Recent News – Page 200

Posted on January 11, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Educators: Learn to transform classroom time in Jan. 15 TweetMeet

Educators around the world are fully aware that empowering students to prepare for their future also means embracing change in their classrooms and in their approaches to teaching. The big question is: How do you best go about transforming your classroom? What does it mean, how do you start, and where do you go for inspiration?

You don’t have to wonder aloud into the void, thankfully – that’s what the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet is for! In January’s event, we’ll bring together educators and experts to discuss Transforming Classroom Time. The act can mean different things to different people, even more if you consider that classroom circumstances can vary significantly from one place to another. Key recurring elements in the conversation are to look for small, affordable steps of change that save teachers precious time and that help their students take ownership of their own learning.

Join the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet on Tuesday, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. PST (check your time zone here) to find out more. (Sounds great, but what’s a TweetMeet?)

We offer 11 simultaneous language tracks this month and we’re super happy to have a host from Turkey this time again. Here’s an overview of all language tracks and their hashtags for the January TweetMeet:

For each language track, we have one or more hosts to post the translated questions and respond to educators. As always, we’re super grateful to all current and former hosts who are collaborating closely to provide this service.

The #TweetMeetXX hashtags for non-English languages are to be used together with #MSFTEduChat so that everyone can find the conversations back in their own language. For example: Portuguese-speaking people use the combination #TweetMeetPT #MSFTEduChat. English-speaking educators may all use #MSFTEduChat on its own.

Find out how teachers all over are transforming classroom time with a new #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet! Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST. #MSFTEduChat #ChangeMakers Click To Tweet

TweetMeet fan? Show it off on your Twitter profile

Every month more and more people discover the unique flow and characteristics of the TweetMeet events and become passionate about them. Show your passion for the TweetMeets right from your own Twitter page by uploading this month’s #MSFTEduChat Twitter Header Photo to the top of your own Twitter profile. Besides English, this same Twitter Header Photo is also available in each of this month’s 10 additional language tracks.

Looking back on the December ‘Best of 2018’ TweetMeet

The December edition of the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet was special in many ways. In a very lively conversation discussing ‘Best of 2018’, as many as 140 former TweetMeet hosts engaged with educators around the world in 17 different languages. Look at some of the highlights from that Twitter conversation collected in this Twitter Moment.

Why join the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeets?

TweetMeets are monthly recurring Twitter conversations about themes relevant to educators, facilitated by Microsoft Education. The purpose of these events is to help professionals in education to learn from each other and inspire their students while they are preparing for their future. The TweetMeets also nurture personal learning networks among educators from across the globe.

We’re grateful to have a support group made up exclusively of former TweetMeet hosts, who volunteer to translate communication and check the quality of our questions and promotional materials. They also help identify the best candidates for future events, provide relevant resources, promote the events among their networks, and, in general, cheer everybody on.

Our hosts are thrilled about this upcoming TweetMeet:

When and how can I join?

Join us Tuesday, January 15 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PDT on Twitter using the hashtags #MSFTEduChat, #ChangeMakers and #MicrosoftEDU (which you can always use to stay in touch with us). To find the event time for your specific location, use this time zone announcer.

From our monthly surveys we know that you may be in class at event time, busy doing other things or maybe even asleep – well, no problem! All educators are most welcome to join after the event. Simply take a look at the questions below and respond to these at a day and time that suit you best. You can also schedule your tweets in advance. In that case, be sure to quote the entire question and mention the hashtag #MSFTEduChat, so that everyone knows the right question and conversation to which you are responding. Mark the exact timings – they are different this month.

How can I best prepare?

To prepare for the #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet, have a look at the questions we crafted this time. You might also find something useful in one of these resources:

TweetMeet questions

Hosts

Please meet the 19 hosts for this month’s TweetMeet. They are all passionate about classroom transformation and very eager to engage with you. Several of this month’s hosts have already blogged about the positive impact of being a #MSFTEduChat TweetMeet host and why you should join. You can check these posts out in this brand-new Sway:

We also made a Twitter List so that you can easily follow all the hosts and see what they are tweeting about.

Abeer Almihdar @AbeerMehdar (Microsoft Learning Consultant – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
Arnaud Markert @ArnaudMarkert (Religious culture teacher and digital referent teacher – Strasbourg, France)
Cornelia Melcu @CorneliaMelcu (Primary school teacher, teacher trainer, mentor and eTwinning and Scientix ambassador- Școala Gimnazială Nr. 9, Nicolae Orghidan, Brașov, Romania)
Eileen Heller @EileenHeller (Instructional Technology Trainer for Omaha Public Schools – Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
Felix Malombe @Felmalo (ICT Curriculum Leader and Maker Lab (STEAM) teacher for Crawford International School – Nairobi, Kenya)
Flavia Giannoli @flagia3 (Math & Physics teacher at High School/ teachers Mentor and Trainer / Innovative Design Thinking and e-learning expert/ MCE & MIE Expert – Milan, Italy)
Gülşen Korucu @gulsen_korucu (English teacher at Saimbey Secondary School – Osmaniye, Turkey)
Ian Phillips @ianhabs (I am Assistant Head and Director Computing & ICT at HabsBoys and independent school near London in the UK. I am an Intel Visionary and Chair of the ISC Digital strategy group)
Joël McLean @jprofnb (Elementary school principal and leadership coach – Callander, Ontario Canada)
Josh Arnold @GuyCivics (Middle School Teacher/Educational blogger – Wesley Chapel, Florida, USA)
Lynne Oakvik @LynneOakvik (Instructional Technology/School Library Consultant, Lilead Fellow – Boone, North Carolina, USA)
Małgorzata Kulesza @Malgosia38 (Secondary school teacher of chemistry and science, coordinator of international projects, nominated as an European Hero by Scientix, MIE Expert, passionate global educator- Krakow, Poland)
Marina St Mircic @s13_marina (Italian and Civics Teacher in secondary school, MIE Fellow, Skype Master Teacher, MIE Expert, passionate blogger and translator – Zajecar, Serbia)
Nicole Caldwell @n_caldwellEDU (1:1 Technology Resource 3rd – 5th Grades/NCCE Professional Learning Specialist – Tampa, Florida, USA)
Paula Barnard-Ashton @PaulaBarAsh (21st century learning design lecturer & trainer @ Wits University, School of Therapeutic Sciences – Johannesburg, South Africa)
Sascha Sohn @SohnSascha (Mathematics and Physics Teacher at Gymnasium Johanneum Loburg – Ostbevern, Germany)
Shannon Davenport @sdavenport931 (Director of Professional Learning for NCCE, The Northwest Council of Computer Education – Clarksville, Tennessee, USA)
Stu Ayres @StuAyres (Senior Deputy Head and computer science teacher, Raspberry Pi certified educator, teacher trainer, 21^st-Century learning design practitioner – Denbigh, Wales, United Kingdom)
Víctor Rodríguez @VRS_ae (HP/lntel Teacher Ambassador, teacher trainer at Grupo Advanced Education, MIE Expert – Spain)

What are #MSFTEduChat TweetMeets?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8IK9WWESFo?feature=oembed&w=640&h=360]

Every month Microsoft Education organizes social events on Twitter targeted at educators globally. The hashtag we use is #MSFTEduChat. A team of topic specialists and international MIE Expert teachers prepare and host these TweetMeets together. Our team of educator hosts first crafts several questions around a certain topic. Then, before the event, they share these questions on social media. Combined with a range of resources, a blog post and background information about the events, this allows all participants to prepare themselves to the full. Afterwards we make an archive available of the most notable tweets and resources shared during the event.

