We spent sometime trying to understand Japan's needs, and noted their particular emphasis on eldercare solutions. Impressive work in robotic solutions:
Building digital ecosystems in Japan From McKinsey.
Two Merck Healthcare digital specialists explain their company’s transformation and the impact it has had on patients.... "
Friday, November 16, 2018
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Smart Connected Consumer Products
A topic we often worked on in in the innovation center, excellent infographic overview when connected to the smart city. Smart at all sorts of levels. (full clickable graphic at the link)
Reimagining Smart Cities with the Arrival of Smart Connected Consumer Products Posted by Aarti Sharma in IOT Central
We are fast moving towards a future where cities will feature hundreds and thousands of smart connected objects, talking to each other, exchanging and producing meaningful data and insights, basically reshaping the urban landscape into intelligent and autonomous systems. Internet of Things will be at the heart of this technological transformation, as sensors and digital tags will find their way into various physical city infrastructure, monitoring traffic, weather, crime and even rat infestations! However, it’s not just hardware IoT and sensors that will provide city planners and authorities to gain more visibility into the working and management of a city. Smart connected products or ordinary consumer products tagged with digital ID’s and digital twins can open up new dimensions in how we imagine Smart Cities to function.
For the sake of painting a picture of the role of connected products within Smart Cities, let’s consider a pharmaceutical company supplying critical drugs to a city. Enabling every drug product at batch and serial item level to have a digital twin of its physical self will allow for exchange of product related data to happen between manufacturer, the supply chain, the city authorities, end consumers and the products themselves. Read on to see how the pharmaceutical industry could look like in the not so distant future. .... " (excerpt, much more at the link) .... '
Reducing Customer Friction
Nicely put. Would add, personalized for this particular customer .... Read the whole thing
How to Reduce Friction By Shep Hyken -
As most of you (hopefully know), my latest book, The Convenience Revolution, is all about making the customer experience as frictionless as possible. In the book, there are six Convenience Principles with plenty of examples, and many of our followers have read my articles and watched my videos on these powerful concepts. The other day I was interviewed and asked, “How does one get started?”
My flippant answer could have been, “Read the book and find out,” but instead I gave an answer that was simple and applicable to any type and any size business. Now, this is a very basic explanation of the process. It’s simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s where you want to start. : ... '
How to Reduce Friction By Shep Hyken -
As most of you (hopefully know), my latest book, The Convenience Revolution, is all about making the customer experience as frictionless as possible. In the book, there are six Convenience Principles with plenty of examples, and many of our followers have read my articles and watched my videos on these powerful concepts. The other day I was interviewed and asked, “How does one get started?”
My flippant answer could have been, “Read the book and find out,” but instead I gave an answer that was simple and applicable to any type and any size business. Now, this is a very basic explanation of the process. It’s simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s where you want to start. : ... '
Benford's Law and Data Science
Used it from the very beginning in enterprise data science. well worth understanding, especially for anomaly cases in finance or research fraud. Even in finance we found relatively few people that had heard of it or how to use it. Good, mostly non technical overview.
What is Benford’s Law and why is it important for data science?
By Tirthajyoti Sarkar
Sr. Principal Engineer | Ph.D. in EE (U. of Iilinois)| AI/ML certification (Stanford, MIT) | Data science author | Open-source contributor| AI in Simulations
We discuss a little-known gem for data analytics — Benford’s law, which tells us about expected distribution of significant digits in a diverse set of naturally occurring datasets and how this can be used for anomaly or fraud detection in scientific or technical publications.
Introduction
We all know about the Normal distribution and its ubiquity in all kind of natural phenomena or observations. But there is another law of numbers which does not get much attention but pops up everywhere — from nations’ population to stock market volumes to the domain of universal physical constants.
It is called “Benford’s Law”. In this article, we will discuss what it is, and why it is important for data science.
What is Benford’s law?
Benford’s Law, also known as the Law of First Digits or the Phenomenon of Significant Digits, is the finding that the first digits (or numerals to be exact) of the numbers found in series of records of the most varied sources do not display a uniform distribution, but rather are arranged in such a way that the digit “1” is the most frequent, followed by “2”, “3”, and so in a successively decreasing manner down to “9”. ... "
What is Benford’s Law and why is it important for data science?
By Tirthajyoti Sarkar
Sr. Principal Engineer | Ph.D. in EE (U. of Iilinois)| AI/ML certification (Stanford, MIT) | Data science author | Open-source contributor| AI in Simulations
We discuss a little-known gem for data analytics — Benford’s law, which tells us about expected distribution of significant digits in a diverse set of naturally occurring datasets and how this can be used for anomaly or fraud detection in scientific or technical publications.
Introduction
We all know about the Normal distribution and its ubiquity in all kind of natural phenomena or observations. But there is another law of numbers which does not get much attention but pops up everywhere — from nations’ population to stock market volumes to the domain of universal physical constants.
It is called “Benford’s Law”. In this article, we will discuss what it is, and why it is important for data science.
