore the Bay's native oyster, build a robust and sustainable aquaculture industry and maintain a better managed public fishery. As proposed, the regulations will:

• Significantly increase the State's network of oyster sanctuaries from 9 percent to 25 percent. They will be greater in number, larger in size, easier to enforce and established in the most appropriate areas based on scientific advice.
• Identify 600,000 acres open to leasing for oyster aquaculture.
• Identify areas off limits to leasing, allowing for continued support of a more targeted, sustainable, scientifically managed public oyster fishery.

The regulations will be published in the Maryland register July 2, which will begin a 6-week public comment and hearing period. If approved, the regulations will become effective in early September, prior to the October 1 start of oyster season.

"Since the Governor announced this groundbreaking proposal in December, we have worked diligently with legislators, local elected officials and all of our stakeholders � including members of the oyster industry, aquaculture interests, scientists, environmentalists, sport fishermen and citizens," says DNR Secretary John Griffin. "This unprecedented public process resulted in more than 150 meetings, during which we made numerous adjustments to our proposal to address the concerns of our watermen while maintaining the integrity of the Governor's plan.

"Once approved, these regulations will put into place our expanded sanctuary network and change existing regulations to encourage development of aquaculture in Maryland �- and the hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars it will eventually bring to our State," says Gov. O'Malley. "Maryland watermen will have an opportunity to significantly expand their incomes while continuing to work a more scientifically managed public fishery."

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), while declines in the Chesapeake Bay oyster populations in Maryland are not solely the result of a failure to embrace aquaculture, economic contributions to the traditional industry have not created a stable fishery. In fact, these contributions, which once produced a net economic benefit of $146 million over 10 years, are now projected to produce a net economic loss of $64 million over the same period.

Since 1994, the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population has languished at one percent of historic levels; quality oyster bars have decreased 70 percent from 200,000 to 36,000, and the number of harvesters has declined from 2,000 in the mid 1980s to just over 500 annually since 2002. Currently, there are only eight oyster processing companies in Maryland, down from 58 in 1974.

Based on last season's harvest reports, estimates show the new sanctuaries will reduce the public oyster fishery by 10 to 15 percent, a gross economic impact of approximately $350,000 to $500,000.

Maryland's Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development plan is built on the findings of a six-year environmental impact study of oyster restoration options, and the work of the Oyster Advisory Commission and the Aquaculture Coordinating Council. In January 2009, Gov. O'Malley sponsored aquaculture legislation to streamline the regulatory process and open new areas to leasing to promote growth of that industry, lessen pressure on wild oysters and provide alternative economic opportunities for watermen. This legislation was developed with broad stakeholder involvement and passed overwhelmingly in the General Assembly this year. Aquaculture is now the predominant means of shellfish harvesting around the world.  

Source: Office of Governor O'Malley
Writer: Walaika Haskins

"Energy touches every aspect of our lives from the cost of heating our homes to sustaining our resources for future generations," says Gov. O'Malley. "In these last three years, we have made the choices that have transformed Maryland into one of the leading clean energy states in the nation. Each of the bills signed into law today will provide resources and incentives for our families and workforce, create jobs, and fuel innovation as we continue to strive for a Maryland that is truly Smart, Green and Growing."

Key bills enacted include an acceleration of the State's solar Renewable Portfolio Standard to put more clean energy on the grid faster, as well as successfully extending renewable energy tax credits for businesses interested in going green, and tax credits for families to purchase plug-in electric vehicles as they become commercially available later over the coming year.

The O'Malley-Brown Administration's new energy legislation impacts Maryland as follows:

HB 469 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax - Tax Credit For Electric Vehicles

This Administration bill creates a tax credit for the purchase of qualified plug-in electric vehicles equal to 100% of the State vehicle excise tax imposed, not to exceed $2,000. The bill requires a transfer of $279,000 from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) in fiscal 2011, $939,600 in fiscal 2012, and $1,287,000 in fiscal 2013. The tax credit applies to electric vehicles purchased from October 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013.

SB 602 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes - Use by Plug-In Vehicles

HB 674

This bill authorizes a "plug-in electric vehicle" affixed with a State permit designating it as such to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. There are HOV lanes along two federal highways in the State: one on I-270 in Montgomery County; and one on U.S. Route 50 in Prince George's County. The bill will sunset on October 1, 2013.

