Technological Futures

Thursday, October 3, 2024

AR/VR can help extend critical infrastructure lifespan

by Media Relations

University of Waterloo engineers are turning to augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) to better understand — and maintain — the physical reality of Canada's critical infrastructure. 

On-site inspectors are typically limited in what they can observe when inspecting bridges, roads, towers, pipelines, and other structures because they can't always see or detect every potential problem within large infrastructure

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Revolutionizing cancer research with AI and quantum technology

by Angelica Marie Sanchez, University Relations

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, more than 100 different types of cancer-related diseases are diagnosed annually.

Scribenote, an AI-powered medical scribe that saves veterinarians up to two hours a day by transcribing their notes, has raised $8.2 million in seed funding. The investment round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with additional participation from Inovia Capital, the Velocity Fund and a lineup of angel investors.

Scribenote was co-founded by University of Waterloo alumni Alina Pavel (BASc ‘21) and Ryan Gallagher (BASc ‘21), veterinarian Dr. Katie Gallagher and veterinarian student Emily Merry.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Mission (im)possible: controlling light while measuring trapped ion qubits

by Samantha Clark, Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC)

Quantum information is fragile and often difficult to protect during experiments. Protecting qubits from accidental measurements is essential for controlled quantum operations, especially during state-destroying measurements or resets on adjacent qubits in protocols like quantum error correction. Current methods to preserve atomic qubits against disturbances can waste coherence time, extra qubits, and introduce errors.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Canada’s biggest hackathon is back

by Jack Weatherston, Faculty of Engineering

Over the past eleven years, Hack the North has grown to become a major force in the world of hackathons. This year’s event saw more than 1,000 young inventors come together at the University of Waterloo to work together over 36 hours and create a dizzying array of software applications, hardware projects and gadgets. The competition was as fierce as ever, but there were also lots of opportunities to make connections and get inspired.

Friday, September 13, 2024

Six crises, countless solutions: Roadmaps to a better future

by Jordan Flemming, University Relations

The University of Waterloo is dedicated to solving complex global challenges through research excellence and deep industry and community partnerships. Waterloo focuses on transforming societies, economies, technologies, sustainability and health for a thriving future. The "Solving the crisis" series takes an in-depth look at six of some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today, ranging from climate change to housing affordability.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Announcing the 2024 Tech Horizons Executive Forum

by Emma Pavlovich, WatSPEED

As technology increasingly transforms business strategy, it is crucial for senior leaders to stay ahead of the curve.

The University of Waterloo’s Tech Horizons Executive Forum, brought to you by WatSPEED and hosted by CIBC, returns this year to equip executives with the insights and tools needed to thrive in a world increasingly driven by technology. This year’s event will take place on November 26 at CIBC Square in Toronto.

Friday, September 6, 2024

At the intersection of health, society and technology

by Faculty of Arts

Developing and delivering quality healthcare requires an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on fields ranging from history to sociology to communication and design. And Waterloo’s strong emphasis on interdisciplinary scholarship is one reason, Dr Peter Warrian and his wife, Dr. Margret Hovenec, established the Lupina Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowships with Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts.