---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash COMPUTERWORLD SMITHSONIAN AWARDS GIVEN TO THREE SUN USERS SunFLASH Vol 42 #18 June 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smithsonian Winners Announced MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- June 15, 1992 -- Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) announced that three SMCC customers have won this year's annual Computerworld Smithsonian Award for their innovative use of information technology. Federal Express Corporation, The Wilderness Society and Intelligenetics, Inc., were each honored at the awards ceremony June 8, 1992, in Washington, D.C. The fourth annual Computerworld Smithsonian Award recognizes the men and women who have achieved outstanding progress for society through their use of computers. The winning applications will be showcased in "The Information Age: People, Information, Technology," a permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution that has already been seen by more than three million people. Four other users of Sun systems selected as finalists include Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Design; Carnegie-Mellon University, Robotics Institute; City of Chicago's Bureau of Parking and Pacific Meridian Resources. Candidates were chosen by industry leaders in information technology in 10 categories spanning from science and education to environment and agriculture. "These candidates and their work demonstrate the powerful benefits of information technology for society," said John Gage, director, science office, Sun Microsystems Laboratories, Inc. "These men and women are true visionaries: in the course of their everyday work, they challenge and expand the uses of technology to preserve our planet, free us of disease, improve our standard of living and our effectiveness at our jobs." The winners among Sun users are: Federal Express Corporation, Memphis, Tennessee (transportation category) -- The company has designed a ramp management advisor system (RMAS) to log critical information on both inbound and outbound flights at the Memphis, Tennessee, location. The system has eased the work pressure of its flight controllers, streamlined the scheduling system and drastically reduced chances for error through an expert system for ramp and gate management that runs on a network of Sun workstations. Intelligenetics Inc., Stanford, California (science category) -- This company was recognized for its work with the GenBank Computer Resource, which is administered by the National Institutes of Health. The firm's computer network, based on Sun systems, speeds medical research and helps provide insights into the causes of such diseases as AIDS and cancer by allowing scientists worldwide to electronically exchange and compare newly determined DNA sequences to others in the database. The Wilderness Society's Endangered Species and Ecosystems Mapping Project, Seattle, Washington (environment, energy and agriculture category) -- The society uses innovative computer technology to aid government agencies, policy makers and scientists in addressing some of the complex issues surrounding the health of fragile ecosystems and threats to endangered species. The society has developed a mapping system that integrates remote sensing, ecological modeling, digital satellite imagery and geographical information systems (GIS) analysis techniques for the study of plant and animal populations on more than 25 million acres in the United States and British Columbia. Other Sun users nominated include Sierran Biodiversity Institute; Conservation International; University of Maine, Department of Physics and Astronomy; Georgetown University Hospital, Systems Division; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wilmer Eye Institute; University of South Florida, Center for Engineering and Medical Image Analysis; NYNEX, Science & Technology Division. The Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program was established in 1989 to recognize the positive impact that information technology has had not only on business, but also in all aspects of human endeavor. The awards honor outstanding applications of information technology, while clearly identifying to the general public the benefits that information technology brings to all of our lives. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.