Open Source GO Language in IBM Mainframes

IBM hopes that Google's language, already in use by Docker and Kubernates, will stretch the open source ecosystem for its mainframes ... 

Google's Go, considered an up-and-coming language with usage in projects like Docker and Kubernetes, has netted another feather in its cap: a port to IBM's z Systems mainframe platform.

The port was cited on a GitHub list of repositories from the Linux on IBM z Systems Open Source Team. While IBM's mainframes are often viewed as legacy technology from years past, IBM wants to expand the horizons of its big iron systems with Go. ....  "

More on Go.

Social Media Analysis Using Watson Analytics

Saw a presentation today of the use of Watson Analytics using Twitter data.  Using the recent Golden Globes presentation as an example.  This comes from the collaboration between Twitter and IBM .  This demonstrates the use of automated and directed visual analytics and storytelling using Watson Analytics.   Good example.  For now this capability is free as part of Watson analytics.  Presentation Slides here.

Big Brand Virtual Reality

In VentureBeat: 
Big brands such as Coca-Cola, Nissan and HBO have been dabbling with virtual reality experiences, with some calling it the final frontier. Virtual reality could solve some of advertising's biggest issues, such as viewability and making messages stand out, writes Virool's Alex Debelov ... " 

Future of Ethics of People and Machines

Cambridge University looks at AI ethics in the interaction of people and machines.

The future of intelligence: Cambridge University launches new centre to study AI and the future of humanity ... 

The University of Cambridge is launching a new research centre, thanks to a £10 million grant from the Leverhulme Trust, to explore the opportunities and challenges to humanity from the development of artificial intelligence. 

Machine intelligence will be one of the defining themes of our century, and the challenges of ensuring that we make good use of its opportunities are ones we all face together
Huw Price

Human-level intelligence is familiar in biological “hardware” – it happens inside our skulls. Technology and science are now converging on a possible future where similar intelligence can be created in computers. ... " 

Who Owns the Data?

In CIO Today:  Who owns the IOT data?  Key legal challenge, with likely considerable differences globally.  Also a big part of understanding data as an asset.

Darker Side of Chatbots

Good to see this evolving direction, and the comment below is interesting.    Having looked at and compared NL interfaces from a number of chatbot perspectives, while the measurement may be hard, you do know when you are not understood.  Derived performance measure can be used.

In CWorld:  " ... An A.I. chatbot makes sense for Google. Consumers are increasingly going mobile and searching (pun intended) for an alternative to search. Current alternatives, such as Google's own Google Now or its competitors -- Siri, Cortana, Alexa and others -- all suffer from imperfect voice recognition. And in their state of evolution, they can be unsatisfying to use.

John Underkoffler, the CEO of Oblong Industries (and creator of the Minority Report and Iron Man user interfaces), told me recently that "we haven't built a good feedback system yet" (for voice assistants) that keeps you informed in real time about how well the system is understanding you. Virtual assistants also require a conscious decision to stop doing the current task and actively seek out the virtual assistant, which is a reflex many users haven't developed. ... " 

Further  

Engineers to get the Data Ready

Astronomer.io   Brought to my attention

" ... With the explosion of big data, the data scientist has become a game-changer in big companies. And a new, crucial supporting role has emerged: the data engineer.

The data engineer's job is to get the data ready, into one place, and accessible for the data scientist.

We help them make that happen. ... " 

Marketing and Research Driven by Data

Overview of the concept and a discussion.  I would add, more real time oriented data linked to decisions.   Also seeking out not only the data, but patterns that can be derived from data.

What marketing and research must do differently in a data driven age 
Gartner defines data driven marketing as "acquiring, analyzing and applying information about customer and consumer wants, needs, context, behavior and motivations." However, the marketer and marketing researcher should ask: "But what should I actually do differently to be data driven?" How well equipped are CPG marketers today to use data driven marketing approaches? ... ' 

Law Enforcement Using Threat Scores

In the WaPo:  Surveillance and approach being directed by 'threat score'.  Crime Prediction?   A very simple and natural approach to sort out attention.  But the vast amount of data being gathered and how the data is being leveraged, has raised privacy concerns.