Please connect with TweetMeet organizer Marjolein Hoekstra @OneNoteC on Twitter if you have any questions about TweetMeets or helping out as a host.

Join for next month’s topic: Literacy

Posted on January 11, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Join Microsoft Education at Bett 2019 online or in London Jan. 23-26

A new year brings new opportunity to learn about all the latest and greatest from Microsoft Education. Join Microsoft at Bett 2019 in London on January 23-26, either online or right there with us at the event, being held at London’s ExCeL venue.

Bett is an annual event that explores how technology can empower educators and students to reach their full potential. Microsoft, as a worldwide partner of Bett, will be hosting a wide array of sessions and hands-on demonstrations on the show floor, along with inspirational talks to support educators looking for new ways to engage and empower their students.

To kick off a whole week of Bett, we’re releasing a special episode of What’s New in EDU, our show that gets you caught up on the exciting new tools and updates coming from Microsoft Education. Our special Bett episode will be available on January 22 – watch it to learn more about new classroom technology coming to Microsoft Education this year. And don’t forget to stay tuned to the Education Blog for more as it comes in!

We’ll also have special edition What’s New in EDU live events streaming daily from Bett in London. You can register to catch the livestreams events each day with the following links:

Whether you’re looking for the latest in mixed reality for education, some grounded advice on how to transform your classroom digitally, or want a peek at what’s next for Minecraft: Education Edition, the schedule below is a good place to start, learn and participate. Make sure to stop by Booth E300 to see all the new experiences we have relating to STEM, Virtual Reality and new tools for the classroom.

For more information and to book your sessions, visit this page. If you can’t visit us in person in London, consider joining us on the road as Microsoft Education goes on tour around the UK. You can find out more as we continue to add more dates all the time.

If you’re joining us at Bett in person, we hope to see you at one of the following highlights:

Microsoft keynote | Bett Arena | Wednesday, 23 January, 16:30 – 17:15

Emotion and cognition in the age of AI

Speakers: Barbara Holpfazel, GM of Education Marketing, Anthony Salcito, VP Worldwide Education, Microsoft, and Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Yale University.

This group will describe how education and work will change thanks to AI. We will unveil new research describing the critical role of emotional well-being to position students for success in the age of AI and will examine an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning, already in use by more than 1,500 schools globally. We will be joined by a student whose amazing educational journey has already been transformed by AI.

Microsoft sessions

In addition to joining for our keynote in the Bett Arena, be sure to visit us across the Bett show floor at our own Learn Live Theatre, Microsoft Training Academy, the Bett Schools Theatre and the Bett Post-16 Theatre!

Learn Live Theatre

This is the perfect place to go if you are looking to see and hear about the latest product releases, see demonstrations, and discover ways you can unlock learning in your students. Each session is held on Microsoft stand E300 and lasts 30 minutes.

Time	Title
Wed – Sat / 10:00-10:30	What’s new in EDU?
Wed – Sat / 10:30-11:00	How to set a cloud first digital transformation strategy
Wed – Sat / 11:00-11:30	Demystifying Microsoft 365 Education for teachers
Wed – Sat / 11:30-12:00	Increasing accessibility and fostering inclusive classrooms
Wed – Sat / 12:00-12:30	Driving collaboration and teamwork to save teachers time and reduce costs
Wed – Sat / 12:30-13:00	Developing global citizens and driving future-ready skills
Wed – Sat / 13:00-13:30	Building STEM skills with Minecraft: Education Edition
Wednesday / 13:30-14:00	Ask me anything on Microsoft Education Tools
Thursday / 13:30-14:00	Evolving technologies for the scientists of the future through the Natural History Museum
Friday / 13:30-14:00	Amplify Every learner with Flipgrid
Saturday / 13:30-14:00	Amplify Every Learner with Flipgrid
Wed – Fri / 13:00-14:30	How to set a cloud first digital transformation strategy
Wed – Fri / 14:30-15:00	Demystifying M365 and O365 to drive learning outcomes and impact
Wed – Fri / 15:00-15:30	Increasing accessibility and fostering inclusive classrooms
Wed – Fri / 15:30-16:00	Driving collaboration and teamwork to save teachers’ time and reduce costs
Wed – Fri / 16:00-16:30	Developing global citizens and driving future-ready skills
Wed – Fri / 16:30-17:00	Growing computer skills with MakeCode
Wednesday / 17:00-17:30	Implementing a device buy-back programme or school device scheme
Wednesday / 17:30-18:00	Tweet meet – using social media to drive community and new ideas
Thursday / 17:00-17:30	Growing computer skills with MakeCode
Thursday / 18:30-18:00	Unlocking learning through a connected classroom
Friday / 18:00-18:00	Using Minecraft: Education Edition to expand learning experiences
Friday / 17:30-18:00	Teaching and assessing Math with Microsoft

Microsoft Training Academy

If you are looking for a hands-on opportunity to try, test and experiment with Microsoft products and devices, this is the perfect stage for you. Get tips and tricks and learn about the best way to use a Microsoft solution in the classroom, from and with our own teachers, trainers, and Microsoft Learning Consultants. Each session is held on Microsoft stand E300 and lasts 30 minutes.

Time	Title
Wed – Sat / 10:00-10:30	Setting up a Cloud IT solution for your school in 30 min
Wed – Sat / 10:30-11:00	Building a collaborative classroom with Teams
Wed – Sat / 11:00-11:30	Utilising Windows 10 tools to support an untethered classroom
Wed – Sat / 11:30-12:00	Working together with Office Online
Wed – Sat / 12:00- 12:30	Fostering an inclusive classroom with free tools from Microsoft Education
Wed – Sat / 12:30-13:00	Saving time and making assessment easy with Microsoft Education
Wed – Sat / 13:00-13:30	Growing STEM skills in the classroom using MakeCode and Minecraft: Education Edition
Wed – Sat / 13:30-14:00	Bringing future technology to your classroom (AI, MR, Bots and Personal Workflow)
Wed – Fri / 14:00-14:30	Set up a Cloud IT solution for your school in 30 min
Wed – Fri / 14:30-15:00	Build a collaborative classroom and school with OneNote and Teams to save you time and achieve better learning outcomes
Wed – Fri / 15:00-15:30	Utilising Windows 10s tools to support an untethered classroom (Speech to Text, Text Suggestions and Edge Learning Tools)
Wed – Fri / 15:30-16:00	Getting the most out of O365 online
Wed – Fri / 16:00-16:30	Organising your classroom and empowering your students with OneNote
Wed – Fri / 16:30-17:00	Saving time and making assessment easy with Microsoft Education
Wed – Fri / 17:00-17:30	Growing STEM skills in the classroom using Make:Code and Minecraft for CS Fundamentals
Wed – Fri / 17:30-18:00	Bringing future technology to your classroom (AI, Bots and personal workflow)