What is Benford’s law?
Benford’s Law, also known as the Law of First Digits or the Phenomenon of Significant Digits, is the finding that the first digits (or numerals to be exact) of the numbers found in series of records of the most varied sources do not display a uniform distribution, but rather are arranged in such a way that the digit “1” is the most frequent, followed by “2”, “3”, and so in a successively decreasing manner down to “9”. ... "
Bob Herbold on Tech Talent
My former boss makes the case about retaining tech talent. Link to interview
Former Microsoft COO Concerned About US Universities vs. China: ‘The Big Risk for Tech is Talent’
Former Microsoft COO Bob Herbold discussed in an interview (below) the fact that computer science and engineering schools are now competing strongly with US universities. He says that even though the US tech sector continues to be strong, the big risk is talent and China has significantly strengthened their universities:
We (the US tech sector) continue to be strong, but the big risk is talent, frankly. What’s happening in China is that they are pouring a ton of money into these massive research centers. Secondly, they significantly strengthened their universities. So today, if you rank the top ten engineering schools in the world, such as U.S. News & World Report just did, you get five of them basically in Asia which is a real surprise compared to ten years ago. ... "
Former Microsoft COO Concerned About US Universities vs. China: ‘The Big Risk for Tech is Talent’
Former Microsoft COO Bob Herbold discussed in an interview (below) the fact that computer science and engineering schools are now competing strongly with US universities. He says that even though the US tech sector continues to be strong, the big risk is talent and China has significantly strengthened their universities:
We (the US tech sector) continue to be strong, but the big risk is talent, frankly. What’s happening in China is that they are pouring a ton of money into these massive research centers. Secondly, they significantly strengthened their universities. So today, if you rank the top ten engineering schools in the world, such as U.S. News & World Report just did, you get five of them basically in Asia which is a real surprise compared to ten years ago. ... "
Shared Machine Learning Mistakes
You can always learn from mistakes. Especially in the case of technologies where the methods are still evolving. And what is the inherent risk involved in wrong answers? And naturally any ML project integrates several technologies. Also good to see multiple cases and industries.
Machine learning lessons: 5 companies share their mistakes
Machine learning can also go terribly wrong, making you regret that enthusiastic rush to adopt
Bob Violino By Bob Violino
Contributing Writer, InfoWorld
Machine learning is one of those hot technology categories that has lots of business and technology executives scrambling to see how their organizations can get in on the action. Done right, machine learning can help you create more effective sales and marketing campaigns, improve financial models, more easily detect fraud, and enhance predictive maintenance of equipment—to name a few.
But machine learning can also go terribly wrong, making you regret that enthusiastic rush to adopt. Here are five ways machine learning can go wrong, based on the actual experience of real companies that have adopted it. They’ve shared their lessons so you can avoid the same failures. ... "
Machine learning lessons: 5 companies share their mistakes
Machine learning can also go terribly wrong, making you regret that enthusiastic rush to adopt
Bob Violino By Bob Violino
Contributing Writer, InfoWorld
Machine learning is one of those hot technology categories that has lots of business and technology executives scrambling to see how their organizations can get in on the action. Done right, machine learning can help you create more effective sales and marketing campaigns, improve financial models, more easily detect fraud, and enhance predictive maintenance of equipment—to name a few.
But machine learning can also go terribly wrong, making you regret that enthusiastic rush to adopt. Here are five ways machine learning can go wrong, based on the actual experience of real companies that have adopted it. They’ve shared their lessons so you can avoid the same failures. ... "
Ford Working on Robot Delivery
More self driving delivery. Ford it seems is a new player. The customer process of retrieving goods from a driverless vehicle should be interesting. But likely inevitable.
Ford teaming up with Walmart and Postmates on robot deliveries
Self-driving vehicles delivering groceries in Miami
By Andrew J. Hawkins @andyjayhawk
Ford is joining forces with Walmart and Postmates to create a grocery delivery service using self-driving vehicles in Miami, the companies announced Wednesday.
Ford has been using Miami as a test bed for its self-driving vehicles since earlier this year. And more recently, the auto giant joined with Postmates to see how people ordering takeout food would interact with an autonomous delivery van.
Now Ford is moving to the next stage: grocery delivery. The company says it will experiment with different vehicle types, as well as modifications to those vehicles needed to keep perishable food items fresh. It will also experiment with a variety of scenarios, such as multiple deliveries on one trip and the user experience of retrieving delivery items from a fully driverless vehicle. ... "
Ford teaming up with Walmart and Postmates on robot deliveries
Self-driving vehicles delivering groceries in Miami
By Andrew J. Hawkins @andyjayhawk
Ford is joining forces with Walmart and Postmates to create a grocery delivery service using self-driving vehicles in Miami, the companies announced Wednesday.
Ford has been using Miami as a test bed for its self-driving vehicles since earlier this year. And more recently, the auto giant joined with Postmates to see how people ordering takeout food would interact with an autonomous delivery van.
