Above: A prototype graphic display of ice storm information lets the user see how much ice will accumulate and what roads will be affected. A school snow day often leaves kids jumping for joy and their parents scrambling to readjust their work schedules. But what about the people who make the decision to cancel classes? [...]

The Immersive Media camera system can be transported on a backpack and used to capture detailed video of campuses, interiors, coastlines, historical sites, and more. Every picture tells a story, but high-definition, 360-degree imagery can put you in a real situation, able to look around in all directions and notice the details.

A public emergency is the ultimate example of multitasking. It can require crowd control, medical aid, evacuation and emergency response all at once under trying conditions. Managers who direct emergency operations centers (EOCs) have few technological tools to help them with these complicated, critical tasks, but the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) hopes to change that.