Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
November 2015
From The Eponymous Pickle
Learning Language in a Neural Net
Steps forward in the linking of neural networks and something brain like? Some detail here,A network of artificial neurons learns to use human languageA computer simulation of a cognitive model entirely made up of artificial…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Machine Learning and Cybersecurity
In Datanami: Visual look at how machine learning is applied. " ... While there has been extensive academic research into the use of machine learning technology in cybersecurity, we’re just now beginning to see security tools…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Why Google Outsourced TensorFlow
Interesting take. To promote AI innovation. Anticipate taking a look." ... Google last week open sourced TensorFlow, a new machine learning library used in deep learning projects. Even though the Web giant has just started…
From Schneier on Security
On CISA
I have avoided writing about the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA), largely because the details kept changing. (For those not following closely, similar bills were passed by both the House and the Senate. They're now…
From insideHPC
Video: IBM Showcases Data-centric Computing at SC15
In this video from SC15, Matt Drahzal from IBM describes the company's comprehensive approach to data-centric computing. "IBM is speeding up innovation through Data Centric Design. Limitations in traditional computing are slowing…
From XRDS
Shafi Goldwasser’s Role in Securing the Internet of Things (IoT)
We keep hearing in today’s technology-driven world that advancements such as 3D printing, next-gen robots, and virtual reality are made everyday, but we often learn little about the real people behind these inventions. Instead…
From insideHPC
Rise of Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling Highlighted at SC15
Of the varied approaches to liquid cooling, most remain technical curiosities and fail to show real-world adoption in any significant degree. In contrast, both Asetek RackCDU D2C™ (Direct-to-Chip) and Internal Loop Liquid Cooling…
From insideHPC
Video: Seagate Rolls out All New ClusterStor Lineup for HPC Storage
In this video, Torben Kling-Petersen from Seagate describes new storage innovations for high performance computing. At SC15, Seagate announced a major expansion of its HPC product portfolio including the ClusterStor HPC hard …
From insideHPC
Docker Containers Come to Cray XC Software
Today Cray announced plans to deliver an HPC-optimized Docker solution for the Cray XC line of supercomputers. Available in 2016, the HPC virtualization capabilities will be offered for the Cray CS400, Cray XE and Cray XK platforms…
From Schneier on Security
Refuse to Be Terrorized
Paul Krugman has written a really good update of my 2006 esssay. Krugman: So what can we say about how to respond to terrorism? Before the atrocities in Paris, the West's general response involved a mix of policing, precaution…
From insideHPC
AppliedMicro and E4 Collaborate on X-Gene Platforms
Today Applied Micro Circuits Corporation announced a collaboration with E4 Computer Engineering, a leading supplier of customized solutions for high performance computing and enterprise data centers, on X-Gene platforms based…
From insideHPC
Deep Learning Systems Analyze Periscope Streams on a Supercomputer
Today Dextro, developer of advanced computer vision, machine learning, and data analytics technologies, announced that Orange Silicon Valley, an innovation subsidiary of global telecommunications operator Orange, will use Dextro's…
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
Interesting Links 17 November 2015
Yesterday’s interesting links was all about links to educators and their blogs and resources. Today is about links from non profits and companies. Good stuff all. My UK readers will want to read the BBC MicroBit news down below…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Bioogically Inspired Question Answering
Via Jim Spohrer. See the previous CSIG talk on this work.In Kurzweil AI: IBM’s Watson shown to enhance human-computer co-creativity, support biologically inspired design ... Watson Engagement Advisor AI system was trained…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Marketing Planning, Fast and Slow
Some interesting thoughts on planning in CustomerThink. I would like more thoughts on operational planning and decision making now that we have more and faster data." ... With less than two months remaining in 2015, many marketers…
From insideHPC
Video: Early Evaluation of IME as a Burst Buffer and Application Accelerator
Dirk Pleiter from the Jülich Supercomputing Centre presented this talk at the DDN User Group at SC15. “IME unleashes a new I/O provisioning paradigm. This breakthrough, software defined storage application introduces a whole…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Another Open Source Machine Learning Platform
H2o.ai notes the use of Apache Spark:Why H2O?H2O is for data scientists and business analysts who need scalable and fast machine learning. H2O is an open source predictive analytics platform. Unlike traditional analytics tools…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Google is Answering More Complex Questions
In the Verge: An example of the logic behind simple questions. Google is doing much better. I have been noticing. But these questions would be easy for a human with ready access to the right data. So is this AI? Remember…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Email as Virtual Assistant
Recently I participated in a think tank regarding the future of virtual assistants. Lots of varying opinions about what they would be able to do and when. Will they be standalone, or linked to your current systems, and how…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Telling Stories with Data
I like the combination of story and lifecycle. Lifecycle implies a story.6 Ways to Tell Stories with Data Throughout the Customer Lifecycleby Alexandra SamuelData-driven storytelling is poised to be the next big trend in content…
From insideHPC
One Stop Systems to Showcase the OCP Flash Storage Array at SC15
Today One Stop Systems (OSS), a leading provider of HPC appliances, introduces the OCP Flash Storage Array (OCP-FSA), supporting over 250TB of Flash storage in a 2U form factor. The OCP-FSA supports up to three host servers through…
From BLOG@CACM
HPC Matters
The HPC Matters program is a multi-year effort to communicate the benefits — from the development of new medical therapies to and increased understanding of climate processes — the many ways in which HPC "matters" in our lives…
From Schneier on Security
Paris Attacks Blamed on Strong Cryptography and Edward Snowden
Well, that didn't take long: As Paris reels from terrorist attacks that have claimed at least 128 lives, fierce blame for the carnage is being directed toward American whistleblower Edward Snowden and the spread of strong encryption…
From The Computing Community Consortium Blog
Young Scientists Invited to Apply for Fourth Heidelberg Laureate Forum
Preparations for the fourth Heidelberg Laureate Forum are in full swing, and applications from young researchers to attend are now being accepted. The Heidelberg Laureate Forum was created by the Klaus Tschira Foundation, the…
From Computational Complexity
Is the word Quantum being used properly by civilians? Understood by them? You know the answer.
I've seen the word `civilians' expanded in use from non-military to non-X for some X. Not sure I've ever seen `civilians' mean `people who don't do math stuff' until the title of todays post. Well, there is a first time forhere)…
From insideHPC
Intel Unveils Omni-Path for Scalable System Framework
Intel Corporation today announced several advancements to its Intel Scalable System Framework (Intel SSF) that promise to bring high performance computing capabilities and benefits to more industries and new workloads. As a foundational…
From insideHPC
Cray CS400 to Power Polar Research at Alfred Wegener Institute
Today Cray announced the Company has been awarded a contract to provide the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) with a Cray CS400 cluster supercomputer. Headquartered in Bremerhaven,…
From insideHPC
TOP500 Shows Growing Momentum for Accelerators
Today Nvidia announced growing momentum for GPU computing as reflected in the latest TOP500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers. "For the first time, more than 100 accelerated systems are on the list of the world’s 500…
From BLOG@CACM
Intriguing Possibilities as HPC Reaches an Inflection Point
SC15 is taking place at a time when high-performance computing (HPC) finds itself at an inflection point. As we approach the end of CMOS, the path forward for HPC's computational capability is full of possibilities, including…
From insideHPC
USA Has a Shrinking Share of the TOP500
The latest TOP500 list was published today in conjunction with SC15 in Austin. For the sixth consecutive time, the Tianhe-2 supercomputer in China has retained its position as the world’s No. 1 system. "In the bigger picture,…