Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
July 2016
From insideHPC
SC16 Exhibits Already Breaking Records
While SC16 isn't until November, the conference is already gaining momentum. There is already a record 188 organizations signed up to exhibit on the industry floor.
The post SC16 Exhibits Already Breaking Records appeared first…From insideHPC
Call for Proposals: Aurora Early Science Program at Argonne
The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) is now accepting proposals for its Aurora Early Science Program (ESP) through September 2, 2016. The program will award computing time to 10 science teams to pursue innovative …
From The Eponymous Pickle
Nest Camera with AI
In CWorld: Nest camera detects people in its images. Continue to see more examples of the use of AI pattern matching methods in consumer systems, like face recognition for system access.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Microsoft Dynamics
Brought to my attention for examination and review. Microsoft Dynamics is an amalgam of Microsoft's CRM and ERP offerings. How will this ultimately be integrated to systems like Linkedin after acquisition? As a skill andVia…
From BLOG@CACM
Meeting the Need For CSP at Georgia Tech
In November, I encouraged CS departments to create AP CS equivalent classes. I tried to make one at my institution, but realized that we were already there.
From Schneier on Security
Stealing Money from ISPs Through Premium Rate Calls
I think the best hacks are the ones that are obvious once they're explained, but no one has thought of them before. Here's an example: Instagram ($2000), Google ($0) and Microsoft ($500) were vulnerable to direct money theft…
From The Eponymous Pickle
On Useful Intelligence Augmentation
A talk with Pattie Maes about Intelligence augmentation, a favorite topic, We had been members of the Media lab years ago, and had been intrigued by her practical consumer applications of AI. She continues to address useful…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Another in Aisle Scanning Test
RetailWire contains a good piece on in aisle checkout, covering many of the impediments to its implementation. A long time retail tech subject here. Tested it in many contexts: by Tom Ryan:A new Sam’s Club opening on JulyThe…
From insideHPC
Best In Class HPC Cloud Solutions
Cloud computing is growing and replacing many data centers for High Performance Computing (HPC) applications. However, the movement towards using a cloud infrastructure is not without challenges. This whitepaper discusses many…
From Phys.org Technology News
New training videos leverage ESnet's expertise to improve network performance around the world
The Department of Energy's Energy Sciences Network, or ESnet, and the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) at the University of Oregon are teaming up to create an extensive video training library to help organizations improve…
From insideHPC
Radio Free HPC Looks at What Chip Architectures Need to Succeed
In this podcast, the Radio Free HPC team welcomes Shahin Khan from OrionX to a discussion on chip architectures for HPC. "More and more new alternative architectures were in evidence at ISC in Germany this year, but what does…
From insideHPC
With China Kicking the FLOP Out of Us, the Gold Medal Prize is Future Prosperity
"Achieving the No. 1 ranking is significant for China’s economic and energy security, not to mention national security. With 125 petaFLOP/s (peak), China’s supercomputer is firmly on the path toward applying incredible modeling…
From BLOG@CACM
Does Nature Use Data?
Does nature use databases? Does nature use data structures?
From insideHPC
SC16 Best Paper Finalist Looks at Mont-Blanc Project
Now that ARM has been acquired, the big question is how much the Softbank investment firm will invest in bolstering their chips for HPC. Meanwhile, ARM continues to gain traction as evidenced by today's announcement that a paper…
From The Computing Community Consortium Blog
NSF Dear Colleague Letter: Advanced Wireless Research Initiative
National Science Foundation (NSF) Assistant Director for the Directorate of Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) James Kurose has issued the following letter to the community to announce NSF’s and CISE ‘s role…
From insideHPC
Softbank to Acquire ARM
The UK semiconductor company, ARM, may soon be acquired by Japan’s Softbank for £24.3 billion. The Cambridge-based firm is best known for designing microchips used in most smartphones, including Apple's and Samsung's. However…
From insideHPC
One Stop Systems Merges with Magma
Today One Stop Systems (OSS) announced that it has completed a merger with Magma, with OSS as the surviving entity. Both companies are market leaders in PCIe expansion technology used to create high-end compute accelerators and…
From Daniel Lemire's Blog
Augmented reality becomes mainstream
My go-to reference lately about the near future has been the 2006 novel Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge. The novel is set in 2025 and the author depicts a world where augmented reality is ubiquitous. Kids still go to school, but…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Analytics and Performance Management
Good piece by John O'Rourke because it addresses how analytics can be directly connected to business process. Part of every business process is to understand how and why things are operating now, and are likely to operate…
From The Eponymous Pickle
More Virtual Humanity
In CNet: Justine Cassell has taken her virtual assistant Sara on a road trip.They're in Tianjin, China, where Carnegie Mellon University's associate dean of technology strategy and impact traveled to offer a glimpse of tomorrow…
From Computational Complexity
Solution to the Alice-Bob-Box problem.
In my last blog I solved one problem and asked another (when will it end!). Damien Roberts provided an answer in the comments to the last blog, so kudos to Damien! I summarize the question asked and answer it (same answer as…
From Schneier on Security
Futuristic Cyberattack Scenario
This is a piece of near-future fiction about a cyberattack on New York, including hacking of cars, the water system, hospitals, elevators, and the power grid. Although it is definitely a movie-plot attack, all the individual…
From Putting People First
Ethnographic research to improve the City of New York’s digital services
A team including the Public Policy Lab (a New York City non-profit) worked with New York City’s Chief Digital Officer and her staff to use ethnographic research to develop the New York City Digital Playbook (available in 14 languages…
From Putting People First
Design research at the New York Times
The pressure to anticipate an audience’s needs and desires is intense—no longer only of concern to business sides of media organizations but a part of the editorial mission, writes Heather Chaplin in the Columbia Journalism Review…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Pokemon Go and Retail
Is Pokemon Go the new phenomenon, and will it bring augmented reality mainstream? I do remember when this was expected of 4 Square too. Interesting emerging stats in Adweek article below: " .... Nintendo's surprise hit Pok…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Data Driven Business Strategies
I like the closer to business process premise .... Following up.TealiumGartner Report: Mastering Data and Analytics: ‘Table Stakes’ for Digital BusinessExecutive Summary: “The transformation to digital business is not incremental…
From The Eponymous Pickle
New: Digital Industry Insider
Digital Industry Insider: "The future of industry is digital. GE and BI Studios have co-created Digital Industry Insider, dedicated to bringing you what you need to know about digital industrial news and events. .... Produced…
From insideHPC
Allinea to Share Top Tips for Code Modernization at XSEDE16
Today, Allinea announced that the company will be exhibiting at XSEDE16 July 17-21 in Miami. The conference will attract an audience across industry and academia to discuss the key themes of diversity, big data and science at…
From insideHPC
Video: Dr. Zoe Cournia on the PRACE Ada Lovelace Award for HPC
As the first recipient of the PRACE Ada Lovelace Award for HPC, Dr Zoe Cournia was selected for her outstanding contributions and impact on HPC in Europe on a global level. "Using the PRACE HPC resources and recent advances in…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Nielsen on CPG Innovation
In FoodNavigator:Nielsen unveils 2016 breakthrough innovation winners: There will be more change in CPG in the next five years than there was in the last 50In 2015, the top 25 food and beverage companies generated 45% of category…