Innovators Page Mic - Pro

Microsoft

What: Redmond, Washington based Microsoft is best known for its Windows operating system , which turned the PC into the most widely used computing platform.

When: Microsoft Office 2007 was released November 6, 2006 to manufacturers.

How: Microsoft Office 2007 introduces new features that provide "ribbons" at the top of the interface, replacing cascading menus and taskbars, and revealing functions, making them more user-accessible.

Other contributions: Other products Microsoft has created include Windows, the PC operating system and Explorer, its web browser.

Nanominerals Corp

What: Nevada-based Nanominerals Corp was founded by Charles Ager to use nanotechnology to mine precious ore. Nanominerals Corp technology includes Nano-exploration and Nano-metallurgy.

When: Under the guidance and vision of founder and current chairman Charles Ager, Nanominerals Corp grew into a company after ten years exploration in Nanotechnology and mineral mining.

How: Using nanotechnology, Nanominerals Corp. (NMC) identifies nanoscale precious metals and nanominerals in geologic samples and uses new nanometallurgical methods to extract precious metals.

Other contributions: Advancement of the use and application of nanotechnology.

Charles Ager is a Killam Award winner from the University of British Columbia.

Nintendo

What: Nintendo, a Kyoto, Japan based company creates interactive entertainment and industry icons such as Mario and Donkey Kong.

When: In 1889, Fusajiro Yamauchi began manufacturing Japanese playing cards in Kyoto. In 1970, Nintendo introduced electronic technology in the toy industry in Japan.

How: The Nintendo Entertainment System, (“NES”) came out in 1985, and included the games Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. The Nintendo Wii offers motion-sensing controllers, resulting in a more active style of gaming presently available from any other console.

Other contributions: Other gaming systems created by Nintendo includes the Super Nintendo, the Nintendo 64 (N64), the Nintendo GameCube, and the Nintendo Game Boy Series.

Lumin Innovative Products

What: Lumin Innovative Products designs and manufactures solar-powered wireless access points called LightWave.

How: The LightWave-Single and Dual radio version provides outdoor solar powered wireless networks with greater capabilities to reach into wider areas, provide greater coverage, and deploy cost-effectively.

Other contributions: Currently, several of Lumin's products are in the Development or Testing stages. These include the Flex Series, Tri-Pac Series, SensorWave Series, and LightWave-Mini.