Now Ford is moving to the next stage: grocery delivery. The company says it will experiment with different vehicle types, as well as modifications to those vehicles needed to keep perishable food items fresh. It will also experiment with a variety of scenarios, such as multiple deliveries on one trip and the user experience of retrieving delivery items from a fully driverless vehicle. ... "
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
New Technology Enabling Alibaba to Sell $30.8 Billion
Impressive combination of tech being used to provide sales volume. AI, Blockchain, Cloud, Cooling, Supply Chain, Energy consumption ... So leading edge tech is not all hype, given the right problem.
" ... The technology enabling Alibaba to sell $30.8 billion in Double 11 goods ... From artificial intelligence to datacentre cooling, machine learning, and blockchain, Alibaba used new technology to surpass its record 11.11 Global Shopping Festival sales figure set last year by 45.3 billion yuan. ...
The Technology Enabling Alibaba to Sell $30.8B in Double 11 Goods
in ZDNet by Asha McLean via CACM
Alibaba used artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other technologies to rack up $30.8 billion in gross merchandise volume through its 24-hour Global Shopping Festival on November 11 (11/11, or “double eleven”). The company employed AI to enhance the shopping experience for buyers and sellers, and pushed the envelope of its cloud infrastructure to process a high volume of transactions. Alibaba optimized the performance of the global Internet data centers (IDCs) hosting its online stores with the DC Brain intelligent operating platform, which uses machine learning to forecast electrical consumption and power usage effectiveness for each IDC in real time, controlling each to lower overall energy consumption. Also used by Chinese shoppers was Mobile Taobao, a global tracking system app that uses the Internet of Things and blockchain to confirm products bought by consumers via dual authentication and two-way encryption. The app tracks the real-time location of items through location-based services and global positioning systems. .... "
" ... The technology enabling Alibaba to sell $30.8 billion in Double 11 goods ... From artificial intelligence to datacentre cooling, machine learning, and blockchain, Alibaba used new technology to surpass its record 11.11 Global Shopping Festival sales figure set last year by 45.3 billion yuan. ...
The Technology Enabling Alibaba to Sell $30.8B in Double 11 Goods
in ZDNet by Asha McLean via CACM
Alibaba used artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other technologies to rack up $30.8 billion in gross merchandise volume through its 24-hour Global Shopping Festival on November 11 (11/11, or “double eleven”). The company employed AI to enhance the shopping experience for buyers and sellers, and pushed the envelope of its cloud infrastructure to process a high volume of transactions. Alibaba optimized the performance of the global Internet data centers (IDCs) hosting its online stores with the DC Brain intelligent operating platform, which uses machine learning to forecast electrical consumption and power usage effectiveness for each IDC in real time, controlling each to lower overall energy consumption. Also used by Chinese shoppers was Mobile Taobao, a global tracking system app that uses the Internet of Things and blockchain to confirm products bought by consumers via dual authentication and two-way encryption. The app tracks the real-time location of items through location-based services and global positioning systems. .... "
Here Come the New Neural Sticks
This was brought up before, but the idea seems to have advanced. A trained 'stick' that contains the AI needed for Edge applications. Faster now it implies to deliver the network needed. Somewhat narrow? Like they said for Drones and IOT. Or say if you wanted packaging to be smart? I like the direction.
Intel Aims to Simplify AI with ‘Neural Stick’ Update By Alex Woodie in Datanami
Intel today unveiled an upgraded Neural Compute Stick that it claims will dramatically simplify the roll-out of neural network inference applications in drones, IoT, and edge devices.
It may look like a standard USB thumb drive, but the Neural Computer Stick 2 (NCS2) that Intel unveiled today at its AI conference in Beijing is much more than that. In fact, the little device boasts a Myriad X vision processing unit (VPU) manufactured by Intel’s subsidiary Movidius, which powers a neural network used for predictive applications.
Intel’s NCS devices are designed to simplify the roll-out of AI technologies in edge devices. A data scientist equipped with a laptop can convert pre-trained deep learning models onto the NCS device, which plugs into any standard USB 3.0 port.
The NCS is designed primarily (but not solely) for computer vision and related applications. The neural network running in the NCS enable developers to build applications that can identify and classify objects at a high level of accuracy.
Intel says that since it launched the original NCS in 2017, more than 10,000 developers have used the technology — along with the associated Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit — to build AI applications that tackle real world challenges. ... "
Intel Aims to Simplify AI with ‘Neural Stick’ Update By Alex Woodie in Datanami
Intel today unveiled an upgraded Neural Compute Stick that it claims will dramatically simplify the roll-out of neural network inference applications in drones, IoT, and edge devices.
It may look like a standard USB thumb drive, but the Neural Computer Stick 2 (NCS2) that Intel unveiled today at its AI conference in Beijing is much more than that. In fact, the little device boasts a Myriad X vision processing unit (VPU) manufactured by Intel’s subsidiary Movidius, which powers a neural network used for predictive applications.