Microsoft on the Stage (Schools Theatre)

Wednesday, 11:45-12:15 | A day in the life of a digitally enabled child

Speaker:

Jonathan Bishop, Chief Executive Office and Executive Headteacher, Cornerstone Academy Trust

Wednesday, 12:30-13:00 | Sparking 21st century communication in your classroom

Speaker:

Michelle Zimmerman, Educator and Leadership Team Member, Renton Prep – USA

Wednesday, 15:30-16:00 | Using technology to drive cross-collaboration and support better student outcomes

Speaker:

Tom Rees, Education Director, Northampton Primary Academy Trust – UK

Wednesday, 17:00-17:30 | Making informed decisions for your school through efficient data analysis

Speaker:

Sir Mark Grundy – CEO Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust Team

Thursday, 11:00-11:30 | How physical computing better addresses real world challenges

Speakers:

Steve Hodges, Principle Researcher, Microsoft Research
Joe Finney, Researcher/Lecturer, Lancaster University
Sue Sentence, Researcher, Raspberry Pi Foundation

Thursday, 14:00-14:30 | A Personalised Learning Initiative to improve the educational experience

Speaker

Philip Neufeld, Executive Officer of Information Technology, Fresno Unified School, California – USA

Friday, 11:00-11:30 | Digital transformation at Curro Schools

Speaker:

Angela Schaerer, Head of Curriculum Technology, Curro Schools – South Africa

Microsoft on the Stage (Post-16 Theatre)

Wednesday, 11:00-11:30 | Preparing Students for jobs that don’t exist yet: Teesside University

Speakers:

Dr. Jonathan Eaton, Academic Registrar, Teesside University
Professor Mark Simpson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching), Teesside University

Wednesday, 12:30-13:00 | Chichester College’s digital transformation: borderless learning for students and teachers

Speaker:

Terry Molyneaux, Professional Learning Coach – Digital Innovation, Chichester College

Wednesday, 14:45-15:15 | {Devel<>p}: a makerspace that fosters digital and soft skills

Speaker:

Hannah Mathias, E-learning Manager – Cardiff and Vale College

Thursday, 11:45-12:15 | Using Minecraft as a virtual field trip – an academic’s journey

Speaker:

Prof. Tim Thompson, Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching) – Teesside University

Thursday, 13:15-13:45 | Enable and empower student voice through fostering active learner communities

Speakers:

Andrew Sprake, Lecturer in Physical Education – University of Central Lancashire
Chris Melia, Learning Technologist – University of Central Lancashire
Nick Bohannon, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing – University of Central Lancashire

Friday, 11:45-12:15 | Overcoming barriers of space and time, PLN for better education

Speaker:

Esam Baboukhan, eLearning Manager – City of Westminster College

Friday, 12:30-13:00 | Enabling academic and business support staff to improve the learner’s experience

Speakers:

Deborah Millar, Group Director of Digital Learning Technology – Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
Elaine Topham, Senior Learning Technologist – Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education

Solutions Showcase | Platinum Suite 1 |Wednesday, 23 January & Thursday, 24 January, 10:30 – 17:15

We will be sharing some of the most impactful stories of Digital Transformation in Education, including real-life K-12 stories from educators who have achieved great things using partner solutions built on, or with, Microsoft’s technology. Learn more.

MakeCode Saturday | Platinum Suite 1 | Saturday, 26 January 10:00 – 14:00

This one is open to teachers, parents and students. Microsoft MakeCode is an open-source platform for creating engaging computer science learning experiences that support a progression path into real-world programming.

As an educator, you will also see how some schools and educators are creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences with Microsoft MakeCode. Learn more about MakeCode Saturday.

For more on Bett 2019 and What’s New in EDU, follow along on the Microsoft Education Blog.

Posted on January 10, 2019 by — Leave a comment

The future of fashion and retail

The secret to brand and retail success? Treat every customer like a VIP
We all like feeling special. When our needs are met, when our voices are heard, and when we’re being paid attention to, we feel positive. These are the feelings retailers and brands must invoke in customers, if they wish to remain competitive.This theme of treating every individual as VIP is a prevalent trend in the retail industry, and applies across all brands, especially in the luxury sector. We’ve worked closely with various partners, brands, and retailers to discuss their most important insights, and have shared them below. Whether you’re a retailer or a brand, we’re all in this together – transformation is an evolving journey, not an end goal.

Read more

Digital glamour: Wolford uses Azure and AI to deliver luxury online service
Founded in the Austrian city of Bregenz in 1950, Wolford is the global market leader for luxury legwear and bodywear. Over its 68-year history, the company has established a strong reputation for delivering both high-end products and customer service. To deliver the same high standard of service online as its customers have come to expect in its boutiques, the company used Microsoft Azure Bot Service, Cognitive Services, and Bot Framework to develop an AI-powered chatbot. Wolford online shoppers now get instant answers to questions around the clock and receive personalized “Style Me” product recommendations, while the company lives up to its reputation for exceptional service.

Read more

Building a sustainable fashion ecosystem: Meet Natasha Franck
Natasha Franck isn’t as interested in fashion as she is in trash. In the early days of her company EON, it was almost an obsession: “I read everything I could about waste and possible solutions to this global epidemic.” After learning that the fashion industry is one of the largest industrial polluters, Natasha became determined to do something about it. “In fashion, where there are 150 billion articles of clothing made every year, and 90% of these textiles are ending up in a landfill—the consumption of resources and production of waste is never-ending.” says Natasha. “And when burning trash is still the main means of disposal, we’re left with some serious air quality concerns worldwide.”

Read more

Posted on January 10, 2019 by — Leave a comment

10 Learning Tools updates for the new year, including Translate and inclusive math improvements

With the kickoff of 2019 and school back in session again, we want to help you reinvigorate your teaching and reach all your students! Our product updates include ways to help you communicate with every student through translation capabilities, improve reading and writing skills, and even support math development. With all these updates, we’re sure you’ll find at least one feature to help you kick off the new year right – read on for more information!

1. Translate comes to the Immersive Reader
Today’s classrooms are extremely diverse and teachers have the incredible responsibility of reaching every student. It’s no secret that communication is key, so as announced in October, we’re including Translator features in the Immersive Reader!

We’ve added the ability for anyone to translate a page, or single word into another language, in real-time all within Immersive Reader. This new capability will support Read Aloud, Syllables, Parts of Speech and Picture Dictionary. Translate in Immersive Reader will be available in: Word Online, OneNote Online, OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote iPad, OneNote Mac, Outlook Online, Teams and Flipgrid. Translate will begin rolling out worldwide this week and into next week and you’ll find the list of supported languages here.

