Today, we take a look at how Southern Methodist University in Dallas is involved in a partnership that has created a math-related video game, how seven of 16 Texas companies in the Forbes list of the Largest Private Companies in the U.S. are based in DFW, and how luxury ride app company iCars has entered the Dallas market.
Southern Methodist University researchers have found that movement can help students in understanding and retaining complex math concepts. In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, SMU researchers have created a video game that directs students to make arm movements correlating with proofs of geometry theorems. “What is so exciting about this geometry research project is that it shows how theories of embodied cognition are becoming mature enough to start to develop a whole new class of educational technology that we can envision as part of everyday math classrooms in the near term,”said University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Mitchell Nathan in a release. SMU has more on the research.
Forbes has released its list of the largest U.S. private companies, and seven of the 16 Texas companies are based in Dallas-Fort Worth. Round Rock-based Dell is the top Texas company at No. 4 with a value of $54.9 billion. The top DFW company is Energy Future Holdings at No. 70, followed by Neiman Marcus Group at No. 78 with a value of of $5.1 billion. Other DFW companies on the list are Sammons Enterprises (No. 86, $4.6 billion), Addison-based Mary Kay (No. 107, $4 billion), Ben E. Keith of Fort Worth (No. 123, $3.4 billion), Dallas-based Hunt Consolidated (No. 134, $3.2 billion), and Plano-base Golden Living (No. 144, $3.1 billion). You can read more here.
iCARS, the San Francisco-based web and mobile app technology platform has begun operating in Dallas and Houston. The app connects corporate clients and travelers with licensed, screened executive car service operators and chauffeurs. Company founder Gary Bauer said the expansion to Dallas and Houston is “a response to the growing demand for sale and reliable luxury transportation, especially in the hospitality space.” The vehicles available come in three classes, sedan, SUV and Sprinter, the company says. To learn more go here. To visit the iCars website, go here.
Heather Noel contributed to this report.
What are you reading? Let us know here.
For a daily dose of what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth innovation, subscribe to our Dallas Innovates e-newsletter.