(vii) Large-Scale Projects
By its nature, research is an incremental, step-by-step process. Innovations can take years to evolve. The impact of today’s idea may not be fully realized until years later, which was the case with Internet technology and even e-mail, but the implications of any new technology can be far-reaching. This is why Microsoft researchers focus on advancing the state of the art in a broad range of areas, including many areas that don’t have commercial applications in today’s software, or put Microsoft innovation to work to advance other areas of science. Such efforts include:
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“Although a majority of our research eventually ends up in Microsoft products, Microsoft didn’t create its research labs to focus solely on product development. We were hired to help advance the state of the art in areas where software already plays a role — or will play a role — in the coming years.” — David Heckerman, senior director, eScience | |
Virtual Earth. Jim Gray and other Microsoft researchers have collaborated with other scientists to create an online database, called TerraServer, to help the U.S. Geological Survey provide free,* public access to its vast store of maps and aerial photographs of the United States. Considered one of the world’s largest online atlases, the site combines 15 terabytes of aerial imagery and 1.5 terabytes of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey. A companion site, Terra-Service, provides a Web service that enables users to access and reuse data and imagery from the TerraServer database on other Web sites.
SkyServer. Microsoft Research has teamed up with Sloan Digital Sky Survey to create SkyServer, a Web site that offers professional and amateur astronomers the ability to access and study pictures of more than 80 million stars and galaxies. The SkyServer site, which launched in 2001, has become a popular destination for professional and amateur astronomers and students, attracting more than 1 million hits a month.
Genetic Research. In addition to their work on HIV/AIDS vaccines, David Heckerman and Nebojsa Jojic are collaborating with biologists to unravel some of the gene-splicing mechanisms in higher organisms, and helped create an improved model of evolution and analyzed associations between diseases and genetic variations in humans. With another project, they are helping analyze associations between diseases and genetic variations in humans and helping biologists develop languages that will help scientists better describe biological systems. * Internet connect-time charges may apply.
Contents
- Advancing the Frontiers of Computing
- Microsoft Research: Making the Impossible Possible
- Creating a Foundation for Technology Breakthroughs
- Assembling an All-Star Team of Research Talent
- Imagining What Comes Next
- Putting Innovation to Work in Microsoft Products
- Advancing the State of the Art
- Planting the Seeds of Future Innovation
- Building a Global Think Tank