Intel’s NCS devices are designed to simplify the roll-out of AI technologies in edge devices. A data scientist equipped with a laptop can convert pre-trained deep learning models onto the NCS device, which plugs into any standard USB 3.0 port.
The NCS is designed primarily (but not solely) for computer vision and related applications. The neural network running in the NCS enable developers to build applications that can identify and classify objects at a high level of accuracy.
Intel says that since it launched the original NCS in 2017, more than 10,000 developers have used the technology — along with the associated Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit — to build AI applications that tackle real world challenges. ... "
Report on Watson Health
Did IBM overhype Watson Health's AI promise?
IBM's Watson Health division has been under fire for not delivering on its promise to use AI to enable smarter, more personalized medicine. But IBM officials maintain that hospitals are seeing benefits. ... "
By Lucas Mearian in ComputerWorld
IBM's Watson Health division has been under fire for not delivering on its promise to use AI to enable smarter, more personalized medicine. But IBM officials maintain that hospitals are seeing benefits. ... "
By Lucas Mearian in ComputerWorld
Microsoft Buys XOXCO for Chatbot Design
Last year saw a live demo of Microsoft quickly building a chatbot from the framework of a FAQ data base in Azure. Was impressive. But of course doing this well is still some task, engineering the design of behavior, needs and interaction. Now they are diving deeper. Certainly Chatbots are the most understandable implementation of 'AI', so this can be a good entry point for much more
Microsoft buys chatbot company to juice its AI projects
The tech giant wants to help businesses leverage artificial intelligence.
By Rachel England, @rachel_england in Engadget
Research company Gartner believes that by 2020, conversational AI -- or chat bots -- will be the predominant go-to for customer support in large organizations. So if you've got a question or a problem, chances are you'll be talking to a computer about it. Tech companies will need to make sure their capabilities are on point, then, which is likely why Microsoft has just acquired software design and development studio XOXCO.... "
Botkit Creator XOXCO. Created https://howdy.ai/ for Slack.
Microsoft buys chatbot company to juice its AI projects
The tech giant wants to help businesses leverage artificial intelligence.
By Rachel England, @rachel_england in Engadget
Research company Gartner believes that by 2020, conversational AI -- or chat bots -- will be the predominant go-to for customer support in large organizations. So if you've got a question or a problem, chances are you'll be talking to a computer about it. Tech companies will need to make sure their capabilities are on point, then, which is likely why Microsoft has just acquired software design and development studio XOXCO.... "
Botkit Creator XOXCO. Created https://howdy.ai/ for Slack.
Overview of Google Home Assistant Ecosystem
Good overview, largely non technical. Good point about motivation of the typical consumer. But it may ultimately lead to expectations that this is now a common part of the typical home. I have both Alexa and Google systems in place and continue to look at how the system supports the intelligence needed in the home.
The Google Assistant smart home ecosystem is slowly starting to take shape Can the Home Hub be part of a multiplier effect?
By Dieter Bohn @backlon in theVerge
At an event in San Francisco yesterday, Google gave the press a tour of a smart home featuring its Google Assistant products. Notably, the new Google Home Hub was there. It was, in many ways, pretty typical: here’s how you can turn on the lights, command a TV to play Stranger Things on Netflix (it’s always Stranger Things on Netflix), and start or stop a Roomba. But Google also showed off a handful of new features for both Assistant and its Google Home products.
On their own, none of these new features are particularly revolutionary. Taken together, they certainly don’t add up to a compelling case for why somebody who is already enmeshed in Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem should switch over. What they did do, however, was begin to present a coherent idea of how Google thinks its Assistant should work in a smart home and across its own products. .... "
See also Google's Holiday oriented positioning of the Google Assistant :
Create your smart home for the holidays with the Google Assistant
By Lilian Rincon
Product Management Director, Google Assistant
Published Nov 14, 2018 ... "
The Google Assistant smart home ecosystem is slowly starting to take shape Can the Home Hub be part of a multiplier effect?
By Dieter Bohn @backlon in theVerge
At an event in San Francisco yesterday, Google gave the press a tour of a smart home featuring its Google Assistant products. Notably, the new Google Home Hub was there. It was, in many ways, pretty typical: here’s how you can turn on the lights, command a TV to play Stranger Things on Netflix (it’s always Stranger Things on Netflix), and start or stop a Roomba. But Google also showed off a handful of new features for both Assistant and its Google Home products.
On their own, none of these new features are particularly revolutionary. Taken together, they certainly don’t add up to a compelling case for why somebody who is already enmeshed in Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem should switch over. What they did do, however, was begin to present a coherent idea of how Google thinks its Assistant should work in a smart home and across its own products. .... "
See also Google's Holiday oriented positioning of the Google Assistant :
Create your smart home for the holidays with the Google Assistant
By Lilian Rincon
Product Management Director, Google Assistant
Published Nov 14, 2018 ... "
Statistics for Machine Learning Models
Nicely done look at the problem, by the always useful Jason Brownlee. Follow his writing subscribe to his tutorials.