$Immersive Reader Translate.gif$ $Immersive Reader Translate.gif$

For an even more compelling scenario, try to take a picture of a book with Office Lens using iPhone, iPad, or Android. Then send the page to OneNote Windows 10 or Online. OneNote runs automatic Optical Character Recognition (OCR), so you can launch the Immersive Reader on the picture with text, and then use Translate to change the text to another language, and read aloud, or any of the other Immersive Reader features.

2. Immersive Reader reading the Math Assistant’s Step-by-Step solutions
In OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote Online, we are now combining the power of step-by-step solving in Math Assistant and the reading aloud in Immersive Reader. Math pane now has an additional button that launches the Immersive Reader for math step-by-step solutions. $Math.gif$ $Math.gif$

3. Immersive Reader math in Word Online
In addition to being able to read math equations from your page in OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote Online, the Immersive Reader will now read math equations from your Word Online documents, both in view and edit modes.

4. The modern Immersive Reader interface comes to OneNote Desktop Learning Tools
With many students and schools still using the original OneNote 2016 Learning Tools addin, we wanted to allows the students to get many of the benefits of the updated capabilities of the immersive reader. With the most recent update of the Learning Tools Addin to version 1.9, IT Administrators can now push out the Immersive Reader app from the Microsoft tore that interacts with the Learning Tools addin. After deploying this Microsoft Store app, when students click the Immersive Reader button, the newer features and interface will appear. This includes:

Updated and modern user interface
Adverb highlighting
Parts of speech labels
Ability to set custom colors for different parts of speech
More Page Color options
Line Focus
$Learning Tools toolbar.gif$ $Learning Tools toolbar.gif$

5. Word Desktop Line Focus

A popular capability of the Immersive Reader is Line Focus, which allows a focus of 1, 3, or 5 lines of text. Line Focus is coming to Word Desktop, and can be accessed on the View tab, and then clicking Learning Tools –> Line Focus. This feature has begun to rollout to Office Insiders, and will slowly be rolling out worldwide to all Office 365 customers. Later in spring, Line Focus will also be coming to Mac and iOS Word.

$Line Focus in Word Desktop.jpg$ $Line Focus in Word Desktop.jpg$

6. Page Colors in Word Desktop

One of the most popular features of the Immersive Reader has been page theme colors, which allows the changing of the background color of the page. Many people have challenges reading with an all-white or all-black background, so we’ve expanded the choice of colors in Word Desktop. This will start rolling out to Office Insiders in January, and roll out more broadly after January. Page Colors will be coming to Mac and iOS Word later in spring. To try this out, go to the View tab and choose Learning Tools, and then Page Color.

7. Parts of Speech and Picture Dictionary support for Korean, and coming soon for Arabic and Hebrew

Korean support for parts of speech (nouns/verbs/adjectives/adverbs) and picture dictionary are starting to roll out today, and in early February, we will be rolling out Arabic and Hebrew support for parts of speech and picture dictionary. These new languages will be supported in Word Online, OneNote Online, Windows 10 app, iPad and Mac, Outlook Online, Teams and Flipgrid. You can learn about all the languages and features supported in the Immersive Reader here: http://aka.ms/LearningToolsLanguages.

8. Dictation in OneNote Online – rolled out 100% worldwide

As previously announced in October, Dictation is now rolled out 100% worldwide for all OneNote Online customers. Just look for the Dictate button on the Home tab. Dictate in OneNote Online.jpg

9. Dictation in Word Online

As announced in October, Dictation is rolling to Word Online for Office 365. This is currently about 50% rolled out worldwide and was delayed for some improvements, but now we’ve resumed rollout, and we aim to have this at full 100% worldwide by February.

10. Auto-language detection

Auto-language detection is helpful Immersive Reader feature that is also rolled out 100% worldwide. An example of how auto-language detection works is to copy text from a Spanish website and pasting into Word Online. Now go to the View tab and choose Immersive Reader. The text will be automatically detected as Spanish, and switch to the proper text-to-speech language, syllables, and parts of speech. Auto-language detection is supported in Word Online, OneNote Online, OneNote for Mac and iOS, Teams, and Flipgrid. Auto Language detect.gif

Any questions, give me a shout any time. Thank you for being part of the Microsoft Education community and thank you for your commitment to students!

– Mike Tholfsen

@mtholfsen

This post was originally published on this site.

Posted on January 10, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Red Wing Shoes stays one step ahead in retail industry with Microsoft 365 workplace

Today’s post was written by Marc Kermish, chief information officer at Red Wing Shoe Company.

In business for 115 years, Red Wing Shoe Company embodies its staying power in each pair of Red Wings produced. That brand tenacity and the family-oriented culture of caring for customers—whose work boots are as important a tool as a hammer—attracted me to the company. I also like that this traditional, midmarket U.S. manufacturer is expanding globally in a retail space that’s stagnating at best. Fifteen years ago, everyone who worked here lived in Red Wing, Minnesota. Today, we have 700 retail locations, two footwear manufacturing facilities, one tannery, and three U.S. warehouses, with an additional 45 global retailers and sales offices in Norway, Scotland, Dubai, and Japan.

When I came on board, our IT team wanted to support expansion into new markets, while retaining our corporate culture and delivering a workplace tool set that would empower 2,300 employees to excel in a digital world. Red Wing chose Microsoft 365 and Azure to advance these business strategies.

Shifting to this cloud-based tool set has had an immediate and tangible impact on the way we do business. We use Office 365 apps to reduce silos and connect people everywhere. For example, marketing folks in Houston, Scotland, Norway, and Dubai collaborate on RFPs faster than ever using Office 365 video capabilities, Microsoft Teams, Office mobile apps, and OneDrive file storage. Now that we replaced shared files with cloud storage, accessing corporate information takes one click, and everyone knows where to get the latest updates and financial, inventory, and month-end reports.

Today, our 200 sales reps stay hugely productive on the road because they use the Outlook mobile app and other Office mobile apps to work on price lists and product catalogues. And, to safeguard corporate data, we are starting to use Microsoft Intune to manage sales reps’ mobile devices.

As the hub for teamwork and project management, it’s a fantastic platform for collaboration internally and with our partners, retailers, and supply chain. For instance, our reps, accountants, controllers, and business process specialists created Teams channels to take advantage of persistent chat and track conversations—streamlining a complicated project that included a partner in Kansas City. We also saved 10 to 15 percent of total project time when we launched a new billing process for customers who provide vouchers to their employees to buy Red Wing work boots—that’s about 60 days of labor. In what could have been a chaotic environment, we shared and collaborated on files to build a set of deliverables, assign and track tasks, and meet our report deadlines—all from one highly secure Teams workplace.

Mobility has also affected how we structure our work weeks at Red Wing. Thanks to the easy virtual collaboration with Office apps, more people work from home—a preferred way of life for many of our employees. Our marketing team, almost all of whom have long commutes, particularly appreciate the flexibility and ability to work from home. Our teams are starting to loop in outside agency partners by inviting them to Teams channels for close collaboration.

