Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
February 2014
From Putting People First
Interview with man at the heart of Facebook ethnography kerfuffle
Tricia Wang interviewed Daniel Miller, the anthropologist at the heart of the Facebook ethnography kerfuffle, and published the transcript on EthnographyMatters. Dr. Daniel Miller (@dannyanth) is Professor of Material Culture…
From Gödel's Lost Letter and P=NP
Seeing Atoms
How can we possibly see atoms? John Sidles is a medical researcher and a quantum systems engineer. His major focus is on quantum spin microscopy for regenerative medicine. He is both Professor of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Deep Learning in Neural Nets
General outline and technical detailed article in the WP about deep learning in neural nets. And further about deep learning in general: " ... Deep learning is a set of algorithms in machine learning that attempt to modelDeep…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Netflix Using Distributed Neural Nets
In the enterprise we actively used artificial neural nets to perform various scoring functions for analytical learning methods. They were particularly useful for anchoring other analytical methods in ensemble solutions. …
From The Eponymous Pickle
Ultra Simple User Interfaces
The best user interface should predictively anticipate our needs. Focus us on the right data and tools to do our job best. Feed us the proper sensor readings to protect us, and to provide information in value sorted order…
From Schneier on Security
GOPHERSET: NSA Exploit of the Day
Today's item from the NSA's Tailored Access Operations (TAO) group implant catalog:
GOPHERSET (TS//SI//REL) GOPHERSET is a software implant for GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) subscriber identity module (SIM) cards…From Putting People First
Exploring new markets for Firefox OS: mobile and internet behaviours in Central Europe
Experientia has lately been doing a lot of work on mobile OSes, from feature evaluations of some of the more interesting new arrivals, to comparisons of some of the classics. We have also conducted user research into people’s…
From Putting People First
Qualitative research in industry – videos from the Qualitative 360 Asia Pacific conference
Qualitative 360 Asia Pacific 2013 took place in Singapore in November 2013, and some videos are now available: Winning with shoppers via qualitative research [23:57] Michael Biscocho, Consumer and Market Knowledge Manager, Procter…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Ford Autonomous Vehicle
A look at an autonomous vehicle prototype by Ford. When will the vision of fully autonomous vehicles become common? Still wonder the liability issues.
From The Eponymous Pickle
CPG Companies vs Amazon or With Them?
In Retailwire:" ... Are CPG companies consciously deciding to align with the logistic powerhouse of the future instead of the distribution giants (brick-and-mortar retailers) of the 20th century?It's not so far-fetched. Early…
From Putting People First
A case study on inclusive design: ethnography and energy use
Energy usage and conservation can be a seemingly mundane part of an individual’s daily life on one hand, but a politically, ecologically, and economically critical issue on the other. Despite its importance, there is a startling…
From Schneier on Security
Finding People's Location Based on Their Activities in Cyberspace
Glenn Greenwald is back reporting about the NSA, now with Pierre Omidyar's news organization FirstLook and its introductory publication, The Intercept. Writing with national security reporter Jeremy Scahill, his first article…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Square at Whole Foods
Did an early experiment with the Square system for client payment, it has continued to progress in POS system, here it continues its push into retailer payment systems:" ... Running into Whole Foods to grab a fresh-pressed juice…
From The Eponymous Pickle
On Applied Concept Mapping
Some time ago I mentioned the book Applied Concept Mapping, by Brian Moon, et al and also posts about concept mapping in general. Also about how it can be implemented on a tablet. And here is a concept map about the book.…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Team Robotics: Loving the Swarm
New research on a topic we had examined. Using cheap, simple and disposable robots to perform sensor activity, like performing inventory in a warehouse. " ... It's one thing for a robot to walk around your house and do…
From The Female Perspective of Computer Science
Hitting a Block and Feeling Stuck
I recently received an email asking whether I've ever faced programmer's block. The emailer was referring to those times you sit and stare at a problem but never make any progress. You feel stuck and, in some cases, just give…
From Computational Complexity
IEEE and the Conference on Computational Complexity
Dieter van Melkebeek, current conference chair of the IEEE Conference on Computational Complexity has set up a forum to discuss the future affiliation of the conference. Read over the manifesto and update. You can give general…
From Schneier on Security
DROPOUTJEEP: NSA Exploit of the Day
Today's item from the NSA's Tailored Access Operations (TAO) group implant catalog:
DROPOUTJEEP (TS//SI//REL) DROPOUTJEEP is a STRAITBIZARRE based software implant for the Apple iPhone operating system and uses the CHIMNEYPOOL…From The Eponymous Pickle
Gamification Reviewed
Knowledge@Wharton looks at the state of Gamification. I have noticed a decrease in communication about the approach, since we did a number of experiments in the supply chain innovation space. Still well worth following.
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
My Favorite Students Ask Me The Most Questions
I try hard to explain every well the first time. I really do. I think most teachers do. It never fails though that someone doesn’t get it the first time. In all honesty I think a number of students don’t get it the first time…
From Putting People First
The Museum of Future Government Services
The Museum of Future Government Services, which in Dubai on the 10th of February at the UAE Government Summit, is an interactive design futures. The Museum explores the future of travel, healthcare, education and urban services…
From Putting People First
An anthropologist walks into a bar…
In 2006 a major European brewing company we’ll call BeerCo was faced with falling bar and pub sales and, despite muscular market research and competitive analysis, couldn’t figure out why. Customers liked its core product, a…
From Putting People First
Data and design in innovative citizen experiences
The past decade has brought enormous and growing benefits to ordinary citizens through applications built on public data. Any release of data offers advantages to experts, such as developers and journalists, but there is a crucial…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Deep Data Insights
Stephen Few reviews the book: Data Insights: New Ways to Visualize and Make Sense of Data, by Hunter Whitney. Taking a look myself. " ... Data Insights is not a “how to” book in the sense of comprehensive instruction in…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Yahoo Expands Research Labs
To further address the personalized experience. In Technology Review. " .... The rejuvenated research labs at Yahoo are investigating ways to predict what users want and new forms of mobile hardware. .... " Good details.
From Schneier on Security
SURLYSPAWN: NSA Exploit of the Day
Today's item from the NSA's Tailored Access Operations (TAO) group implant catalog:
SURLYSPAWN (TS//SI//REL TO USA,FVEY) Data RF retro-reflector. Provides return modulated with target data (keyboard, low data rate digital device)…From Computer Science Teachers Association
Celebrate Canadian Computing Education Day 2014 in Video (and in Song, If You Like)
February 21, 2014 is the 2nd Annual Canadian Computing Education Day. It is an initiative of the Canadian Association of Computer Science/Association d'Informatique Canadienne (CACS/AIC) whose members are the universities …
From The Eponymous Pickle
Shopping Device Dock
In the lab we examined a number of ways to make grocery shopping smarter. This included a laptop strapped to the cart, a device embedded inside the handle. And even a holster that could carry a provided scanner. See more…
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Are all I.T. Guys <sic> white males?
INFOGRAPHIC - What Do IT People Really Do All Day? I'd hang this in my classroom if there were some women and some non-white males in it. Sure the information is not bad but there is a hidden…From The Eponymous Pickle
Oracle Retail
Newly rediscovered blog Oracle Retail. Now following.