HB 464 Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010

This Administration bill extends the termination date of the clean energy incentive tax credit to December 31, 2015. The bill also extends to January 1, 2016, the date by which a facility must begin producing qualified energy in order to claim the credit; and prohibits the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) from issuing an initial credit certificate for less than $1,000. The bill also makes the clean energy incentive tax credit refundable.

SB 277 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Solar Energy

This Administration bill increases the percentage requirements of the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS) that must be purchased from Tier 1 solar energy sources each year between 2011 and 2016. The bill also increases the alternative compliance payment (ACP) for a shortfall in solar RPS requirements by $0.05 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) over the current amount in 2011 and 2012, by $0.10 per kWh between 2013 and 2016.

Source: Maryland Energy Administration
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Votes have are in and once again, Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) have come out on top, winning its second award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The school system has been declared the winner of the Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cafeteria contest sponsored by peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization. BCPS beat out four other school districts to take the award in the  U.S. Public Schools category. The district will receive a framed certificate and a thank-you card signed by peta2 staffers.

According to peta2, BCPS is the only district among the five nominees that takes part in Meatless Mondays, an animal- and Earth-friendly program offering students an array of healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian foods. Some popular dishes available in BCPS cafeterias include spicy vegetarian chili, meatless lasagne, and Tex-Mex style black-bean nachos. In another of the school system's innovative program, local farmers and food distributors partner with the district to provide fresh, locally raised fruits and vegetables to students.

"Baltimore City Public Schools stands as a role model for school districts across the country when it comes to educating students about how their food choices affect not only their own health but also the world around them," says peta2 director Dan Shannon. "More and more young people are learning that the best thing that they can do for animals, the planet, and themselves is to go vegan."

BCPS beat out Georgia's Gwinnett County Public Schools, Virginia's Prince William County Schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Berkeley Unified School District. Awards were also given in the categories of U.S. Private Schools and Canadian Schools. In October 2009, PETA awarded the school system its Proggy Award for Most Progressive Public School District of 2009.


Source: Rachel Owen, peta2
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore-based Fastspot, an interactive design agency, has been nominated for two Best School/University Websites in the 14th Annual Webby Awards. The firm garnered the noms for their work on the Bucknell University Virtual Tour and the University of Puget Sound's website. And since each category includes just five finalists, Fastspot now has a two out of five chance to take home the Webby for the School/University category.

Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile websites. Fastspot is a former Webby honoree and winner. This year, Fastspot Creative Director, Tracey Halvorsen, also participated as a judge for the Awards.

"As a past Webby winner, we recognize the level of competition that occurs in this particular awards program, and what an honor it is to be recognized," says Halvorsen. "It is truly the highest compliment to an interactive agency to have your work make it to the finals in the Webbys. We are beyond thrilled to have two nominations in the same category this year, a very unique distinction."

As a nominee, Fastspot is also eligible to win a Webby People's Voice Award that is decided by votes from the global Web community, meaning anyone cast a vote for Fastspot. Voting has already started and will continute through April 29.  People's Voice and Webby Award winners will be honored at the 14th Annual Webby Awards in New York City on June 14, 2010.

Source: Stacy Spakowsky
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined Tom Wilcox, President of the Baltimore Community Foundation, to announce a new civic engagement initiative starting in the city. Neighbors In Deed is a $1 million initiative funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, the Baltimore Community Foundation, and the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Foundation to promote older adult volunteerism. The three-year program, which begins in six neighborhoods later this Spring, will recruit 1200 volunteers to contribute 500,000 hours of volunteer activity. Their combined effort is valued at more than $10 million over the three year period.

"In these difficult economic times, it is clear that we need community members to redouble their efforts to make our neighborhoods stronger and more stable for years to come," says Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "Baltimore has been at the forefront of tapping into the skills and wisdom of our older adults for a decade. This Baltimore Community Foundation initiative will allow us to help six communities in the City and County achieve important community goals they have identified by better using this valuable resource."

Older adults who volunteer will work on community enhancement efforts in six Baltimore neighborhoods: West Baltimore, Northwest Baltimore, North Baltimore, Belair Edison, Highlandtown, and Dundalk in Baltimore County. Older adults interested in volunteering can call the Baltimore Community Foundation at (410) 332-4172, extension 146.

