Microsoft Research

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Human and computer vision unite to help Microsoft engineers stop traffic deaths

by Lisa Stiffler on June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 at 8:26 am 2 Comments

In the U.S., car crashes kill roughly 40,000 people a year. That’s a loss of life equivalent to four to five 737 airplanes crashing every week. “In no other setting… Read More

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Microsoft’s next-generation HoloLens glasses may make you look like Clark Kent

by Alan Boyle on May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 at 3:56 pm1 Comment

Today, Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented-reality headset has a geeky RoboCop vibe, but someday it could become more like a pair of eyeglasses suitable for Superman’s mild-mannered alter ego. At least that’s the impression you’re likely… Read More

Tech Moves: Meet Microsoft Research Labs’ new director; Accolade adds key execs; and more

by Clare McGrane on May 9, 2017May 9, 2017 at 6:00 pmComment

In a surprise move last week, Jeannette Wing — a noted computer scientist and corporate vice president of Microsoft Research — announced she would be stepping down from her role at the Redmond,… Read More

UW, Microsoft and Twist Bioscience double down on DNA data storage experiments

by Alan Boyle on April 17, 2017April 17, 2017 at 10:58 amComment

Twist Bioscience says it’s extending its collaboration with Microsoft and the University of Washington on a project aimed at perfecting a process for encoding digital data in DNA molecules. In… Read More

IBM plans to deliver ‘industry first’ quantum computers via the cloud

by Geof Wheelwright on March 6, 2017March 6, 2017 at 10:47 amComment

IBM today unveiled plans to build commercially-available quantum computer systems for business and science that will be accessed via the IBM Cloud. Known as “IBM Q”, these quantum systems will be… Read More

Microsoft’s Cortana will now keep you accountable for promises you forgot you made

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 9, 2017February 9, 2017 at 8:02 amComment

Cortana wants you to keep your promises. Microsoft’s virtual assistant, available on platforms including Windows 10, iOS and Android, has some new capabilities to help users stay on top of commitments… Read More

Microsoft researchers lay down a big bet on topological quantum computers

by Alan Boyle on November 21, 2016November 21, 2016 at 11:27 am1 Comment

Microsoft says it’s moving ahead from just talking about quantum computing to building an actual quantum computer, based on the physics that won a Nobel Prize this year. The project… Read More

Microsoft’s cancer moonshot: Debug the disease as if it’s a computer glitch

by Alan Boyle on September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 at 10:56 am1 Comment

Microsoft researchers are doing a bug bash on cancer, complete with software code names like “Project Hanover.” Some of them are actually drilling down into our genetic code, looking for… Read More

Video: GeekWire’s 5 most buzzworthy stories of August, on New Day NW

by GeekWire on August 31, 2016August 31, 2016 at 7:23 pmComment

GeekWire’s Monica Nickelsburg caught up with New Day NW host Margaret Larson to share some of our hottest stories from August. Between the inexplicable rise in bookstore sales, Microsoft and… Read More

Microsoft Research and MIT unveil DuoSkin, the latest in smart tattoos

by Alan Boyle on August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 at 11:14 am 2 Comments

Smart tattoos made out of super-thin electronics have been a thing for years, but now the technology is getting closer to fashionable prime time. Microsoft Research has joined forces with MIT… Read More

Microsoft tries to outdo Apple with new AI-powered iPhone camera app

by Nat Levy on July 27, 2016July 27, 2016 at 9:02 am 4 Comments

In a bid to improve on the native iPhone camera app, Microsoft Research today released a new smart camera app for iPhone, Microsoft Pix, that specializes in photos of people and uses… Read More

Video: Microsoft Research touches on something big with hand gesture recognition

by Kurt Schlosser on June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 at 11:50 amComment

The desire to reach out and touch objects in virtual reality appears to be becoming a much more realistic prospect thanks to hand-tracking technology being developed by Microsoft Research. A new… Read More

Microsoft analysis of search data could lead to method of alerting people to seek medical guidance

by Kurt Schlosser on June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 at 1:17 pmComment

Searching the internet for more information on medical symptoms you’re suffering from may not be the best way to address a real health concern. But the data from those search queries has proven… Read More

Second-opinion software: Microsoft’s Eric Horvitz on how AI can save patients’ lives

by Alan Boyle on June 7, 2016June 7, 2016 at 1:40 pmComment

Someday soon, your physician may be second-guessed by an artificial intelligence program – and you’ll probably be healthier for it, according to Microsoft Research’s Eric Horvitz. Horvitz, a research fellow and managing… Read More

