UCSUR News Blog

June 23, 2011

Virtual desktops: Jim Lefcakis in the University Times

Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 11:03 am ET

Thursday, June 23, 2011
Virtual desktops, computer labs on the way
"UCSUR an early adopter - While many University departments are showing interest in virtual desktops, Jim Lefcakis, information technology director for the University Center for Social and Urban Research, said his center is the first to be virtualizing desktops - replacing desktop computers with monitors and small machines called thin (or zero) clients."

"A virtual desktop enables a computer user to access the resources available at the office from anyplace with Internet access, while the data remains secure on Pitt's network."

"Keeping data inside the Pitt network is very important for data security. This is especially true given FISMA and HIPAA compliance rules and regulations regarding personally identifiable information."

Read more here.

June 10, 2011

Gerontocracy : Chris Briem in the Pittsburgh City Paper

Posted on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 03:26 pm ET

Thursday, June 9, 2011
Gerontocracy
"It should be a political truism that Old is as Old Votes. At least in Pittsburgh. If last month's primary elections were similar to the previous municipal-cycle elections, in 2009, the voters that actually cast ballots are likely among the oldest in the nation."

"While Census data suggests Western Pennsylvania's overall population may be getting younger, it's hard to find evidence of it at the polls."

Read more here.

June 10, 2011

Pittsburgh drawing highly skilled immigrants : Chris Briem quoted in the Tribune Review

Posted on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 08:00 am ET

Thursday, June 9, 2011
Study: Pittsburgh drawing highly skilled immigrants
"The composition of the immigrant population here contrasts sharply with the city's reputation as a smokestack town," said Christopher Briem, a regional economist at Pitt's University Center for Social and Urban Research.

"For decades, job growth here has been in high-skilled areas like health care, education and technology, so the work force -- both immigrant and nonimmigrant -- has changed dramatically. Overall, we are near (Washington) D.C. and Boston in terms of overall education of the population."

Read more from Chris on this topic at his Nullspace blog.

RSS Feed

Archives