Oracle Corporation has announced that information technology solutions from four of its customers -Rotterdam Municipal Port Authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Washington and CNN-are finalists for the 1998 Computerworld Smithsonian Awards. These selections are among 52 finalists chosen by a panel of distinguished judges from the 442 laureates whose work is included in the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards 1998 Innovation Collection. Lawrence J. Ellison nominated the Oracle finalists, chairman and chief executive officer of Oracle, Redwood Shores, California. Finalists will be honoured June 8 at the 10th anniversary black-tie gala at Washington`s historic National Building Museum. The Oracle finalists are: Rotterdam Municipal Port Authority Port CommunITy Rotterdam is one of five finalists in Transportation, selected out of 12 nominations in the category. At Port CommunITy Rotterdam, swipeless identification cards embed a digital hand print that identify truck drivers as they enter and leave the port which, in turn, reduces delays and enhances security. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of six finalists in Environment, Energy & Agriculture selected out of 23 nominations in the category. At the EPA site, a Web-accessible Oracle database provides environmental information on more than one million locations handling or discharging potentially harmful substances, increasing public awareness and participation in environmental protection. University of Washington The Department of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Washington, is one of five finalists in Education & Academia, selected out of 62 nominations in the category. At the Department of Molecular Biology, a Java-based application gathers data from the whole range of incompatible formats now used in biology and presents them to users in a consistent format, allowing research on the behavior of the whole cell. CNN CNN Interactive`s CNN Custom News is one of five finalists in Media, Arts & Entertainment selected out of 45 nominations in the category. At CNN Interactive, automatic context-sensing algorithms categorise news stories in real time, then deliver them only to on-line customers who have indicated an interest in the specific subject. More than 900 industry leaders and professionals will attend the June 8 event, including past award recipients, chairmen, judges and Leadership Award winners. On this night, five individuals also will receive awards for their leadership, vision and commitment to spearhead revolutionary change. "These four finalists represent a wide spectrum of solutions Oracle provides by enabling the information age with its software," said Jack Pellicci, vice president, Global Public Sector at Oracle. "They are at the forefront of innovation in government agencies, higher education research and the media." The Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Chairmen`s Committee nominates individuals who use information technology to improve society for inclusion in the Smithsonian`s IT Innovation Collection, housed at the Smithsonian`s National Museum of American History. Founded in 1989, the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program searches for and recognises individuals who have demonstrated vision and leadership as they strive to use information technology in innovative ways across 10 categories: Business and Related Services; Education and Academia; Environment, Energy and Agriculture; Finance, Insurance and Real Estate; Government and Non-Profit Organisations; Manufacturing; Media, Arts and Entertainment; Medicine; Science; and Transportation.
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