Technological Futures

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Higher education analytics giant acquires Waterloo-grown 1Mentor

by Jasmin English & Naomi Grosman, Conrad School & Velocity

Waterloo-based 1Mentor’s recent acquisition by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the world’s largest global higher education network, underscores the urgent need for their platform and the data it provides higher education institutions. 

Friday, January 12, 2024

PatientCompanion is a tech-solution to support nurses

by Angelica Marie Sanchez, University Relations

Before coming to the University of Waterloo, Christy Lee volunteered at hospitals and long-term care homes, working closely with patients and residents to help reduce the workload for staff. But Lee found that with the current communication call system, nurses and personal support workers do not know what types of requests the patients are making, and which patients need immediate help.  

Thursday, January 11, 2024

From student investor to startup success

by Kelsey Stoddart, School of Accounting and Finance

As an alum of the first Student Investment Fund (SIF) cohort, a student-led initiative at the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) that gives students real-world investing experience, Andy Wang (BCFM ’13) is familiar with the benefits of experiential education that extends beyond classroom walls.

To advance climate change monitoring and public safety, researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed new tools that bring an unprecedented level of accuracy to identifying lake ice conditions.

The researchers are the first to use machine learning models for processing satellite radar altimetry data that can identify between open water, thin ice, growing ice, or melting ice with 94 per cent accuracy.  

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Driving up talent for Canada’s electric vehicle sector

by Jordan Flemming, University Relations

Canadians are buying more electric vehicles (EV) than ever, with one in 10 now owning EVs. The number is set to increase as consumers look for ways to reduce their environmental impact and capitalize on government incentives.

With the growing market share of EVs, there is also an increasing need for talent in the design, development and maintenance of electric vehicles as well as support infrastructure from charging stations, improved battery technology and energy generation.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Top health-tech innovations we're following in 2024

by Jordan Flemming, University Relations

Global and individual health care is experiencing disruption through a variety of technologies. Building disruptive technologies is at the core of what we do, and since our inception, the University of Waterloo has also been disrupting the boundaries of health.

Explore just some of the health-tech innovations springing up from the University’s ecosystem that we will be keeping an eye on this year.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Visionary inventions for eye disease

by Karen Kawawada, School of Optometry & Vision Science

Navigating the world safely can be a major challenge for people with vision impairments. One award-winning new invention aims to change that, while another aims to diagnose a common eye disease earlier, potentially preventing vision loss in the first place. 

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Large language models validate misinformation, research finds

by Media Relations

New research into large language models shows that they repeat conspiracy theories, harmful stereotypes, and other forms of misinformation.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Waterloo systematically tested an early version of ChatGPT’s understanding of statements in six categories: facts, conspiracies, controversies, misconceptions, stereotypes, and fiction. This was part of Waterloo researchers’ efforts to investigate human-technology interactions and explore how to mitigate risks.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Our top 12 trending stories of 2023

by University Relations

The year 2023 has unfolded with a dynamic blend of challenges and opportunities, offering us a fresh page to write the story of our University of Waterloo community.

As we embark towards 2024, we can reflect with pride on the continued dedication and achievements of our students, alumni, researchers and staff — all of whom have played an integral role in shaping on-campus initiatives, global events and cutting-edge education and research.

These trending stories highlight just some of the community’s profound impact on our collective future.

Friday, December 15, 2023

The future of quantum computing in environmental and health sciences

by Jordan Flemming, University Relations

Practical and scalable quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, and many technical challenges need to be overcome before they can be widely used for various applications. Researchers and companies globally, as well as right here at the University of Waterloo, are diligently pushing the boundaries of quantum computing technology, driving forward innovations in this emerging field.