The Intergenerational Center at Temple University will also support the program with Kellogg Foundation funding. The Center is working with the Highlandtown and Greater Homewood areas as one of six areas in the nation in its Communities for All Ages�an intergenerational initiative to help communities better meet the needs of all their residents from cradle to grave.

According to Mr. Wilcox, the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) is one of nine community foundations nationally to implement the project as a part of the Atlantic Philanthropies' Community Experience Partnership. Adding to Atlantic's grant are several Baltimore area foundations including BCF, the Stulman Foundation, and the Weinberg Foundation, which have committed over $500K in matching funds.

"The number of Americans over 60 will increase by almost 50 million in the next 20 years," Wilcox says. "We are proud to work with Atlantic Philanthropies and our local foundation partners to realize the potential of those who are determined to apply their experience to make a difference for others."

Each neighborhood identified priorities on which to focus with the help of a team of University of Maryland School of Social Work graduate students. Dr. Amy Cohen Callow, who led that initiative, will also do research and evaluation of the project.

• In West Baltimore, older adult volunteers will seek to engage a cadre of younger adults to serve as the next generation of community leaders, working with the Citizen's Planning and Housing Association (CPHA).

• In Northwest Baltimore, Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI) will work to promote public safety by actively engaging older adults.

• In North Baltimore, the Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO) and the Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) will focus on two priorities. GEDCO plans to expand a Neighbors Helping Neighbors Time Bank Program from Stadium Place to a group of surrounding neighborhoods so that older residents are assisted to remain in their community. GHCC is developing a Communities for All Ages initiative to encourage families with young children to remain in the Charles Village community by strengthening the two neighborhood public schools.

• In East Baltimore, Belair Edison is developing block-by-block leadership thru an expansion of the Neighborhood Ambassador Program.

In South Baltimore, the Southeast Community Development Corporation will involve older adults in Highlandtown in multi-cultural and intergenerational efforts to strengthen the social infrastructure of the neighborhood.

Source: Mayor's Office
Writer: Walaika Haskins

While area tech companies aim to score big with an iPad app in Apple's App Store, electronics accessory maker M-Edge is taking a different tack with a line

M-Edge Accessories, has launched a suite of accessories designed specifically for Apple's iPad. Designed to bring protection, innovation, and personalization to the iPad experience, M-Edge's offerings will allow users the freedom to take their device into any environment, from the office to the subway to the beach.

"With the iPad, Apple is putting forth a compelling eReading platform, and we are excited to broaden our focus and develop accessories that will enhance the iPad experience," commented Patrick Mish, CEO at M-Edge Accessories. "Our laser-focus on eReader devices the past four years has offered M-Edge valuable customer insights and allowed us to achieve numerous product successes. I am confident that with this experience under our belt, we are positioned to bring fresh, novel, and industry-leading accessories to the iPad market."

In addition to it's line of protective slevves, M-Edge also offers its FlexStand bookstand for iPad users. The innovative bookstand is compact and portable, and uses flexible legs and adjustable feet to provide an adaptable, hands-free user experience.

M-Edge's Professional Line of iPad jackets is designed for those looking for classic and stylish protection that is suitable for work environments. Available in up to 12 leather colors, the jackets in this comprehensive line are among M-Edge's bestsellers.

 

Source: Patrick Mish, M-Edge Accessories
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Baltimore Office of Sustainability has released its first annual report. Developed with the input of more than 1,000 residents, the Baltimore Sustainability Plan, was adopted by the Baltimore City Council in March, 2009. The annual report outlines the progress made to date toward achieving Plan goals and highlights the work underway that city leaders hope will benefit the economic, social, and environmental health of Baltimore.

The report identifies the seven major areas that define the goals of the Sustainability Plan: Cleanliness; Pollution Prevention; Resource Conservation; Greening; Transportation; Education and Awareness; and Green Economy. Each section includes a feature story that highlights the accomplishments toward achieving the goal as well as "Steps You Can Take" that provide citizens with suggested actions they can take to move the process forward.

"Sustainability becomes increasingly more important to us as a City, a State and a nation because we recognize that our global resources are finite," says Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "By making smart decisions about how we use resources, and involving residents in the process, we can save money, improve quality of life, and position Baltimore to benefit from growing investment and job creation in the green economy."

The report includes a feature on the city's Green and Healthy Homes Initiative that seeks to improve health outcomes for Baltimore households while saving residents money on their energy bills and reducing their environmental impact. The program, which has roots in Baltimore-based Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, is now being replicated in cities throughout the country.

The benefits of the program exemplify the triple bottom line goals of sustainability; healthier homes lead to families with less asthma and lead paint cases, residents save money on utility bills and find jobs in green trades, while at the same time reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

Also featured are the Harbor Connector water taxi service and the Charm City Circulator, recent expansions in Baltimore's public transportation system. The water taxi service from Fells Point to Tide Point averaged 200 trips daily during an 8-month period , thereby reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

Launched in January 2010, the Charm City Circulator, hybrid buses that offer free bus service throughout Harbor East and downtown, recently celebrated its 100,000th passenger. Service extends to the west to the B&O Railroad museum and soon will include the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus to the north. These sustainable transportation developments help bolster the local economy by expanding options for employees to reach their jobs and for visitors to explore Baltimore, according to the city.

Source: Baltimore Mayor's Office
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has granted the Walters Art Museum $315,000 for a 2 1/2 year project to digitize, catalog and distribute 105 illuminated medieval manuscripts. Representing diverse Byzantine, Greek, Armenian, Ethiopian, Dutch, English and Central European cultures, this project, entitled Parchment to Pixel: Creating a Digital Resource of Medieval Manuscripts, will allow for the digitization of approximately 38,000 pages of ancient text and 3,500 pages of illumination.

"The aim of this project is to allow access to the museum's collections, free of charge, mirroring in the virtual world what the Walters has achieved at our physical location through free admission," says Walters Director Gary Vikan. "This project further fulfills the museum's mission to bring art and people together."

The resulting digital catalog and library of images will conform to internationally accepted standards and will be distributed to diverse audiences through scholarly and public databases worldwide under a Creative Commons 3.0 license.

"This unparalleled access to little-seen treasures will enable close collaborative study of the materials from locations around the world and across disciplines as well as reduce wear and tear on the codices," says Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books Will Noel. "The NEH has provided another extraordinary opportunity for the Walters to share its resources."

This grant allows the museum to continue its ambitious initiative to create, preserve and make accessible fully cataloged digital surrogates of its manuscripts, an initiative that began in 2008 with an NEH Preservation and Access Grant to digitize its Islamic manuscripts. The museum is digitizing the entire collection of Islamic manuscripts and single pages, which amounts to approximately 53,000 images to be available for public access.

In the western hemisphere, the Walters' holdings of illuminated manuscripts are second in number only to the Morgan Library and Museum and are of a level of quality matched only by the Morgan and a smaller collection at the J. Paul Getty Museum. At the time of his death in 1931, the museum's founder, Henry Walters, left to the city of Baltimore his entire collection of art, including a legendary collection of illuminated medieval manuscripts that is a major national treasure. Between 1895 and 1931, Walters collected around 730 codices. Today, the collection includes some 850 illuminated and illustrated manuscripts and 150 single leaves, ranging in date from the ninth to the 19th century and constituting one of the most significant collections of its kind in the country.


Source: The Walters Art Museum
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Storyfarm New Media, a Baltimore-based video production company, has launched a new all video professional services directory. A long-time dream for partners John Sherman, John Brosman and Beau Kershaw, the service is intended to provide people a way to find a real estate agent, doctor or lawyer that goes beyond just picking them from a static list.

"We started out looking at About Us pages and doctors and real estate agents listings -- just text and a picture -- and thought this isn't really doing anything all. You don't get to know anything about the people, and thought how great it would be if you had a really nice video that would be sort of a personal introduction that would give you all the intangibles you get when you're meeting somebody. If we make a really good video for a website, then why not make a second distribution point for it, collect all the videos together," says Sherman.

Storyfarm's first directory, MeetLocalAgents.com, launched with about 30 local real estate agents. Two other directories, MeetLocalDoctors.com and MeetLocalLawyers.com, are also up but have limited listings. Users can search the directories by area or several other criteria.

"There's really no way to quantify the success of a doctor, lawyer or real estate agent. It's all about personality, especially for doctors. I think it's crazy how we pick our doctors. Are they close to me? Do they take my insurance? Okay, you're my doctor. What we're really doing is empowering consumers to make better choices," says Sherman.

Cheaper than a commercial, the service is available for a monthly subscription fee of $59, $99, $149, and $199 for 30, 60, 90 or 120 second video, respectively. There are no upfront video production costs and the service is available for an inital 30-day trial.

