Initiative in Innovative Computing (IIC) Harvard University

The eXtensible Access Method (XAM) is a new, industry-standard application programming interface for storing reference information (fixed content) onto heterogeneous storage systems. It is also a focus of research under way at EMC’s new Cambridge lab and a project, DataSpace, proposed by MIT and EMC for uniting multiple archives of scientific data. A brief introduction and overview of XAM will be provided by Steve Todd, who will describe XAM’s applicability to the digital preservation of both cultural artifacts and scientific information. Rob Masson will introduce the collaborative agenda of EMC’s new research lab and the associated Virtual Team.

Stephen Todd is an "intrapreneur" at EMC and the author of the high-tech book Innovate With Influence. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science from the University of New Hampshire. Steve has spent his career working on as many storage products and technologies as he could get his hands on. Products include CLARiiON, Navisphere, Storage Scope, PowerPath and Centera. Technologies include RAID, failover, caching, management technologies, databases, device drivers and CAS. He enjoys the creative process and came in 3rd out of 410 entries in EMC's inaugural world-wide innovation contest one year and 2nd out of 984 entries the subsequent year. He is named on more than 140 patent applications. He blogs at stevetodd.typepad.com.

Rob Masson has been with EMC for over 5 years as an developer, architect, technologist and Director of Research. Robert joined EMC as part of the product management team of eRoom as a solutions architect working with partners and customers on novel ways to use and integrate EMC technologies. After three years in that role, Rob  joined the EMC CTO Office as a senior technologist and manages a team of developers based in Shanghai that does advanced proof-of-concept work in a variety of solution spaces. Working closely with many different groups at EMC, he and his team identify opportunities to leverage and enhance EMC's product offerings into emerging and disruptive markets.

Most recently Rob has been appointed as Director of EMC Research Cambridge, managing EMC's relationships with the academic community in this area. Serving as a liaison between researchers and technologists within EMC, he aims to accelerate the adoption of technology and innovation within the organization and enhance ongoing research with insight from the companies varied product groups.

Rob graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a bachelor's degree in computer science.