Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
December 2020
From The Eponymous Pickle
ReThinking the Global Supply Chain
Yes, do a better job of risk analyses.
Is It Time to Rethink Globalized Supply Chains?
The COVID-19 pandemic should be a wake-up call for managers and prompt them to consider actions that will improve their resilience to future…From The Eponymous Pickle
Coders Flock Back to Crypto Projects
Intriguing direction. Of the belief that developers will become replaced by automated methods
Coders Flock Back to Crypto Projects with Prices Surging Again
In Bloomberg By Olga Kharif
Software developers are migrating back to…From Daniel Lemire's Blog
Science and Technology links (December 26th 2020)
Researchers used a viral vector to manipulate eye cells genetically to improve the vision of human beings. Seemingly independently, researchers have reported significant progress regarding the solution of the Schrödinger equation…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Transmitting Holograms for Remote Experience
Do we need a hologram machine in every home? For telemedicine and work? Replacing our zoom stadia? So we might have crowds of realistic holograms in situ? Is it necessary, and what is really necessary at all anymore? Now…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Secure Multi Party Computation
A considerable discussion of the problem in the most recent issue of the ACM. In general the notion of Multi Party Computation (MPC) was something I had not thought about directly, but since my background is about computation…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Haptics (Touch) Update from ACM
A favorite topic, its part of how we understand reality, with good update here commissioned by ACM:
A Touch of Reality By Samuel Greengard Commissioned by CACM Staff
Haptics introduces ways to use virtual reality more effectively…From The Eponymous Pickle
4 Chatbot Use Cases That Can Help Your Business Drive Revenue
Another good example of simple delivery of knowledge towards results.
4 Chatbot Use Cases That Can Help Your Business Drive Revenue By Lydia Roth in The Alexa Bog
Lydia is Digital Marketing Manager for Alexa. She has 4 years…From Putting People First
VA creates US Government’s first-ever employee experience journey map
The employee experience (EX) journey map of the US Government’s Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) identifies the moments that matter during a VA employee’s career using the same human-centered design process that VA’s Veterans…
From Gödel's Lost Letter and P=NP
P < NP In Our Stockings?
Brute force wins—sometimes Santa Claus is on the way to visit those of us who have been good. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and we want to thank everyone who has been supporting Ken and me at GLL. Whether or not you believe in Santa…
From Schneier on Security
Russia’s SolarWinds Attack
Recent news articles have all been talking about the massive Russian cyberattack against the United States, but that’s wrong on two accounts. It wasn’t a cyberattack in international relations terms, it was espionage. And the…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Digital Instruments as Invention Machines
Regarding 'Knowledge Spillovers', admit I hadn't heard of that, but the term makes quick sense. Now can you optimize them for invention? Good article.
Digital Instruments as Invention Machines
By Pantelis Koutroumpis, Aija…From The Eponymous Pickle
The Social Clubhouse
Writeup on 'Clubhouse', mentioned to me in a conversation. As a possible next big social media thing. Note the Horowitz support. As usual, when I read these things I always end up thinking 'whats the use of that'? But…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Best of the Year Charts
Nathan put out some best of the year charts, on an expected topic.
Best Data Visualization Projects of 2020
It’s been a year. We saw a lot of charts. These are the best ones.
By Nathan Yau
I’ll be honest. I thought about skipping…From Computational Complexity
Slowest Sorting Algorithms
Radu Gigore tweeted "People are obsessed with finding the best algorithms. What about the worst?" So here's a Christmas gift that keeps giving, the slowest of sorting algorithms.
Before you read on, try to think of the slowest…From The Eponymous Pickle
California Approves Nuro for Delivery
Have been following Nuro for some time. With showed
an interesting looking vehicle. Especially by the examination by Kroger. An autonomous delivery method.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Shoe Fitting Augmented Reaity
Likely we will commonly see AR type methods for trying on clothes.
Does the Shoe Fit? Try It On with Augmented Reality
The New York Times By Kate Conger
Retailers are increasingly reliant on augmented reality (AR) technology to…From Schneier on Security
How China Uses Stolen US Personnel Data
Interesting analysis of China’s efforts to identify US spies:
By about 2010, two former CIA officials recalled, the Chinese security services had instituted a sophisticated travel intelligence program, developing databases that…From Schneier on Security
Friday Squid Blogging: Linguine allo Scoglio Recipe
Delicious seafood pasta dish — includes squid — from America’s Test Kitchen.
As usual, you can also use this squid post to talk about the security stories in the news that I haven’t covered.
Read my blog posting guidelines here…From Schneier on Security
Friday Squid Blogging: Small Giant Squid Washes Ashore in Japan
A ten-foot giant squid has washed ashore on the Western coast of Japan.
As usual, you can also use this squid post to talk about the security stories in the news that I haven’t covered.
Read my blog posting guidelines here.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Worldwide Opinions on Impact of AI
Results of surveys by country. Quite bit of detail. Source is PEW Research.
Here's how opinions on the impact of artificial intelligence differ around the world
This data on worldwide opinions of artificial intelligence and…From insideHPC
The Good Hope Net Project and Russian Supercomputer Announce New COVID Milestone
Moscow, December 23, 2020 — International non-profit The Good Hope Net project aimed to develop treatment and diagnostic tools to fight against COVID-19 coronavirus infection, supported by RSC Group, has reported its 2020 results…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Machines to Understand Human Goals
Human goals are an important kind of context, so the ability is broadly useful.
Building Machines That Better Understand Human Goals
MIT News
By Rachel Gordon
https://news.mit.edu/2020/building-machines-better-understand-human-goals…From The Eponymous Pickle
ORCam Pen Reads Aloud Text
Seems quite a useful development:
The OrCam Read is a pen-like AI-based device that reads aloud text to people with reading challenges. OrCam's AI-Based Reading Device Wins CES Innovation Award
The Times of Israel
By Shoshanna…From The Eponymous Pickle
AI Predictions
Some end of year predictions for next year. I much like the title mentions, which I do think are important. But don't necessarily fully agree with all of the futures mentioned. Still includes the opinions of many practitioners…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Google: Duo and Meet: Making Moments that Matter
In the Google Blog, thoughts on making meetings more productive, and their package 'Meet'. Seems I have used most other packages lately , but not their Meet. Now connected with Gmail. Now free and unlimited through the holidays…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Chinese Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is expected to be able to be able to 'break' some forms of encryption, thus the concerns mentioned.
China joins Google in claiming quantum supremacy with new technology, ratcheting up RSA decryption concerns…From BLOG@CACM
Konrad Zuse's Guestbook: a Treasure Trove
Computer scientist Konrad Zuse created the world's first programmable computer, the functional program-controlled Turing-complete Z3.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Talking Microservices
Had cause to talk the concept recently, in InfoQ, here is a somewhat technical look at the concept and its uses and details. Most of the details and useful links at the clickthrough.
Reviewing the Microservices Architecture:…From insideHPC
Woolpert Acquires Data Cloud Solutions to Expand Data Visualization and Awareness to New, Existing Markets
Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 23, 2020 — Woolpert has acquired Data Cloud Solutions, LLC, a systems integrator, cloud solutions provider and consulting services firm based in Springfield, Ohio. DCS, maker of integrated CAMA solutions, provides…
From insideHPC
QPM Address Medical Life Sciences Challenges
In this sponsored post from our friends over at Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT), review how QCT brings out the concept called QCT Platform on Demand (QCT POD), which is a converged framework with a flexible infrastructure for customers…