Smart Homes using Augmented Reality

The integration of sensing technologies to lead to sustainable buildings.   A technical paper.  A good example of the integration of sensing and focused smart technology.

Marginal Revolution University

MJ Perry reports on online instruction at Marginal University.  Another example of college courses online." ... We think education should be better, cheaper, and easier to access.  So we decided to take matters into our own hands and create a new online education platform toward those ends. We have decided to do more to communicate our personal vision of economics to you and to the broader world. You can visit www.MRUniversity.com here.  There you can sign up for information about our first course, Development Economics ... " 

Developing Digital Strategy

Well thought out piece .in Mashable. " ... When defining and developing strategy, marketers and agencies must ensure that their clients understand that strategy follows structure, it follows people, and it follows an idea. Second, they must make sure that clients get that profit and ROI are outcomes, not the strategy itself. If you’re wondering what developing such a strategy looks like, here are the key steps.... " 

New Supply Chain Book

I was introduced to a new and visually instructive book on optimizing the supply chain:   Supply Chain Network Design: Applying Optimization and Analytics to the Global Supply Chain (FT Press Operations Management) by Michael Watson, Sara Lewis, Peter Cacioppi and Jay Jayaraman.  This book includes many of the methods which we used for years in the enterprise.  Now they are integrated in packages like iLog/Cplex.   As I peruse it, this book seems to include many of the approach details you need to solve these kinds of problems effectively. The methods are often too deeply hidden in books and manuals.   More information to follow as I seek use it to apply to a specific client interaction.

The book also has a site and blog.     #IBMSCGS

New MS Logo

A new logo for MS, also has some links to past logos of Windows.  We traveled to Redmond way back then during Windows 1, talked to Gates, who tried to convince our enterprise to use Windows.  We didn't right then, but did soon afterwards.

Teaching Robots to Improvise

More on robots improvising.  An important step.The ones that will ultimately be able to sense. react to and plan for their future under a given set of goals will be most valuable.

Business in Business intelligence

By now anyone who works for a business should know this, but it bears repeating:  In Information Managment:    "... Business intelligence projects have historically produced remarkable results for countless companies. Properly implemented, BI projects give business analysts and management access to timelier, more accurate information to enable them to make better decisions. However, successful implementation of any business intelligence – or IT – project requires one other BI component: business involvement ...."

Wal-Mart Tests Smartphone Self Checkout

Not very much retail here, but it's not unexpected that we will soon see the idea of the shopper using their own device appearing more often.

IKEA Embraces Augmented Reality

A nice example of the use of augmented reality for a catalog.   A very good place to try the idea first.  Much more at the link.   I plan to try this at the nearby IKEA.  Via Metaio.  " ... Speaking of free download- both iOS and Android users can download the amazing IKEA Catalogue app for free(!) to discover all 43 pieces of augmented and activated content when the publication finally hits mail and IKEA stores around the world. Hybrid data comes from structured sources like enterprise applications and unstructured sources (mainly text), like news feeds, social media, and documents.... " 

Skepticism About Smart

Jerry Michalski posts in Rexpedition about his skepticism regarding the smarter world of things.   I like to hear the other side.  I am not as skeptical, but based on my own experiences, know enough to be cautious and distinctly practical.  Jerry's experiences and thoughts about  'Navigating massive change ... ' are also worth following.  We used as a useful consultant in the enterprise a number of times.

Experiential Retail

AT&T makes a move into experience retail, looking like the Apple store.  In Chicago: "   ... The gleaming 10,000-square-foot space -- complete with an Apps Bar staffed by "app-tenders" and plenty of communal space to grab a seat and play with gadgets -- bears more than a passing resemblance to Apple's temple of retail design.. ... " 

Analyzing your Facebook

It has been some time since I looked at Wolfram Alpha.  Its a system that lets you integrate multiple forms of data and semantic interaction to solve problems, built on the Mathematica engine.   Now a number of writers talk about its use to analyze Facebook social networks.  An example here.  And here.  Leading to a facebook report that gives hints of the detail you are revealing, and the potential for other analyses of Facebook data.

Recognizing Real World Objects in Videos

In Slashdot:  Discussion of a Google patent for this.  It is a fundamental exercise for applications like autonomous robotics to be able to understand their world, feed that description to an artificial intelligence engine, and make specific plans for next steps.  I have not yet looked at the patent specifics,  but the goal is fundamental for AI applications.

More on Wal-Mart Search

In CIO Today:   Deeper understanding of semantics in content proves to be a valuable lever.   " ... Dubbed Polaris, Walmart's search tech seems to be working well. Walmart.com is already reporting a 10 percent to 15 percent boost in shoppers completing a purchase after searching for a product using the new search engine ... "

Smarter Commerce Summit

Doing an invited appearance at the Smarter Commerce Summit this coming week in Orlando, September 5-7.    Blogging and tweeting the experience. If there is anything anyone would like to have me explore, or if you would like to meet up when I am there, let me know.   #IBMSCGS

Agile Analytics

Was recently pointed to Birst Analytics.  Agile as presented is a good idea.   Looking forward to taking a closer look.   See their blog for a taste of what they are up to.

Robot Learns to Recognize Itself

New developments in robotics, especially those that can understand and react to their own context, is always of interest.

Product Portfolio Management at Hallmark

From CGT:  A simple example of portfolio management strategies." ... There are many reasons why your company can't afford to miss product launch windows. So, how do successful companies hit launch windows consistently? It all starts at the beginning of the innovation process, i.e., choosing the right ideas, and continues through a development process that accounts for resource capacity and mitigates risk.... "  

Public vs Private Clouds

In GigaOm:   A good comparison between the choice of Public vs Private Cloud in corporate IT.   Which companies should use which?   " ... Cloud computing is supposed to save us money, and most would argue that it can. Cloud computing is also supposed to provide agility and flexibility in how you deploy and manage your IT solutions, enabling improved business capabilities. The problem is that depending on what you’re doing and when you’re doing it, saving money could be the only reason for adopting or not a reason at all.... " 

Zoo Analytics

A local zoo and spin off consultancy makes a point of the value of business intelligence applications.  First I had heard of this specifically addressed in an article.  Though I know that other similar venues, like theme parks, have used business analytics applications for a long time.   I remember seeing early applications at Disney World.  There are also similar capabilities explored in the casino context. This focus is more addressed to what they call 'cultural' attractions.