Maybe the most exciting story for me is how we’re using Microsoft cloud-based tools to support innovation at Red Wing. We started using Azure for our Cobble IT Hacking for Value initiative, where we create apps to bring to life ideas from the business. As we iterate back and forth on new ideas, we use Office 365 apps to collaborate better between IT and the business.

One of our most promising innovations takes advantage of Azure Machine Learning and infrared camera technology to augment our workers’ capability to analyze the quality of the leather we use for our boots. The more hides we can turn into finished inventory, the better it is for our bottom line. We visualize and share company data through Microsoft Power BI, which we’ve made available to employees as our analytics engine. I can also see Teams as a strategic tool; for example, we can use it to drive collaboration between our manufacturing, quality, and product teams to get answers quickly on any given issue.

Individual productivity is also up at Red Wing. For example, after using MyAnalytics to review how we work, IT staff have reduced by approximately 10 percent the number of conversational emails cluttering our inboxes by switching to Teams. We get a boost from the artificial intelligence throughout Office 365 as well. Thanks to PowerPoint Designer, my decks rival those in marketing! And we are investigating how to use voice commands for our store associates to ask Cortana about our inventory for a shoe style, so they can respond faster to customers.

All this collaboration happens in a highly secure work environment, thanks to the multi-layered security approach Microsoft takes. As I move data to the cloud, I’m automatically improving my security posture versus what I could’ve done with my limited IT budget. I’ve got identity and access management plus data loss protection capabilities and protection from phishing attacks—all inherent in Microsoft 365. And to further protect our executive staff, we use Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection.

At Red Wing, we equip working people with footwear that lasts. And with Microsoft 365, we’re not only able to empower our employees to work more effectively, we’re innovating and expanding. This will further support our staying power and push us to succeed in this digital world.

Posted on January 9, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Hot new portable gaming notebooks on display at CES 2019

For gamers who want to see a preview of the best hardware and software advances in PC gaming to watch out for in 2019, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is a great place to kick off the new year. Microsoft’s device partners were on hand this week showing off innovative notebooks, eye-popping visual styling, and slick in-game features that will provide powerful platforms for our full line of PC games. As CES comes to a close, you can’t help but be in awe of all that was unveiled this week. Three major trends emerged promising a stellar year in gameplay for both casual and hardcore PC gamers:

Thinner and lighter gaming laptops with better graphics: Slim, stylish notebooks with powerful gaming features let you travel to gaming meetups without missing a beat.
Devices that combine the power of productivity and gaming in a device: From business apps to graphic design and video creation tools, these machines work as hard as they play.
Cutting-edge gaming technology with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs that brings DirectX Raytracing to your device: Enjoy incredible realism on a growing selection of gaming notebooks.

More Power, Better Graphics in Thinner PCs

While some PC gamers prefer to set up shop with powerful desktop rigs with customizable LED lights and visible cooling components, laptops are packing more portable gaming power these days in thinner and lighter forms. At CES 2019, partners showcased a variety of new, slim notebooks that make it easier to take your favorite games everywhere. Play at home or on long flights, or get together with friends for multiplayer action.

ASUS showed off the ROG Mothership (GZ700) and ROG Zephyrus S (GX701) gaming laptops.
- ROG Mothership sports a reimagined design that stands tall to draw more air into its advanced cooling system, housed in a finely machined aluminum chassis that frames a jaw-dropping 17.3” FHD IPS-level 144Hz/3ms with G-Sync technology display, powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics and Intel 8^th Gen Core i9 processor. It comes with Hyperdrive Extreme that uses ASUS-exclusive technology to combine up to three NVMe PCle 3.0×4 SSDs for the world’s fastest RAID 0 storage in a gaming laptop.
- ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is a 17-inch gaming laptop with a PANTONE validated super-narrow bezel 17” display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms GTG response time, that’s only 18.7 mm thin (less than an inch), and the only one in its product category with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design that combines GPU, thermal design and software to deliver powerful performance in an incredibly slim notebook.
Dell showcased the thinnest and lightest Alienware 17-inch gaming notebook, the new Alienware m17, along with the recently announced Alienware m15, for gamers on the go who want a light, thin device for easy mobility. At just 5.79 pounds for the m17 and 4.76 pounds for the m15, both laptops feature the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series GPUs, which deliver advanced gaming features including real-time raytracing, artificial intelligence, and programmable shading.
HP has taken the popular OMEN 15 Laptop to the next level. First announced in May 2018, the Omen 15 features single-panel access for storage and memory and a variety of ports, allowing easy expansion and hardware customization on top of the laptop’s amazing speed and performance. Enhanced editions presented at CES add NVIDIA’s newest mobile graphics cards for immersive gameplay along with easy mobility.

iBUYPOWER launched the next evolution of esports focused Small Form Factor PCs. Revolt 3 combines form and function into a competition-grade system with dual-sided tempered glass windows and a unique layout mean that every piece of your PC’s performance is on display. Revolt 3’s chassis is designed to expand to fit larger hardware and larger cooling options. Need space for an extra-long video card and thick radiator? Revolt 3 can extend up to 40mm to accommodate.
The MSI GS75 Stealth breaks the stereotype of the bulky, heavy gaming laptop with an 8^th Gen Intel Core i9 Processor and GeForce RTX 2080 GPU in a 2.2 kg thin bezel chassis. The immersive 17.3-inch 144Hz IPS-level display provides gamers with a panoramic view of the playing field, while the GeForce RTX 2080 ensures you’re gaming at the highest-quality settings.

Modern Features to Integrate Productivity and Gaming in One Device

Windows 10 gaming PCs have always delivered the high performance, realistic visuals, authentic sound, precise control, and high-quality streaming that gamers covet. But sometimes you just have to get a little work done. A new array of gaming laptops bring together powerful capabilities for video editing, graphic design, content creation, and business productivity, along with the speed and versatility to carry you through immersive multiplayer environments. Now you can move seamlessly from paying the bills to playing the newest titles.

Acer unveiled two new gaming notebooks: the Predator Triton 900 and the Predator Triton 500. Both combine new, functional designs with powerful internals that rival gaming desktops while enabling powerful productivity.
- The 0.94-inch thin Predator Triton 900 is a fully convertible 2-in-1 that features four usage modes, a 17-inch touchscreen, and a trackpad beside the keyboard for natural hand placement. With the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, an Xbox wireless receiver, and Waves Maxx technology for hyper-realistic 3D audio, the Predator Triton 900 pulls no punches in delivering a best-in-class gaming experience.
- At just 0.70 inches thin and 4.1 pounds, the 15-inch Predator Triton 500 can easily be slipped in a backpack or briefcase. The “weight” is the only thing light about it: Powered on, it’s a gaming superhero, with up to eight hours of battery life.