Statistics for Evaluating Machine Learning Models by Jason Brownlee
Tom Mitchell’s classic 1997 book “Machine Learning” provides a chapter dedicated to statistical methods for evaluating machine learning models.
Statistics provides an important set of tools used at each step of a machine learning project. A practitioner cannot effectively evaluate the skill of a machine learning model without using statistical methods. Unfortunately, statistics is an area that is foreign to most developers and computer science graduates. This makes the chapter in Mitchell’s seminal machine learning text an important, if not required, reading by practitioners.
In this post, you will discover statistical methods recommended by Mitchel to evaluate and compare machine learning models. .. "
Statistics for Evaluating Machine Learning Models by Jason Brownlee
Tom Mitchell’s classic 1997 book “Machine Learning” provides a chapter dedicated to statistical methods for evaluating machine learning models.
Statistics provides an important set of tools used at each step of a machine learning project. A practitioner cannot effectively evaluate the skill of a machine learning model without using statistical methods. Unfortunately, statistics is an area that is foreign to most developers and computer science graduates. This makes the chapter in Mitchell’s seminal machine learning text an important, if not required, reading by practitioners.
In this post, you will discover statistical methods recommended by Mitchel to evaluate and compare machine learning models. .. "
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Wal-Mart's In-store AI Lab
Useful to do this in a real operating store. Many of details of technology and analytics delivery are best seen in the messy operating world of retail. We tried to quickly move our laboratory tests to real stores. Also makes sure you get it right for both associates and shoppers and physical context. The 'low stocks on shelves' detection was a common challenge.
Walmart puts AI to the test in an in-store lab by Tom Ryan in Retailwire with expert comment.
Walmart is opening a laboratory inside a small Walmart in Levittown, NY to test artificial intelligence (AI) applications for both associates and shoppers.
The Intelligent Retail Lab (IRL), according to TechCrunch, will see how AI can be used to identify low stocks on shelves, when items are on the wrong shelf and spillages. Walmart is also looking for a better understanding of when shopping carts are running low near the store’s entrance, according to the report.
Hardware, software and other equipment have been installed, but the lab is not yet operational. IRL is part of Walmart’s incubator Store No. 8. and being led by the Kepler Project. The Kepler team, according to past reports, is also testing computer vision and cashier-less technologies similar to the Amazon Go experience.
In late October, Sam’s Club said it was opening a cashier-less concept in Dallas that enables shoppers to use its Now app to not only pay for purchases, but access smart shopping lists, store maps and augmented reality tech to access product information. Like IRL, some features support store operations. ... "
Walmart puts AI to the test in an in-store lab by Tom Ryan in Retailwire with expert comment.
Walmart is opening a laboratory inside a small Walmart in Levittown, NY to test artificial intelligence (AI) applications for both associates and shoppers.
The Intelligent Retail Lab (IRL), according to TechCrunch, will see how AI can be used to identify low stocks on shelves, when items are on the wrong shelf and spillages. Walmart is also looking for a better understanding of when shopping carts are running low near the store’s entrance, according to the report.
Hardware, software and other equipment have been installed, but the lab is not yet operational. IRL is part of Walmart’s incubator Store No. 8. and being led by the Kepler Project. The Kepler team, according to past reports, is also testing computer vision and cashier-less technologies similar to the Amazon Go experience.
In late October, Sam’s Club said it was opening a cashier-less concept in Dallas that enables shoppers to use its Now app to not only pay for purchases, but access smart shopping lists, store maps and augmented reality tech to access product information. Like IRL, some features support store operations. ... "
Coaching Networks: Humanity's Fighting Chance
The recent look at the concept of the Nudge Theory and Nudge Engines led me to a reference about 'Coaching Networks'. Term was new to me. Can it be that AI itself will keep us from being automated out of job? Seems to be the premise. Like the idea. Examining.
Coaching Networks / AI
Coaching Networks: Humanity’s Fighting Chance
Artificial intelligence is about to give humanity a fighting chance to win the race against automation.
By Gordon Ritter, Founder + General Partner
" ... We don’t view artificial intelligence as a threat that replaces us, but as an asset that helps us unlock our full potential as people. Our prediction: the consumer internet is about to radically transform into a framework that rescues us from passive addiction and places human creativity, productivity, and brilliance firmly at the forefront of the future. ... "
Coaching Networks / AI
Coaching Networks: Humanity’s Fighting Chance
Artificial intelligence is about to give humanity a fighting chance to win the race against automation.
By Gordon Ritter, Founder + General Partner
" ... We don’t view artificial intelligence as a threat that replaces us, but as an asset that helps us unlock our full potential as people. Our prediction: the consumer internet is about to radically transform into a framework that rescues us from passive addiction and places human creativity, productivity, and brilliance firmly at the forefront of the future. ... "
Watson and VMWare
Some really technical points being made about the ease of constructing and maintaining virtual architectures. How much does this contribute to architectures for intelligence? To the extend that these will be complex, need to be delivered broadly and easy to maintain in context.
