Open Source Game Sand Boxes for AI

Always liked the idea of setting up 'sandbox' environments where new technologies could be tested under varying contexts.    Good to see this being done here in AI with open source.  Will like to see some examples. Why not invite humans to specific experiments?

" ... Microsoft has published the source code for its Project Malmo, allowing anyone to conduct artificial intelligence experiments in the world of Minecraft with a little programming.

It unveiled the project, then known as AIX, back in March, but at the time only a few academics had access to the code. On Thursday, the company made good on its promise to open the source code by publishing it on Github.

Minecraft, the blocky world-building game that Microsoft paid $2.5 billion for two years ago, is an ideal place to test how artificial intelligences will interact with one another and with humans.  .... "

DashDB Announced as Sandbox Solution

In particular,  presenting the sandbox idea for connecting analytics to data warehouses.  Analytics often requires the ability to test multiple methods and data sets.

Bluemix Announces dashDB is Now Open for Business
IBM dashDB™ continues to grow and improve. A data warehousing and analytics as a service offering, dashDB on the cloud is an easy solution for many different needs. As you build new Bluemix applications, add the dashDB service for fast, easy analytics. If your data warehouse is at capacity, dashDB lets you extend to a hybrid model using proven IBM in-database analytics technology as well as hyper-fast in-memory processing. And if you are a data scientist, dashDB makes an ideal sandbox to solve new analytics problems. ....  " 

Augmented Reality Sandboxes

Sandbox as a User Interface - UI.  We did something related, but without sand.  Touch interface.   Created a sandbox workbench which implemented a retail design.   This allowed customers and designers to work together to build and quantitatively evaluate a design.  There is something about a touch interface that builds engagement with something, and then the analytic evaluation can drive the results home.

Cloud, Data, Analytics and Process for SMB

Brought to my attention,  In The Financial Express, from Jyothi Satyanathan, director Mid-market & Inside Sales, IBM India/South Asia.  I much agree with his opening statement:

" ... Small and mid-size businesses (SMB) are some of the fastest adopters of IT, as they clearly see the immediate benefits in growing their business and becoming more efficient. IT solutions providers recognise the opportunity in the market to accommodate SMBs in a big way among customers. Today the world is experiencing another sweeping change—powered by big data analytics, mobile, social and cloud. These foundational technology shifts are inspiring forward-thinking leaders from smaller businesses to drive change in how decisions are made, redesign how their teams work, and reassess how to serve the individual consumer. ... " 

He goes on to say that big data and analytical techniques are now available to Small and Medium sized Businesses (SMB).   Yes, this is revolutionary.  The Cloud allows the use of these technologies for any sized business.  Adding a strong flexibility capability.   In the past SMB's could not spend what was needed to buy the servers, license the software, and deliver the results to its people.   Now they can also pay for only what they need. The maintenance and security can be outsourced.  All of these capabilities are there, at a bargain.

A good example:  In a recent project we were asked to deliver analytical methods to tablet based systems.  The Small business was not ready to license multiple seats for visualzation software, or the analyical packages needed to test their efficiency ideas.  But the use of R, a free open source system that readily links to databases, Big Data and other platforms, could be readily be used to test out ideas, and then migrate these ideas to their core systems.

He goes on to discuss the key element of efficiency and some good examples:   " ... the use of cloud technologies is enhancing efficiency manifold as it enables the placing of marketing assets such as digital files of campaigns, videos in the cloud so that all involved parties can create, modify, use and share as needed. Marketing data on the cloud makes it easier for marketing staff to access information anytime and anywhere on the field. ... " 

And ultimately the use of Big Data.  Here I think there is need for some caution.  Start with small and less complex data.  Place your data in a 'sandbox' to test new ideas.  Find some real wins you know you can make happen.   Determine what kind of data you need, have or can acquire.  Make sure you really understand the business decisions being improved ...   Make sure the small scale experiments you complete provide real value, and then scale up.   Along the way,  set up the architecture to repeat this, and then do repeat it!    I agree there is a big contribution potential for Big Data here, as he says:

" ... The major contribution cloud makes to the SMBs ecosystem is big data analytics. Like larger enterprises, SMBs stand to gain from understanding the importance of big data. Big data can arm small businesses with insights and capabilities by analysing data surrounding their business, creating new ways to operate more efficiently, find new customers and more importantly improve bottom-line results. ... "

This post was written as part of the IBM for Midsize Business program, which provides midsize businesses with the tools, expertise and solutions they need to become engines of a smarter planet. I’ve been compensated to contribute to this program, but the opinions expressed in this post are my own and don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.

Virtual Sandbox

Brought to my attention for a project that will require more than the usual amount of malicious software security.  A virtual sandbox called Sandboxie that prevents software being run within it from altering any other parts of the system outside the sandbox.  Exploring this and alternatives.
Somewhat, but not very technical.   A CW article that explains its use.

Embracing Wallowing in the Data

Michael Hurst has an interesting post:   About his team's agile approach to complex data and the need to be  'wallowing in the data'.  He is skeptical about the term, but I like its intent.  One way to achieve a deep understanding of data is to include on the mining team a true expert in the data.  Ideally an expert or experts in both the structure of the data and its business uses.  Or allow the designers to wallow in its complexity in a well connected sandbox.   As he suggests, becoming intimate with the data.  Also much more on his agile framework.

Solving Big Data Problems with Visualization

A SAS paper, which requires some registration.    I believe you should always build a sandbox for relevant visualization when doing analytics on a data set.  Let people that understand the business origins and uses of the data work with it visually.    Data visualization IS a key part of analytics.  Where you bring human pattern recognition and models together.  You can't do better than that.  With data Big or Small.  Good to see that a major vendor understands it.

Zipcar as an Acquired Innovation Idea

Innovation Excellence writes about the acquisition of Zipcar by Avis.  Zipcar is the urban car sharing service, which we looked at as an example of the innovation process.    Saul Kaplan writes to Avis:  " ... If you want to win big with the Zipcar acquisition you will have to try harder. Resist the temptation to impose your core car rental business model on the upstart transformer. Zipcar is your sandbox to scale a car-sharing model with potential to disrupt the automotive and car rental industry. Stop with the number two shtick, Zipcar can help Avis become a market maker instead of a share taker..... "