The Corsair One Pro i180 delivers massive performance in a compact size for content creators, from game designers to video editors and beyond. Developed in partnership with Intel and clad in a 2 mm thin, aircraft-grade, bead-blasted aluminum gunmetal housing, the CORSAIR ONE PRO delivers incredible, 24-thread performance at speeds up to 4.5GHz, and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU for cutting-edge graphics and real-time raytracing. It easily handles today’s most demanding applications, from video encoding to photo editing to rendering 3D graphics and more.
Gigabyte announced the new AERO 15 and AORUS, some of the first Windows 10 laptops to feature Microsoft AI capabilities – giving gamers a dynamically optimized experience. Whether they are gaming or simply editing, gamers will experience the perfect CPU, GPU, fan, keyboard and sound setting configurations optimized based on their usage patterns. The Cool n Quiet app leverages Microsoft AI to dynamically distribute power based on how a the laptop is being used, dynamically reducing the heat and noise and shifting workloads depending on the scenario.
The New Lenovo Legion Y740 and Y540 laptops are more powerful than ever and engineered to handle the toughest technical challenges while retaining a clean aesthetic that looks just as great in a living room as it does in a conference room with their discreet designs. Available with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, Intel Core processors and Windows 10 Home, these laptops offer blazing-fast gaming speeds to play the latest releases, edit photos and videos, binge-watch shows, or multitask.

MSI showcased the high-performance, good-looking PS63 Modern with its streamlined, portable design and powerful performance on multitasking and graphics rendering. Its 15.6-inch IPS-level display and 1.65 kg heft make it ideal for anyone who wants the freedom to take an idea outdoors and discover a new realm of creativity.
Razer recently presented the new Razer Blade Stealth 13, redesigned with a high-grade aluminum unibody frame to deliver increased performance in a compact chassis with up to 13 hours of battery life. Now available with NVIDIA graphics and up to 4k resolution with thin side bexels that are over 60 percent thinner than the previous version for a visually stunning, edge-to-edge picture.

Raytracing Comes to Life

The Windows 10 October 2018 Update includes native support for DirectX Ray Tracing when coupled with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX GPUs. DirectX Raytracing delivers a level of realism that traditional rasterization can’t provide, such as reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion. The result is an in-game environment that’s richer and more compelling than ever before. CES 2019 attendees got a first look at new PC gaming rigs that feature NVIDIA’s new GeForce RTX 20-Series GPUs, which bring raytracing to life in eagerly anticipated new games like EA’s Battlefield V.

CyberPowerPC presented its latest line of Syber Tracer III gaming laptops powered by the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-Series Graphics, offering gamers the performance of a high-end desktop system on a 15-inch or 17-inch mobile gaming powerhouse.
Raytracing is also a powerful new feature on lighter, thinner devices including the Alienware m17 and Alienware m15 mentioned above, and on productivity powerhouses including the Corsair One Pro i180.

Origin PC introduced new EVO series laptops, the EVO16-S and EVO17-S, which feature new thin and light designs with powerful hardware inside. Thanks to NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, up to an RTX 2080 GPU with Max-Q design, the EVO series lets you play games with real-time ray tracing technology enabled.

These are just some of the new products bringing thin and light devices, powerful productivity, and advanced raytracing to gamers in 2019. Check back on Xbox Wire frequently to keep up with the latest PC gaming product releases and news.

Posted on January 9, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Intelligent edge devices and experiences come to life at CES 2019

Microsoft and our partner ecosystem are delivering intelligent cloud and intelligent edge solutions that help customers manage their digital lives and achieve more. We’re also supporting businesses by providing the platforms, devices and solutions that power a new era of productivity, creativity, simplicity and security.

At CES we showcased partner solutions and innovation across the intelligent edge including: modern PCs, connected computing devices, powerful gaming PCs, exciting IoT retail experiences and new Azure Sphere modules and starter kits that will help ensure security for billions of connected devices. Our partners are bringing the edge to life, and it’s amazing to see so many examples of that on display here at CES.

Modern PC experiences

We think of the personal computer as the ultimate intelligent edge – it’s the device that has transformed the world of creativity and productivity, and help us get more done. The level of innovation we’re continuing to see in the PC space is fueling new scenarios, breakthrough levels of performance and new cloud-connected experiences.

Modern PCs are sleek, fast, secure and durable, and have long battery life, offering beautiful designs across all price points. Premium PCs like the HP Spectre Folio and the LG Gram 17″ provide elegant designs with amazing battery life, are great to use and have the latest and greatest features – showcasing the best that Windows 10 has to offer.

Acer Swift 7

There are sleek, mid-range, long-lasting 2-in-1s like the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS (Windows on Snapdragon) or thin and light such as the Acer Swift 7 that can slip right into your bag.

We also see a growing number of highly affordable laptops that are secure, easy to use online or offline, and are great options for work or play. To see them in action, check out the ASUS Vivobook 14/15 X412/512 or the Dell Inspiron 5482 2-in-1 or Samsung Notebook Flash.

ASUS VivoBook 14

Treat yourself to all the power and performance you want and expect from Windows, at the price that’s right for you.

Connectivity everywhere

Another area where we’re seeing PC innovation is in the connected computing space. These devices will change your expectations of a PC, as they are always securely connected, and provide all-day battery life to help you be even more productive.

Where LTE was once “nice to have,” more and more users are seeing the benefits of being always connected to what is important to them, both at home and at work. The investments Microsoft and partners like Intel and Qualcomm are making in connected computing are transforming work and life, and we firmly believe that fast, affordable and ubiquitous cellular connectivity, driven by LTE and now 5G, will become core to the way people work across devices.

HP Spectre x360

Check out the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS (Windows on Snapdragon) or the HP Spectre X360 13″ to learn more.

Power of PC gaming

Windows 10 is the biggest PC gaming platform out there – and we’re adding new features that bring immersive gaming to life in incredible new ways. Our partners are driving innovation by leveraging these new Windows features and releasing new powerful gaming rigs, with the latest silicon, graphics and performance enhancements for the gaming community.

Samsung Notebook Odyssey

With Windows 10, you get the latest in gaming innovations, including support for HDR screens and 4K, and now DirectX Raytracing – which gives graphics better lighting, shadows and reflections. It’s a whole new visual experience that you can only get on Windows 10 gaming rigs.

Windows 10 also has Game bar, which lets you record, broadcast and customize your gameplay. It’s the one-stop shop that allows you to control individual audio settings, take screen recordings, and instantly stream live gameplay to Mixer. No additional software is required.

Lenovo Legion Y740

At CES, partners including ASUS, Acer, Dell and Lenovo announced gaming PCs featuring the new Nvidia RTX 20 Series chips, which enable raytracing. This amazing advancement in silicon takes immersive gaming to a whole new level, thanks to the power of Windows 10.

Also, partners including ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI are bringing thin and light PCs traditionally targeted at gamers to new audiences, such as creators who also benefit from powerful processors and incredible graphics, allowing them to build large design or video files seamlessly.

Check out Xbox Wire for the latest on the new gaming PCs announced at CES.

Internet of Things

IoT is another area where we’re seeing innovation throughout the ecosystem with partners bringing new intelligent edge and intelligent cloud solutions to meet customer’s needs. IoT is transforming the way businesses operate – helping them increase operational efficiency, reduce cost, improve customer experiences and digitally transform their products and services. Consumers are also using connected IoT solutions in new ways. Fitness, connected home, shopping, finance, and so many more areas in which industry is delivering new IoT-based devices and experiences that help customers seamlessly stay connected and be more productive.

