Oracle Big Data Analytics Appliance

Continued competition, here from Oracle, to produce high speed appliances for big data.  Shows the increasing need for business intelligence platforms.  Note the inclusion of the R open source stat package, also good for data visualization.

 "  The Oracle Big Data Appliance is an engineered system that includes an open source distribution of Apache Hadoop, the Oracle NoSQL database, the Oracle Data Integrator Application Adapter for Hadoop, the Oracle Loader for Hadoop and an open source distribution of R. R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics..... "

Cheapest Tablet

I followed the hundred dollar laptop project for years.  Now we have the $35 tablet. Designed for the rural poor in India. " ... The computer, called Aakash, or "sky" in Hindi, is the latest in a series of "world's cheapest" innovations in India that include a 100,000 rupee ($2,040) compact Nano car, a 750 rupee ($15) water purifier and $2,000 open-heart surgery. Developer Datawind is selling the tablets to the government for about $45 each, and subsidies will reduce that to $35 for students and teachers. In comparison, the cheapest Apple iPad tablet costs $499, while the recently announced Kindle Fire will sell for $199.... "

Visual Teams Book

See a report on correspondent David Sibbet's new book:  Visual Teams: Graphic Tools for Commitment, Innovation, and High Performance.  To be released by October 11.  Congratulations David, great work as always.  Second book in his upcoming trilogy.

Actionable Data in Mobile Apps

An article for developers about how to get data from mobile Apps.    But also gives the non-developer an indication of what is there.   Mentions of a number of companies that are providing the ability to track this kind of data.

Why Creative Ideas are Rejected

In CACM:  Why creative ideas are rejected, and what you can do about it.  A short article with some good thoughts.

Web Services Choreographies

This concept was new to me.   An outline article currently in Computing Now: " ... researchers have looked at service composition from two complementary points of view: service orchestration and choreography. Although several software systems and technologies have supported Web service orchestration, research on Web service choreography is still at its earliest stage. On the other hand, because choreographies have no central element of control, they offer a promising approach to coping with the scalability issue that arises from the Future Internet view (see more details in the Related Links). ....

Windows in Your Stuff

In ReadWriteWeb on  Are You Ready for Windows in Your Things?  " ...  Microsoft is launching exactly that - a kind of consumer awareness campaign around the emergence of Windows as a real platform inside not just PCs or servers or tablets or phones, but stuff. Garage door openers. Jukeboxes. Shipping crates. Cue the Rod Serling music. Picture if you will a universe where all the things communicated with all the other things.... " .

I know this is going to get the usual anti MSoft crowd to chime in, but it is worth understanding their solution to an internet of intelligent things.  We are ready for it.

Innovation Inspired by Nature

Bio-mimicry is innovation inspired by nature.  We explored it to broaden the potential solutions to difficult problems we encountered.  A good introduction here.   Sometimes I think the method is overplayed, but it is worth examination for physical design applications.

P&G and Innovation

 In the local press: P&G's CEO Bob McDonald gives an urgent call to action to improve innovation.  Particularly speaks to the local culture of innovation.   I agree, fresh innovation culture is sorely needed.

Wharton on Kindle vs iPad

Short piece on the match up.  The economics of the price and the channel implications will make a difference.  Also, the HBR Blogs also chime in with some additional data.

Financial Times Tablet Edition

I used to often read the Financial Times when I was in the enterprise.  Liked the quirkiness of their coverage.  I recently rediscovered it and they have created a new tablet edition for the iPad.    Very nicely done in compact magazine form.  Makes me think more about the conversion of many magazines to tablet form. A more general review.

AdWeek Exploration of Neuromarketing

A good general exploration of neuromarketing by AdWeek. Primarly about fMRI and which supports its further exploration and combining with classical market research techniques.

KYield Facebook Page

Kyield, with which I am aligned, has a Facebook page here.   " ...  Kyield is an enterprise software company that revolutionizes the digital work environment through superior data governance, advanced analytics, and more accurate predictive technologies ... "

Where to Begin with Predictive Analytics

A good general article on the topic by James Taylor.  " ... Discover the problems that will show the greatest return on an investment ... Yet most companies are just getting started with predictive analytics. In fact, most have yet to produce a single successful predictive analytics project. As a result, one of the most common questions I get asked in my consulting practice is, "Where do I start with predictive analytics?"


What organizations want to know is not what kind of technology to buy first or what techniques and training they need, but what kind of problem to go looking for. What kind of problem will show the greatest return on an investment in predictive analytics? Where can they apply predictive analytics and get a clear and compelling "win"? ... "

Well put, there are typically many potential candidates, and it it best to first assemble of portfolio of applications and choose the most valuable and easiest to solve.   Coordinating experience internal and external helps make this decision.

Maslow's Shoppers

From the Hub via Walter Riker. " ...   Digital Media Strategies must satisfy a hierarchy of needs and values ... Much has been said and written about the distinction between consumers and shoppers. We’re consumers every moment of our lives. We’re bombarded with marketing from the moment we awake and hear a deejay promoting a concert until late at night when we see a commercial for a new hybrid car. As a result, most consumers shut out all but the most engaging messages. Shoppers, on the other hand, simply want and need something. New car, laptop or home? No question, shoppers are invested. Toilet paper, canned vegetables or after-school snacks for the kids? Hmm, maybe not as invested. Despite operating at very different ends of the consideration spectrum, there is a common denominator: Shoppers have a goal. The level of effort, enthusiasm and time they will invest is based on what that something is ... " 

Making Companies Think Long Term

Roger Martin of the Rotman School of Management.  writes on the topic, an interesting financial take on this very old problem.

Digital Signage Resources

Correspondent Keith Kelsen has passed along several resources: " ... Here are my top 10 trends for digital signage that I write every year for the industry:  And another interesting article on cool use with the video clip at the bottom ... "

Bagging Self Checkouts

This is a surprising article.  My own examination of this area seems to show that self-checkout installations of several kinds is increasing.   Examining further.   From Forbes:  Supermarkets start bagging self-serve checkouts

Kickstarter

A means of getting funding for independent creators:  " ... The economics of Kickstarter, if you’re not familiar, work like this: the aspiring create project pages to solicit funds from friends, family, their fans, or total strangers. Much like a PBS pledge drive, certain types of rewards kick in for set amounts — for $10, you might receive a DVD of the project once it’s completed, while for $50 you might get the DVD as well as a T-shirt.,,, "

Personal Annunciation Device

A Personal annuniciation device.  " ...  The PAD may very well be the world’s smallest self-arming multiple-use accident notification device. The prototype of the nonnuclear-based, radio frequency receiver is about the size of a car key fob, making it easy to wear over an extended time. It also has a provision for personal accountability through radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.... "