Friday Tech Links: Archer Group is tracking eyes, the city’s radio system upgrade and More

In which we link out to the tech news from Philly and elsewhere (when it matters) that slips through the cracks and make it way fun. See others here.
Wilmington, Del.-based Web marketing and design firm the Archer Group is using new-age computer-user tracking systems to see what you’re looking at. That’s the same Delaware company that recently helped Wawa brand its products on Facebook.
As the Web has matured and its users have too, the group’s “Eye-tracking Usability Lab” is meant to give its designers insight into how computer users, with years of Internet-browsing behind them, are digesting the Web today, as Delaware Online reported. [Full Disclosure: Sean Blanda loves Delaware].
It’s what you’ve heard before: freaky pinpoint infrared sensors that follow eye movements as they bounce from whatever the tester spots. Get the deets and what Archer is doing with the work at the full story.
After the jump, Bussiness Week reports that one of one of our own seed-stage investment firms is saving venture capital, the city’s emergency radio system with Motorola isn’t “reliable” and seven other tech stories you need to read — including our best read story of the week.
In order of importance for your ease:

• BussinessWeek reports on seed-stage investors that are helping entrepreneurs at a time when large venture capital firms are pulling back. Reporter Spencer Ante uses FirstRound Capital, a West Conshohocken-based example, as his lede, even if only the firm’s West Coast offices are mentioned. Burned.
• PhillyTechNews reports that three companies in our region were named to the Red Herring 100 North America. Not a one of ’em is from Philly proper though.
• As we tweeted earlier, the Business Journal reports that Ben Franklin Technology Partners approved $1.6 million in investments for eight area companies. Just two are from Philadelphia proper: the Neat Co., a University City company that offers business scanning and organization and released NeatDesk last month, and TicketLeap, the Center City-based event-planning ticketing service provider that recently launched a cloud-based ticketing service. The Easton Times-Express reports that BFTP of Northeastern Pa. also announce their investment of nearly $600,000 in nine companies in the Lehigh Valley.
• The Inquirer reports that the Nutter administration is pushing for an upgrade of the city’s emergency radio system. The $35 million bolstering of the city’s fire and police network would be operational by 2011 and would retain Motorola as the vendor but would add — and we’re not kidding about this — “reliability.” Which seems like a strange upgrade because you’d think “reliability” would be a standard for an emergency radio system, but, you know, this is Philly, boys and girls.
• John George of the Philadelphia Business Journal writes a fine profile of Geoff Meyerson, who co-founded West Conshohocken-based Locust Walk Partner, which “provides advisory services to life sciences companies in areas such as product licensing, financing and pipeline prioritization.”
• PBJ also reports that Andrew Altman, the Philly-bred city commerce director who Michael Nutter courted from a government job in D.C., has bolted for a gig leading London’s development for the 2012 Olympics. No successor has been named or what will happen to his $170K salary.
• Knowledge@Wharton is celebrating 10 years of doling out information by showing off its best read stories. Some interesting ones to peep.
• Wired’s Epicenter blog reports that IT employment has shrunk nationally for the fifth consecutive month, though recruiters remain hopeful an end is in sight.

• Our Most Trafficked Story of the Week: South Philly�s Stoya: adult film it girl on DOS, social media and leaving Philadelphia

Every Friday morning we make sure you didn�t miss anything with Friday Tech Links.