Microsoft is excited to partner with the broadest set of IoT ecosystem partners – hardware manufacturers, solution providers and aggregators – to supply a diverse portfolio of IoT solutions to businesses and customers across industries and scenarios. Below are a few that we’re showcasing at CES.

Retail solutions

Global retail trends point to an enormous IoT growth motion with 70 percent of retailers planning to invest in IoT by 2021. We are seeing these investments improving the retailer’s own operations, creating new customer interactions, both in-store and online, as well as transforming personalized shopping experiences.

For example, this holiday I didn’t have to wait in any lines to buy gifts. I used an app on my mobile phone, like SKIP’s frictionless shopping solution which we are showcasing at CES this year. With SKIP, a shopper can enter the store, scan any item they pick up along their shopping journey and simply exit the store. The charges will be automatically billed to the shopper’s SKIP account. This type of simplified mobile checkout solution helps retailers enhance customer experiences and lets retail employees focus on more important things.

It’s not just the in-store experience that’s changing. We are also showcasing Mobiliya’s Asset Tracking and Monitoring solution which leverages low-cost IoT sensors using RFID, sonar and Bluetooth technologies to track assets both indoor and outdoor. This solution improves operational efficiencies, increases visibility and enhances supply chain management for both retailers and their suppliers.

We are also demonstrating Genetec’s Retail Sense Video Analytics solution. Powered by Microsoft Azure, Genetec’s solution enables retailers to use their existing camera systems to layer on this analytics solution to track key retailer metrics such as: customer counting, dwell-time and heatmapping, directional analysis, and occupancy. Using this data, store operators can make adjustments to displays and fixtures, store staffing schedules and much more in improving their overall in-store shopping experience.

Connected cars in the year ahead

The auto industry is also innovating on the intelligent edge. Several of our auto partners including ZF, LG Electronics (LGE) and the BMW Group announced new Azure and Microsoft AI solutions this week.

Securing connected devices

It’s clear at CES that everyone is making IoT devices and solutions available – everything from household appliances and health monitors, to cars, toys and industrial equipment. Because these devices can be cloud-powered or run without connectivity, a holistic security approach must be taken, from hardware to software and the cloud. For instance, Hampton Products International, makers of the ARRAY By Hampton family of connected devices, has selected the Microsoft Azure IoT cloud platform to power its next-generation smart devices and future IoT product development. Avnet, AI-Link and Seeed are making it easier for customers to develop secure, connected microcontroller-unit (MCU) devices by making an Azure Sphere starter kit and Azure Sphere modules available. This will help secure the billions of MCU-powered devices that ship every year, helping make the devices we put in our homes more secure. To learn more about partners who have announced new connected devices and solutions, check out The Azure IoT blog by Sam George.

Posted on January 9, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Brooks runs ahead with a modern, intelligent Microsoft 365 workplace

Today’s post was written by Mark McKelvey, vice president of information technology at Brooks Running Company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

I’m a runner and I work in IT, so I couldn’t have found a better fit than Brooks Running Company, where we get deep into the biomechanics and technology of creating great running shoes. In 2001, our CEO, Jim Weber, pivoted the brand to focus solely on running. This corporate running culture encourages a single-minded focus on doing one thing really, really well: providing runners with the best running footwear, apparel, and accessories to promote a healthy lifestyle. My role in IT is to work with the business to provide the technology to support that strategy.

That’s why we are very heavily focused on cloud computing at Brooks. Cloud technology reduces barriers to productivity so we can continue to hone our specialty products. For IT, that means not wasting time with on-premises servers, so we can work with IT solutions directly related to our business. And for the workplace, that means each employee enjoys easy access to the tools and the information they need for their role, from anywhere. Microsoft cloud computing forms a big part of this strategy. We’ve been on the cloud journey for a while, and with Microsoft 365 E3 we’ve taken another step toward winning the race to productivity.

I am really excited about the possibilities inherent in a unified Microsoft cloud platform, from Microsoft Azure to Dynamics CRM to Microsoft 365. This platform is a cost-effective way to boost agility and deliver IT services to the business. The public cloud has also helped a whole new set of small, agile players to deliver innovative solutions based on the same Azure cloud platform that we use. For example, it was a seamless process for Brooks to take advantage of a great new B2B solution from Neocles, a small company in the Netherlands. We deployed the platform worldwide and introduced a mobile app—all to rave reviews from our retailers. When we make it easier for retailers to do business with Brooks, it’s good for their business and ours.

We’re also disrupting the industry and leveraging our biomechanical expertise using the Azure platform to build an app that helps customers find the best running shoe for their personal gait. “Run Signature” is a gait analysis tool that’s breaking new ground in delivering customized support for customers. All the information that we capture from this app flows to Azure, where it’s stored for our biomechanics team to further advance the science of running—and our competitive advantage.

That’s why it’s so important that we protect our intellectual property. We use the multilevel security capabilities in Microsoft 365—multifactor authentication, data loss prevention, and legal hold—to add layers of security to our modern workplace. And we have completed our Windows 10 deployment, which supports highly secure, mobile access to data on any device. We are a global company, and we expect Windows 10 to be a boon for protecting the information on employee devices as they travel from our Seattle headquarters to our factories in Asia or our sales offices in Canada and Europe.

Enhancing collaboration among employees around the world is another benefit we’re exploring with our intranet, called “Inside Track,” which is based in SharePoint Online. With different time zones and work environments, we use Microsoft 365 real-time collaboration apps and highly secure mobile access to data as the foundation for a more flexible way of working at Brooks—from changing the physical layout of our headquarters to supporting work from home, hotel rooms, or airports. These tools, just like our gear, deliver what it takes to run your best race.

—Mark McKelvey

For more on the Brooks move to a modern workplace, read the full case study.

Posted on January 9, 2019 by — Leave a comment

3 new ways Microsoft Teams empowers firstline workers to achieve more

Today, we are announcing three new features in Microsoft Teams to help Firstline Workers do their best work. Firstline Workers are more than two billion people worldwide who work in service- or task-oriented roles across industries such as retail, hospitality, travel, and manufacturing.

We’re expanding Teams with new capabilities to digitally empower the Firstline Workforce. Today’s news includes: a customizable mobile experience with mobile-only features such as location sharing, a Graph API for the Shifts scheduling tool, which provides integration between Teams and workforce management systems, and the new Praise feature that makes it easy for managers and employees to recognize their coworkers right within Teams.

Here’s a look at what’s new:

Enable Firstline Workers to communicate and collaborate effectively with a customizable Teams mobile experience and new mobile features

For Firstline Workers, such as retail associates, flight crew members, and field service workers, being mobile is the nature of the job. Because these employees often need to share information with others inside their organization, many have resorted to using unsecure consumer chat apps to communicate with coworkers. But this poses security and compliance risks, as well as process inefficiencies. Today, we are announcing a new customizable mobile Teams experience that gives Firstline Workers the tools they need to communicate and collaborate effectively on the go. It’s simple, familiar, and secure, with several new mobile-only features that have particular relevance for Firstline Workers, including location sharing and smart camera, as well as the ability to record and share audio messages. The customizable mobile experience is available starting today.