IBM and VMware Advance Partnership to Accelerate Enterprise Hybrid Cloud Adoption and Digital Transformation By GlobeNewswire,
More than 1,700 global businesses, including Banca Carige and CNH Industrial adopt IBM Cloud and Services for VMware solutions
BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at VMworld® Europe 2018, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW) announced new offerings to help accelerate enterprise hybrid cloud adoption. This includes a new IBM Services offering to help migrate and extend mission-critical VMware workloads to the IBM Cloud, and new integrations to help enterprises to modernize applications with Kubernetes and containers.
To date, the IBM and VMware partnership has helped more than 1,700 enterprises including Banca Carige and CNH Industrial adopt IBM Cloud for VMware solutions.
According to research from Ovum, while 20 percent of business processes have already moved to the cloud, 80 percent of mission-critical workloads and sensitive data are still running on-premises because of performance and regulatory requirements [1]. Businesses need an open, hybrid cloud approach to developing, running and deploying applications in a multi-cloud environment. IBM and VMware are delivering new solutions to help enterprises accelerate hybrid cloud adoption without incurring the cost and risk typically associated with retooling operations, re-architecting applications and re-designing security policies.
As part of today's news, IBM is enabling a fully automated, highly available managed global cloud architecture for mission-critical VMware workloads designed to help enterprises prevent downtime for cloud applications and automate failovers within an IBM Cloud region. This architecture will be managed by IBM Services and can be deployed across IBM Cloud's 18 availability zones in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific. ... "
IBM and VMware Advance Partnership to Accelerate Enterprise Hybrid Cloud Adoption and Digital Transformation By GlobeNewswire,
More than 1,700 global businesses, including Banca Carige and CNH Industrial adopt IBM Cloud and Services for VMware solutions
BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at VMworld® Europe 2018, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW) announced new offerings to help accelerate enterprise hybrid cloud adoption. This includes a new IBM Services offering to help migrate and extend mission-critical VMware workloads to the IBM Cloud, and new integrations to help enterprises to modernize applications with Kubernetes and containers.
To date, the IBM and VMware partnership has helped more than 1,700 enterprises including Banca Carige and CNH Industrial adopt IBM Cloud for VMware solutions.
According to research from Ovum, while 20 percent of business processes have already moved to the cloud, 80 percent of mission-critical workloads and sensitive data are still running on-premises because of performance and regulatory requirements [1]. Businesses need an open, hybrid cloud approach to developing, running and deploying applications in a multi-cloud environment. IBM and VMware are delivering new solutions to help enterprises accelerate hybrid cloud adoption without incurring the cost and risk typically associated with retooling operations, re-architecting applications and re-designing security policies.
As part of today's news, IBM is enabling a fully automated, highly available managed global cloud architecture for mission-critical VMware workloads designed to help enterprises prevent downtime for cloud applications and automate failovers within an IBM Cloud region. This architecture will be managed by IBM Services and can be deployed across IBM Cloud's 18 availability zones in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific. ... "
7-Eleven Implements Scan and Go
Yet another example of the No-Checkout concept, now being tested at some 7-Eleven convenience stores. As it suggests this creates not so much a clear convenience advantage, but a strong brand interest for these stores. Where one often expects to wait. Will the idea soon take over retail as it becomes an expectation? The adoption seems to be speeding up.
7-Eleven to Launch Scan-and-Go at 14 Dallas Stores
USA Today By Zlati Meyer
7-Eleven is rolling out a scan-and-go transaction option at 14 stores in Dallas, with a planned expansion to other U.S. cities next year. The Scan & Pay feature is available for customers using the chain's smartphone app, allowing them to scan in their intended purchases as they walk through the store. Scan & Pay also ties into the 7Rewards loyalty program, so customers can learn about deals and promotions. Emory University's Ryan Hamilton said the addition of scan-and-go technology is a "major branding advantage" that could make more consumers favor 7-Eleven over other convenience stores, since "The biggest complaint about retail shopping is waiting in line and checking out." ... "
7-Eleven to Launch Scan-and-Go at 14 Dallas Stores
USA Today By Zlati Meyer
7-Eleven is rolling out a scan-and-go transaction option at 14 stores in Dallas, with a planned expansion to other U.S. cities next year. The Scan & Pay feature is available for customers using the chain's smartphone app, allowing them to scan in their intended purchases as they walk through the store. Scan & Pay also ties into the 7Rewards loyalty program, so customers can learn about deals and promotions. Emory University's Ryan Hamilton said the addition of scan-and-go technology is a "major branding advantage" that could make more consumers favor 7-Eleven over other convenience stores, since "The biggest complaint about retail shopping is waiting in line and checking out." ... "
Monday, November 12, 2018
AI for Chemical Reaction Predictions
CSIG (Cognitive Systems Institute Group) Talk — Nov 15, 2018 - 10:30 AM ET
Talk Title: Artificial Intelligence for Chemical Reaction Predictions - IBM RXN for Chemistry
Speaker: Dr. Teodoro Laino, IBM Research - Zurich 10:30-11am US Eastern