Good morning, sunshine: Microsoft project helps your plants talk back

by Kurt Schlosser on June 3, 2016June 3, 2016 at 10:54 am 2 Comments

Your house plants are definitely sending you a message when they wilt or drop leaves on the floor. But what if they could actually “speak” to you and convey how… Read More

Microsoft Research shows off ‘Star Wars’ holoportation with HoloLens

by Alan Boyle on March 29, 2016March 29, 2016 at 10:29 am1 Comment

As Microsoft gets set to ship its HoloLens development kit, it’s previewing a “Star Wars” application called holoportation that takes full advantage of the mixed-reality headset. The effect is like that scene in the… Read More

Microsoft’s Minecraft to be used as artificial intelligence testing ground

by Greg Sandoval on March 14, 2016March 14, 2016 at 8:28 am1 Comment

Minecraft will be the backbone for a new platform designed to help test and improve artificial intelligence applications, Microsoft announced on Monday. The new platform, called AIX, will be made… Read More

Get in touch with the stratosphere through Microsoft’s Pegasus II balloon mission

by Alan Boyle on February 22, 2016February 23, 2016 at 2:52 pmComment

How high can the Internet of Things go? Microsoft Research plans to extend the IoT into the stratosphere with its Pegasus II high-altitude balloon experiment, and you’re invited to take… Read More

Cortana gains scheduling smarts as Microsoft pushes research group to get projects out of the lab

by James Risley on January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 at 10:47 amComment

Personal assistants of the world beware: Cortana just learned another one of your tricks. Microsoft’s AI assistant for Windows 10 will soon be able to scan emails to provide users with… Read More

Encoding data in DNA for millennia? UW and Microsoft Research are on it

by Alan Boyle on December 4, 2015December 4, 2015 at 2:03 pmComment

Data storage is getting better and better, but the final frontier for the long-term preservation of digital bits may well be DNA molecules – and the University of Washington and… Read More

As pollution in Beijing reaches extreme levels, here’s what Microsoft Research is doing to help

by Taylor Soper on November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 at 11:37 amComment

When I was traveling through Beijing earlier this month on a GeekWire reporting trip, my throat became itchy with mucus and my eyes dried up because of the pollution. But locals told me… Read More

Why people in China love Microsoft’s Xiaoice virtual companion, and what it says about artificial intelligence

by Taylor Soper on November 25, 2015November 26, 2015 at 11:31 am 4 Comments

Dr. Hsiao-Wuen Hon is speaking quickly inside a Beijing boardroom, excited about the conversation topic. He’s rattling off statistics and talking about Xiaoice, a new personal assistant built by Microsoft that… Read More

Inspired by Microsoft Research projects, top sci-fi writers share ‘Future Visions’ in new e-book

by Alan Boyle on November 17, 2015January 5, 2016 at 10:59 am 2 Comments

When you’re developing technologies that sound like science fiction, why not use science fiction stories to show what you’re up to? That’s the motivation behind “Future Visions,” a free e-book from Microsoft… Read More

Microsoft’s new “emotion-sensing platform” can recognize human feelings by analyzing photos

by Jacob Demmitt on November 11, 2015November 11, 2015 at 3:07 pm 2 Comments

Microsoft just revealed a new tool that’s capable of analyzing photos to identify human emotions. For example, imagine sitting in a movie theater with a camera pointed at the audience. Microsoft… Read More

‘Hyper lanes’ for driverless cars? Microsoft Research’s Eric Horvitz on the future of A.I.

by Alan Boyle on November 2, 2015November 2, 2015 at 8:27 am1 Comment

“No human drivers wanted”: That just might be the road sign for the high-speed highway transit lanes of the future, if artificial intelligence and driverless cars turn out the way… Read More

See-through snapshots: Microsoft and UW tech takes pictures that are more than skin deep

by James Risley on October 15, 2015October 15, 2015 at 2:09 pm1 Comment

They may not be X-ray specs, but the University of Washington and Microsoft Research are working together to let you see under your skin — and much more. The researchers… Read More

Reporter John Markoff and Microsoft Research head Peter Lee talk self-driving cars, robots taking the SAT and the AI of Hollywood

by James Risley on October 1, 2015October 1, 2015 at 3:27 pmComment

From self-driving cars to computers that can create new meals, artificial intelligence is only getting better. But what will an AI future really look like? New York Times science reporter John… Read More

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