About the Center > Sponsors and Corporate Partners

Sponsors and Corporate Partners

Lead Sponsor

EDS logo EDS was the lead corporate partner involved in the development of the Center. They contributed both personnel and monetary support in the planning and construction. EDS also made equipment donations.

Technology Partners

		3M has provided the unique electronic privacy glass, manufactured by Viracon, that lines windows between the hallway and the Center. The opacity of the glass is controlled by the current running through it. It fronts the Control room and the Trading room, and consists of liquid crystal emulsion spread between sheets of conductive plastic film. Note: As of 1999, Viracon is no longer involved in the manufacturing/distributing of Privacy Glass.
		Adaptec provided ATM cards to connect the desktop PCs (on PCI buses) and Sun Sparc workstations (on SBUS) to the ATM network.
		AMX systems control the electronic and electrical equipment in the Center. Using customized screens on the AMX panels, lecturers and technicians can operate the audio volume, document camera, lighting, and main screen projection system.
		Ascend bandwidth-on-demand products from the MAX and Pipeline families link the Austin EDS office where the Center's development was planned with the Center. Other authorized ISDN users can access the Center using the wide-area-networking capabilities provided by Ascend.
		AutoPatch provided a 4YDM Distribution Matrix which automates signal switching and routing for 28x4 RGBS plus Stereo, 16x4 Composite plus Stereo, and 8x4 Y/c plus Stereo, all in an integrated matrix system. The modular system will allow the EDS Center expansion room for future growth and future signal technologies.
		Bay Networks sponsored the Center's network infrastructure. Bay Networks provided the Center with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switches, an Ethernet-to-ATM switch, a BLN router, and an Ethernet hub.
		Black Box has provided cables and connectors to aid in networking the Center.
		Chatsworth Products, Inc., provided all the equipment racks for the Control room, and also provided additional racks, shelving, and cabinets throughout the Center.
		Compaq and EDS made a joint donation of Proliant servers and several DeskPro systems, as well as mass storage, tape backup, memory expansion, and monitors for these systems. They are used in the Control Room.
		Data Connection did all of the cabling to connect the many network and video devices in the Center. They used 130,000 feet of cable!
		Extron provided computer-video interface, video switching, and distribution amplifier equipment for the Center. The Extron System 10 Plus Projector Control Switcher allows for two-way communication between the Center's projectors and switchers. Extron also donated ADA 4 300 MX, P/2 DA4, Mac/2 DA 2, and 13W3 DA2 distribution amplifiers, as well as projector communication adaptors and cables.
		HEURIS, a leading provider of MPEG encoding solutions for professional digital video applications, donated a copy of its MPEG Power Professional-DVD software to the Financial Trading & Technology Center. The Center will use MPEG Power Professional, a high-end MPEG-2 encoder specifically designed for DVD applications, to convert video files to MPEG for use in its multimedia display wall. MPEG Power Professional-DVD features variable bitrate encoding and transport layer multiplexing, two very important capabilities for creating MPEG streams suitable for DVD. This powerful product offers MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 encoding capabilities.
		Hewlett Packard provided desktop computer systems (Vectra VL4 5/133s with 15" monitors) for each student workstation in the classroom, and additional Pentium Pro systems. HP also provided laser printers and a high-end color inkjet.
		As the world leader in optical storage technology, Hitachi has contributed to the Center two HitRaid disk array data storage systems and one Optical Jukebox.
		Intel has provided ethernet cards to connect the classroom computers to the Ethernet network. Intel also provided Proshare desktop teleconferencing units for the Center.
		IPC provided the Center with its specialized telephone turrets, cabling, and a PBX (Private Branch Exchange).
		MicroTouch has given the Center touch screen monitors to drive the information kiosk and aid in controlling systems.
		NEC has provided the Center with 21-inch monitors, 13-inch flat screen monitors, LCD projectors for the Technology Classroom and exposition area, and a three-tube projector for the Trading Room.
		Northern Telecom provided both expertise and equipment to build the network architecture for the Center. This includes implementation of the Integrated Building Distribution System (IBDN), a universal wiring system designed to deliver ATM, switched Ethernet, ISDN, optic fiber and video based information throughout the Center. In addition, Northern Telecom also provided the patch panels, jacks, connectors and other equipment necessary to build the communication infrastructure.
		ONE TOUCH has provided its interactive response system for classroom and distance-learning use. One Touch Response Keypads turn passive viewers into active participants by giving a presenter immediate two-way audio and data access to each student in the classroom. The Response Keypad also aids in distance learning by allowing students in multiple locations to become active participants in live long-distance learning sessions.
		SMART Technologies Inc. has provided the Center with a SMART Board which will serve as a combination electronic whiteboard and touch screen computer console for the instructor.
		Sony has given the Center camera equipment for video conferencing and a VHS video tape recorder.
		Steelcase provided the classroom desks, classroom chairs, the podium, carts, and the Trading Room conference desk.
		Sun Microsystems provided the Center with SPARC 20 and SPARC 5 systems.
		Telemetrics provided four pan/tilt/zoom/focus/remote units for the Sony cameras in the classroom and the controllers for these units, all to aid in remote controlled cameras for teleconferencing.
		Viracon and 3M donated Privacy Glass for the outer walls. This allows the Center to be both a showcase of technology where passersby can see the state-of-the-art facility, and a secure environment where meetings and classes can be conducted in private. Note: As of 1999, Viracon is no longer involved in the manufacturing/distributing of Privacy Glass. See how it works.
		V-TEL has provided the Center with a video teleconferencing codec and control, as well as four 48" monitors. The codec system is the Center's primary means of video and audio transmission for teleconferencing.
		Woodtronics provided the trading desks for the Center's Trading Room, and a media desk used in the Classroom.

Data Feed and Analytics Partners

		Bloomberg information is used by MBA Investment Fund's student managers to research fixed-income investment opportunities. A bloomberg terminal is also available in the Center's Classroom for faculty-student training. Access to Bloomberg's service via the Center's terminals solidifies the students' knowledge of the bond market while familiarizing them with a way of accessing this type of data.
		Bridge is used by MBA Investment Fund's student managers to research prospective stocks. It is also used in the Center's Classroom for faculty-student training. The extensive database and analytical flexibility make Bridge an important resource for analysts in an educational environment. Students can choose a stock and use Bridge to quickly explore the feasibility of many correlative associations.
		Dow Jones provided the Center with complete business news and financial service capability through its Telerate service, and included market quotations, historical data, news, commentary services and financial market analytic software. These services helped position the University as one of the nation's leaders in applying information technology to the study of finance. In 1998, Telerate was aquired by Bridge Information Systems, Inc.

I/B/E/S data is provided in the Center for stock valuation. Students compare market prices with their own estimates of earnings-based stock value. This method allows student analysts to discover investment opportunities in undervalued stocks.

MarketVision provided the Center with data distribution and data display software. MarketVision is currently owned by Bridge Information Systems, Inc.

		Moody's Investors Service provided the Center its monthly database CD-ROMs, products of the Moody's Company Data division.
		MCM provides data through its four services, Moneywatch, Yieldwatch, Currencywatch, and Corporatewatch, to the Center.
		Reuters provides the Center real-time data including strong financial news support and SelectFeed Plus.