Abstract: Organic synthesis is one of the key stumbling blocks in medicinal chemistry. A necessary yet unsolved step in planning synthesis is solving the forward problem: given reactants and reagents, predict the products. We treat reaction prediction as a machine translation problem between SMILES strings of reactants-reagents and the products. We show that a multi-head attention MolecularTransformer model outperforms all algorithms in the literature, achieving a top-I accuracy above 90% on a Common benchmark dataset. Our algorithm requires no handcrafted rules, and accurately predicts subtle chemical transformations. Crucially, our model can accurately estimate its own uncertainty, with an uncertainty score that is 89% accurate in terms of classifying whether a prediction is correct. I will present the underlying model as well as the free online platform for reaction predictions, named IBM RXN for chemistry, http://rxn.res.ibm.com
Bio: Teodoro Laino received his degree in theoretical chemistry in 2001 (Universityof Pisa and Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa) and the doctorate in 2006 in computational chemistry at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy. His doctoral thesis, entitled "Multi-Grid QM/ MM Approaches in ab initio Molecular Dynamics" was supervised by Prof. Dr. Michele Parrinello. From 2006 to 2008, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the research group of Prof. Dr. Jürg Hutter at the University of Zurich, where he developed algorithms for ab initio and classical molecular dynamics simulations. Since 2008, he has been working in the department of Cognitive Computing and Industry Solutions at the IBM Research - Zurich Laboratory (ZRL). The focus of his research is on complex molecular dynamics simulations for industrial-related problems (energy storage, life sciences and nano- electronics) and on the application of machine learning/artificial intelligence technologies to chemistry and materials science problems.
Zoom meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/7371462221; Zoom Cailin: (415) 762-9988 or (646) 568-7788 Meeting id 7371462221
Zoom International Numbers: https://zoom.us/zoomconference
Check http://cognitive-science.info/community/weekly-update/for recordings & slides, and for any date & time changes
Join Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6729452/ (Cognitive Systems Institute) to receive notifications
Thu, Nov 15, 10:30am US Eastern https://zoom.us/j/7371462221
More Details Here : http://cognitive-science.infb/commun;ty/weekly-update (slides and recording will be posted here) @sumalaikä
@teodorolaino of @IBMResearch on #ArtificialIntelligence for Chemical Reaction Predictions - IBM RXN for Chemistry in weekly talk series: cognitive-science.info/community/week… #CSIGnews #opentechai #issip #MachineLearning @KarolynSchalk @mattganis
Talk Title: Artificial Intelligence for Chemical Reaction Predictions - IBM RXN for Chemistry
Speaker: Dr. Teodoro Laino, IBM Research - Zurich 10:30-11am US Eastern
Abstract: Organic synthesis is one of the key stumbling blocks in medicinal chemistry. A necessary yet unsolved step in planning synthesis is solving the forward problem: given reactants and reagents, predict the products. We treat reaction prediction as a machine translation problem between SMILES strings of reactants-reagents and the products. We show that a multi-head attention MolecularTransformer model outperforms all algorithms in the literature, achieving a top-I accuracy above 90% on a Common benchmark dataset. Our algorithm requires no handcrafted rules, and accurately predicts subtle chemical transformations. Crucially, our model can accurately estimate its own uncertainty, with an uncertainty score that is 89% accurate in terms of classifying whether a prediction is correct. I will present the underlying model as well as the free online platform for reaction predictions, named IBM RXN for chemistry, http://rxn.res.ibm.com
Bio: Teodoro Laino received his degree in theoretical chemistry in 2001 (Universityof Pisa and Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa) and the doctorate in 2006 in computational chemistry at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy. His doctoral thesis, entitled "Multi-Grid QM/ MM Approaches in ab initio Molecular Dynamics" was supervised by Prof. Dr. Michele Parrinello. From 2006 to 2008, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the research group of Prof. Dr. Jürg Hutter at the University of Zurich, where he developed algorithms for ab initio and classical molecular dynamics simulations. Since 2008, he has been working in the department of Cognitive Computing and Industry Solutions at the IBM Research - Zurich Laboratory (ZRL). The focus of his research is on complex molecular dynamics simulations for industrial-related problems (energy storage, life sciences and nano- electronics) and on the application of machine learning/artificial intelligence technologies to chemistry and materials science problems.
Zoom meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/7371462221; Zoom Cailin: (415) 762-9988 or (646) 568-7788 Meeting id 7371462221
Zoom International Numbers: https://zoom.us/zoomconference
Check http://cognitive-science.info/community/weekly-update/for recordings & slides, and for any date & time changes
Join Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6729452/ (Cognitive Systems Institute) to receive notifications
Thu, Nov 15, 10:30am US Eastern https://zoom.us/j/7371462221
More Details Here : http://cognitive-science.infb/commun;ty/weekly-update (slides and recording will be posted here) @sumalaikä
@teodorolaino of @IBMResearch on #ArtificialIntelligence for Chemical Reaction Predictions - IBM RXN for Chemistry in weekly talk series: cognitive-science.info/community/week… #CSIGnews #opentechai #issip #MachineLearning @KarolynSchalk @mattganis
Kroger Making Cinci a High Tech Hub
Good information and details here. Have followed Kroger's efforts since we collaborated with our innovation center. Very impressed at what Kroger is doing now. I make it a point to visit every demonstration store and report on the tech here. My clients often comment on what is going on. Consider also the University centers here as well. Keep it moving!