Source: John Sherman, Storyfarm New Media
Writer: Walaika Haskins

It was a good night, a very good night last Wednesday when Fastspot, a Baltimore-based interactive design firm, learned Jumbalaya, a word game designed for Apple's new iPad device, would be one of about a thousand apps available for the iPad's launch on Saturday, April 3.

"There's a big advantage to being in at the ground level on something like this. The marketplace will get more and more flooded over time and we think it will be a pretty revolutionary device and we wanted to have something for it when it came out," says Tracey Halverson, Fastspot's creative director and principal.

Available on Apple's App site, Jumbalaya is a word scramble game that takes advantage of the iPad's multi-touch technology. "You can really use all your fingers to move the Scrabble-like blocks around to create as many words as you can," Halverson says.

The game offers players two distinct gameplay modes -- Survival and Quick Play. Survival pits players against the clock, making words to stay alive. In Quick Play gamers are challenged to get as many points as as possible in two minutes. Players can choose between three -- Wood, Earth and Ice.

It took the design team at Fastspot about one month to create the game, submit it and get accepted by Apple. The big challenge was creating the game on a simulator because the iPad was not available until last Saturday. "We have experience developing for the iPhone, so our lead developer was able to tap into that experience. Apple has been very good about providing feedback on the app along the way, so we just followed their deadline," Halverson explains.

Now that the team has experience designing for the iPad, Halverson hopes that they will be able to use that to create iPad apps for Fastspot's clients.

"I think this device will really become quite popular and we want to do more of it for our clients as well. So it was really great to dive in and get our feet wet," says Halverson.

Source: Tracey Halverson, Fastspot
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Baltimore City Health Department has launched an innovative new program last week designed to address so-called food deserts, neighborhoods without eacy access to a supermarket and healthyfood options, in the city.

The Virtual Supermarket Project allow residents in and around East Baltimore and the Washington Village neighborhood to order groceries online at their local libraries and pick them up at the same locations the next day. It is currently operating at the Washington Village and Orleans Street Enoch Pratt Free Library branches.

"This program will make these neighborhoods stronger and healthier, allowing residents the same access to full-service, competitively priced grocery stores that much of the rest of the city enjoys," says Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Both sites are located in food deserts. The surrounding neighborhoods were identified as having the greatest need for the project. Washington Village has the 6th highest mortality burden out of the 55 city community areas for causes of death related to diet, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The Perkins/Middle East neighborhood ranked 19th in this category.

"In many densely populated cities, including Baltimore, residents of some communities must choose between shopping at small corner stores that lack fresh produce or paying a premium for a ride far outside their area. This is not a fair choice," says Interim Commissioner Farrow. "We are hoping that if this program is successful, we can partner with more grocery stores and expand the program to other areas of Baltimore where there is need."

The Virtual Supermarket Project was piloted last year as an innovative way to address food access problems in Baltimore City. It is funded by a $60,000 grant. The Health Department partnered with the Enoch Pratt Free Library, which offered to house the program. Santoni's Supermarket, a long-time Baltimore City grocer, is currently the primary provider of supermarket items for the program. The Center for Design Practice at MICA provided ideas on marketing/branding the project.

A neighborhood designated as a food desert has no supermarkets within walking distance and lacks other resources that would provide healthy, inexpensive food. Corner stores and fast food or take-out restaurants are common in these areas, but they generally only offer unhealthy options. Healthy staples at corner stores, if they are available, can cost as much as 20% more than they would cost in supermarkets. Few residents of the neighborhoods targeted by the program own their own vehicles (66 percent of the households in the Perkins/Middle East area do not have vehicles, 48 percent in Washington Village), making travel to a distant supermarket an obstacle.

At the Orleans Street branch, residents may order their groceries each Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and collect their orders the following day between 1 and 2 p.m. The Orleans Street library is located at 1303 Orleans Street (21231). Residents of the Washington Village area may order at their library branch on Mondays between noon and 3 p.m., and pick up their orders each Tuesday between 1 and 2 p.m. The Washington Village library is located at 856 Washington Boulevard (21230). Accepted forms of payment include cash, checks, credit cards and food stamps.

For more information on the Virtual Supermarket Program, visit the website.

Source: Baltimore City Health Department
Writer: Walaika Haskins