A Completely On-Demand Economy: Purple

In GigaOM:

" .... The “gig economy” is taking some knocks this month. But a new startup called Purple is showing us why on-demand labor is actually headed for a boom–no matter what employees or regulators say .... 

The inconvenient, infeasible parts of “work” that can’t be done by a robot are simply farmed out to people, mechanical turk-style, putting workers today in a second machine age where humans and automated systems work together to complete all sorts of isolated tasks.

Purple, a gas delivery startup, is one sign of where things are going. While the government and labor ponder the future, Purple is already selling a service that allows you to “order” gasoline for your car and have it fueled wherever the vehicle is currently parked. .... "   

And in BusinessInsider.

Creative Leadership

In the HBR: Examples of creative innovation leadership.  From IDEO and elsewhere.

IBM talks Watson at CES

From last weeks CES, some interesting details about projects and IBM background. Again, indications that quite an investment is being made.  I am struck by the fact that the companies involved are not the largest ... continuing to take a look at this.

Watson Projects.
IBM CEO on  the dawn of the cognitive era.

Healthcare Signage Displays

Brought to my attention, useful resource.

LG white Paper on healthcare digital displays ...
In healthcare, digital signage displays are changing the way patients receive customer service and information. Download this whitepaper to learn more about digital signage solutions that will improve the experience of your patients, visitors and staff.  .... "  

Smart Supply Chains

A long thought of idea.   Real time transparency.

Supply Chain Management
Companies use connected devices for smarter supply chains
Major companies including General Motors and Whirlpool are looking to the Internet of Things to improve supply chain efficiency and add smart features such as passive sensors, real-time trackers and networked readers to manage equipment, optimize systems and improve security, Drew Robb writes. Shaun Kirby writes that, similarly, Internet of Everything technologies will revolutionize the agrifood supply chain and help brands track the full life-cycle of their products. .. " 

Turning Data Visualization into a Science

Good piece on how data visualization was turned into a science by William S Cleveland and others. In particular making data visualization more concise, exact and paying attention to elements of human perception.  Article has a number of good example visuals.

See also William S. Cleveland's Site at Purdue.

Machine Learning and IOT: Sensors and Anaytics

Sensors and Analytics in the Internet of Things.
" ... Ajit Jaokar discusses data science and IoT: sensor data, real-time processing, cognitive computing, integration of IoT analytics with hardware, IoT’s impact on healthcare, automotive, wearables, etc. ... " 

A Podcast.

Smartphone with Augmented Reality

A concept we played with for some time.   Is it a better wat to engage, to buy?  How does it change the very nature of advertising?   Overlaying marketing with your mobile reality.  We primarily studied it on venues like cart mounted displays.    In Adage: " .... Lenovo Unveils First Smartphone With Google's Tango Augmented Reality .... Google's Tango overlays info and objects onto phone displays ... Lenovo has unveiled a smartphone that can see and map out its surroundings with help from an Alphabet 3D-scanning technology. ... "     More about project Tango.

Can Robots Wash the Dishes

What is going on at MIT's CSAIL?  Long after we visited during the AI explosion.   Moving towards  a better understanding of the real world, and using that to forward simulate a decision.  And knowing that the predictive forecast will sometimes be wrong.

Explaining Quantum Computing

I have been challenged several times recently to explain the how and why of quantum computing. Just discovered this video that is useful.  Also from a TEDX talk.  All from a broader piece in the Guardian.   But no mention of the D-Wave efforts, now being tested in the real world.

GE Predix for Big Data and Analytics

Starting to get an introduction to Predix.  Impressive so far.  Look forward to see its broad availability.  See my other posts this year on Predix development and how it relates to analytic methods.  Note the paper talks about its relationship to the Industrial Internet.

" ... Connect. Optimize. Win.
A Software Platform for the Next Industrial Era

Powered by Predix, the next generation of industrial applications will bring together IT and OT, big data and advanced analytics, social business technologies, cloud deployment, and mobile-centric user interfaces..... 

White Paper with registration.