... If anyone wants to collaborate with me and my blog in helping drive the hub forward, connect with me on Linkedin and lets talk. ... Franz Dill
Kroger Is Intent on Making Cincinnati a True Tech Hub By Randy Hofbauer - in Progressive Grocer
The Kroger Co.'s technology arm is partnering with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber to attract top technology talent from across the globe and turn the city into a true tech hub.
The effort begins with CincyisIT.com, which is powered by Kroger Technology. The portal will reach new markets through digital outreach, national conferences, career fairs and special events, all while introducing a new audience to Kroger's technology arm and businesses throughout the Cincinnati area.
"CincyisIT.com invites technology talent from our city and around the world to explore career opportunities, engage with regional training events and discover our vibrant community," said Denise Haskamp, manager of human resources for Kroger Technology. "Kroger Technology is committed to partnering with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber through exciting initiatives like this program to continue designing a region with endless opportunities."
Kroger has been furthering its technological prowess and working hard to put Cincinnati on the map as a major tech hub. Recently, it announced a planned innovation lab within the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub. Housed within the Uptown Innovation Corridor, the 1819 Innovation Hub serves as a “beacon of community innovation and impact in partnership with higher education,” and is claimed to be the region’s newest destination for “thinking, making, doing, discovery and delivery.” ... " ... '
... If anyone wants to collaborate with me and my blog in helping drive the hub forward, connect with me on Linkedin and lets talk. ... Franz Dill
Kroger Is Intent on Making Cincinnati a True Tech Hub By Randy Hofbauer - in Progressive Grocer
The Kroger Co.'s technology arm is partnering with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber to attract top technology talent from across the globe and turn the city into a true tech hub.
The effort begins with CincyisIT.com, which is powered by Kroger Technology. The portal will reach new markets through digital outreach, national conferences, career fairs and special events, all while introducing a new audience to Kroger's technology arm and businesses throughout the Cincinnati area.
"CincyisIT.com invites technology talent from our city and around the world to explore career opportunities, engage with regional training events and discover our vibrant community," said Denise Haskamp, manager of human resources for Kroger Technology. "Kroger Technology is committed to partnering with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber through exciting initiatives like this program to continue designing a region with endless opportunities."
Kroger has been furthering its technological prowess and working hard to put Cincinnati on the map as a major tech hub. Recently, it announced a planned innovation lab within the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub. Housed within the Uptown Innovation Corridor, the 1819 Innovation Hub serves as a “beacon of community innovation and impact in partnership with higher education,” and is claimed to be the region’s newest destination for “thinking, making, doing, discovery and delivery.” ... " ... '
Amazon and Apple Collaborate in Retail?
The two teaming up could further yet create a yet more powerful retail power. Plus consider the deeper AI capabilities in combination. Or are the naturally just competitors?
Amazon and Apple get co-opetitive
by Matthew Stern in Retailwire more detail and expert retail opinion at the link.
More Apple products are getting the stamp of approval from Amazon, which will officially enable the sale of a range of new devices on-site from the tech brand.
Amazon is approving the sale of the latest iPad Pro, iPhone and Apple Watch models by authorized resellers rather than just through the third-party marketplace, according to TechCrunch. Independent sellers will, in fact, have their listings removed. Amazon already allows the official sale of some products, such as laptops and Beats headphones.
The change in the trade partner relationship raises questions about the extent to which Amazon considers Apple to be a competitor and what Amazon’s long-term plan might be for the device market. The two companies have been involved in an ongoing push/pull over their competitive devices, with Amazon sometimes removing Apple products from its site or Apple refusing to play ball with Amazon in some other manner. .... "
Amazon and Apple get co-opetitive
by Matthew Stern in Retailwire more detail and expert retail opinion at the link.
More Apple products are getting the stamp of approval from Amazon, which will officially enable the sale of a range of new devices on-site from the tech brand.
Amazon is approving the sale of the latest iPad Pro, iPhone and Apple Watch models by authorized resellers rather than just through the third-party marketplace, according to TechCrunch. Independent sellers will, in fact, have their listings removed. Amazon already allows the official sale of some products, such as laptops and Beats headphones.
The change in the trade partner relationship raises questions about the extent to which Amazon considers Apple to be a competitor and what Amazon’s long-term plan might be for the device market. The two companies have been involved in an ongoing push/pull over their competitive devices, with Amazon sometimes removing Apple products from its site or Apple refusing to play ball with Amazon in some other manner. .... "
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