Workers need different capabilities depending on their role. While some might need access to private chats, calendars, and calls, others may only need access to teams and channels. IT administrators can now give each employee role-based access to the primary Teams features they need. This capability can be used for employees in any role, with the option for IT to create a custom policy or use the newly available Firstline Worker configuration policy template. Employees can further customize their experience by pinning the modules they need most from their module tray to their navigation bar.

Customizable mobile Teams experience and new mobile features: Keep all conversations in one place (left), share location and record audio messages (middle), and customize the navigation menu (right).

Integrate workforce management systems with Teams using a new API

Many companies rely on workforce management systems to handle important operational tasks related to their Firstline Workforce, such as shift scheduling, payroll, benefits, time, and attendance. We’re working on a set of new APIs that enable organizations to integrate their existing workforce management systems with Teams.

The first API is the Graph API for Shifts, the schedule management tool in Teams. With Shifts now available in Teams for all customers, the new API makes integration between Shifts and enterprise scheduling systems possible, enabling seamless access to workforce management systems for managers and employees, right from Teams. The Graph API for Shifts will be in public preview this quarter.

With Shifts, managers can easily plan shift schedules, and team members can review schedules and make schedule change requests, all in real time.

Keep your Firstline Workers engaged and motivated with new Praise feature

Firstline Workers such as retail associates play a key role in representing a company’s brand, but this segment of the workforce experiences some of the highest turnover rates. Taking steps to engage and recognize employees can go a long way to improving their satisfaction and reducing turnover. The new Praise tool, rolling out this quarter, gives managers and employees a simple way to recognize coworkers, right in the Teams app where the whole team can see it.

With Praise, share badges to celebrate every success, communicate your appreciation with your team members, and foster greater comradery.

Next week, members of the Microsoft team will be at NRF 2019, the annual retail industry conference. Visit us in booth #3301. Also, please visit our Teams for Firstline Workers page to learn more about how Teams can empower your Firstline Workforce.

Posted on January 9, 2019 by — Leave a comment

Curing diseases and delivering effective treatments with the cloud

Researchers trying to cure some of the world’s least-understood diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are discovering new and exciting opportunities in the cloud. With the ability to instantly access vast amounts of computing power, and without the burden of large initial investments or ongoing costs, cloud technology is making it easier for healthcare organizations to study complex disorders and develop innovative new treatments. This is helping lead to an era of more precise and effective medicine.

Although the healthcare industry has used distributed computing networks to tackle large-scale health challenges before—such as the Folding@Home project, which allows individual PC users to contribute unused computing cycles to study how protein misfolding can lead to disease—there are a number of benefits to using a modern cloud computing solution. Cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools, for example, are helping healthcare organizations become more efficient and medical researchers develop better treatments for diseases.

Here are a few ways the cloud is powering healthcare research that’s leading to new cures, while also making the industry more efficient and secure.

Curing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s using the cloud

Together, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s afflict over 50 million people worldwide. Although the complexity of these disease processes has made finding cures elusive, the cloud’s ability to effortlessly scale resources and instantly tap into significant amounts of computing power is helping researchers gain a better understanding of these diseases faster.

One example: Researchers have built a comprehensive digital model of the human neurological system at comparatively low cost through quicker, on-demand access to high-performance technology stacks. Biotech startup NeuroInitiative uses virtualized GPUs in the cloud to create a general model of the nervous system, a strategy that has proved 40 times faster than using physical GPUs. “The need for lots of GPUs in a pay-as-you-go, easy-to-use model led us to the cloud from day one,” said Andy Lee, co-founder of NeuroInitiative. “We can spin up a 100,000-core cluster in minutes and stop paying for it after experiments finish.”

Using this technology, researchers have been able to simulate a variety of different treatments for neurological diseases. NeuroInitiative alone has identified more than 25 promising drug targets for Parkinson’s. They’ll be ready for human clinical trials in two to three years—half the time it typically takes for preclinical work.

Speeding up treatments with AI and ML

As more healthcare organizations embrace digital technology, they are dealing with increasing volumes of data, which must be quickly processed and analyzed in order to be meaningful. This is just the sort of work cloud-based AI and ML tools are designed to do. Just like on-premises AI and ML systems, these cloud-based tools can help humans handle routine and time-consuming tasks with unmatched speed and accuracy. Plus, these tools don’t require any special knowledge or equipment to set up, making data processing more cost-effective.

However, there’s more to be saved than money. When it comes to the development and distribution of new treatments, fast data analysis can also help combat diseases and save lives. Genomics researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for example, needed a way to analyze and sequence large sets of genomic data with a limited set of resources. Using cloud-based AI tools from Microsoft Genomics, as well as Azure Data Lake Analytics, they were able to download their data, and then use AI to quickly process and archive it. “The tool can uniformly realign everything and let me do the variant calling for the analysis I want,” said Dr. Robert Klein, head of the Klein Lab at the Icahn School. They are scaling up their research as a result.

Likewise, Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS) wanted to build a platform that could detect diabetic retinopathy, a form of vision loss that can develop rapidly. To help make tests more accessible, they designed a system doctors can use to quickly analyze images of retinas and detect anomalies using ML algorithms. All doctors have to do is send a retinal image to IRIS, which then processes it using Azure Service Bus and Azure Machine Learning Package for Computer Vision. Within 24 hours, doctors receive an enhanced image back with anomalies identified, making it easy for them to give a final diagnosis. “We went from zero to 300,000 patients examined in under five years,” said Jonathan Stevenson, chief strategy and information officer at IRIS. “There is no way we could have done that without Azure.”

Automatically securing healthcare data

Privacy and security have long been concerns in healthcare, and they’ve taken on a much larger significance with the digitization of the industry. Organizations that want to modernize their operations without sacrificing security can use the cloud as an alternative to siloing all their patient records on site.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by choosing a cloud solution that comes with HIPAA and HITRUST compliance. Instead of having to worry about properly storing, accessing, and analyzing sensitive health data, an organization can simply transfer patient information to their cloud, where it will automatically adhere to secure data regulations. Another layer of protection is to use cloud services that emphasize security from the ground up. This includes introducing security elements at every phase, from the initial hardware components to the final transfer of information.

Cloud technology means better treatments are on the way for some of humanity’s most difficult diseases. By giving researchers easy and scalable access to computing resources, cloud technology is helping to reduce the time it takes to test hypotheses, increase the iteration of promising ideas and treatment methods, and develop new cures. It’s also allowing healthcare organizations to modernize without neglecting security. All this is helping to make medicine more effective, accessible, and timely. For doctors, researchers, and patients, the future of healthcare is in the cloud.

To stay up to date on the latest news about Microsoft’s work in the cloud, bookmark this blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.