Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
August 2014
From Computer Science Teachers Association
The world’s oldest computer and the Antikythera challenge
When we think about the first computers to produce useful information for mankind, our mind usually goes to the 1940s: the conceptual Turing machine, the ENIAC, vacuum tubes and punched cards…we may even bring to mind the early…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Robo Brain is now Open on the Web
Clever idea, that I think has been tried before. Now from Cornell and elsewhere and supported by a number of big technology companies. Why not learn from the Web? We all do. See the examples of recent learning, which areHey…
From The Eponymous Pickle
On the New Digital Medicine
In the CACM: Good article on the state of digital medicine. Useful introduction to current technologies and implications. Reviewing.
From U.S. Public Policy Committee of the ACM
ACM Fellow Randal Bryant Joins White House Staff To Tackle Big Data
Randal Bryant, University Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, has accepted a temporary assignment to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Bryant, an ACM Fellow since 2000 and…
From The Eponymous Pickle
How Watson Changed IBM
In the HBR: Good piece about how IBM used a broad re-invention of a known idea to change itself. In much evidence now by the huge investment being made by IBM in delivering this. Creating a platform rather than just a product…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Location Context is Still Everything
In K@W: Fairly obvious, back to the meaning of how different kinds of consumer contexts and behaviors influence internet use. We went into retail to examine it. You can now observe this in most any public space. Have not…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Nestle and Data Visualization
Quite impressive view of data visualization methods in use at Nestle. Similarities to Business Sphere work at P&G, but appears to be more broadly used. Implication that much more analytics is embedded in the effort. With an…
From Schneier on Security
People Are Not Very Good at Matching Photographs to People
We have an error rate of about 15%: Professor Mike Burton, Sixth Century Chair in Psychology at the University of Aberdeen said: "Psychologists identified around a decade ago that in general people are not very good at matching…
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
Interesting Links 25 August 2014
Well I made it though going back to school. Teachers went back Tuesday, we saw our freshmen students briefly on Wednesday and had a full (very full) day of classes on Friday. Today starts the regular routine.
Edutopia says the…From The Eponymous Pickle
Overview of R: What is it?
I have had a number of people ask me the question: What is it? Who uses it? I have been surprised that some schools are not teaching it. It seems more of a tool use for acquired needs. And is increasingly being used to for…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Rethinking Computer Aided Design
Quite an interesting article, especially with regard to the integration with 3D printing." ... The future of computer-aided design (CAD) tools, in light of recent developments in three-dimensional printing and additive manufacturing…
From ACM-W supporting, celebrating and advocating for Women in Computing
Scholarships
ACM-W Scholarships for Attendance at Research Conferences
ACM-W provides support for women undergraduate and graduate students in Computer Science and related programs to attend research conferences. This exposure to the CS research…From The Eponymous Pickle
Guidelines for Great Data Visualizations
Good thoughts and examples. It is often too how the overall concept of the design works that makes the visualization good. Further, consider the devices on which the visualization will be delivered, and the extent to which any…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Supply Chain Management
Brought to my attention: the Wright State University Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management. Just spoke at their MS program for the fourth year in a row on supply chain technology innovation.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Largest Robot Swarm
From Wired: Another example of robotic swarms. The idea might be to use a large number of relatively simple robotics to perform a task, the task might be sensory, for example. We examined a a large warehouse inventory problem…
From Gödel's Lost Letter and P=NP
Why Is 290 Special?
How exceptions in theorems may affect their complexity Cropped from India Today source Manjul Bhargava is a mathematician who just won one of the 2014 Fields Medals. We offer our congratulations on this achievement. He is an…
From My Biased Coin
Is the ACM "Retaliating" Against SOCG?
Friday afternoon Jeff Erickson posted at Making SOCG blog some "bad news". Some background: very recently, the Symposium on Computational Geometry, or SoCG, decided to leave the ACM, for various reasons. There had been plans…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Big Data and Virtual Reality
In Forbes: This sounds new, but we examined similar methods nearly a decade ago. Is it useful to immerse yourself virtually in your data? At the time it was found to not be useful, but perhaps now it will with advanced technology…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Talk on the New Analytics
Giving a talk today at Wright State University on the topic of the 'New Analytics'. This is the fourth year I have given this invited talk. This year I am making the case that adding 'non quantative', decision based methods…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Revisiting the Industrial Internet
I was pointed to a site that shows some of GE's work in the Industrial Internet. See also a post of mine which links to a former colleague's work in this area Shoumen Datta, and more resources from the Industrial Internet Consortium…
From Schneier on Security
Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Boats Illuminate Bangkok from Space
Really: To attract the phytoplankton, fishermen suspend green lights from their boats to illuminate the sea. When the squid chase after their dinner, they're drawn closer to the surface, making it easier for fishermen to net…
From ACM-W supporting, celebrating and advocating for Women in Computing
NCWIT - How to Create and Sustain a Women in Computing Group on Your Campus
A Women in Computing (WIC) group on campus can increase members' confidence and enjoyment of their studies, help reduce their feelings of isolation, dispel common myths and stereotypes, and empower members to actively recruit…
From ACM-W supporting, celebrating and advocating for Women in Computing
NCWIT - Recruiting for the Group
Recruit general members:
Current members are natural ambassadors to convey your group’s importance and positive impact. Have them invite friends and classmates. They can also actively recruit at Freshman Orientation and in…From ACM-W supporting, celebrating and advocating for Women in Computing
NCWIT - Activities for Groups
Activities in the first year might focus on building members’ confidence and sense of belonging. But the impact of your WIC group will increase if it sponsors a broad range of activities. Following are some examples of activities…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Wrong Story, Right Story and ROI
In Innovation Excellence. " ... From the Innovation Excellence Cities Tour: Sam Ford, Director of Audience Engagement at Peppercomm Communications shares why storytelling is so important to companies - and why stories have to…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Supply Chain Transparency Visualization
From Deloitte. Data visualization of risk. Good piece that looks at the application of descriptive analytics for supply chain risk." ... Supply chain transparency is critical for managing rising levels of risk in an environment…
From Schneier on Security
Chapter 137 of My Surreal Life
Someone wrote Sherlock-Schneier fan fiction. Not slash, thank heavens. (And no, that's not an invitation.)...
From Schneier on Security
The Onion on Passwords
Funny....
From The Eponymous Pickle
Local Short Course on Web Analytics
Just reminded of this, I know the people involved and it will be quality. Useful for anyone involved in the space.The UC Center for Business Analytics is pleased to announce its next short course:Fundamentals of Web Analytics…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Need for Stepping up Security in Healthcare IT
CIO writes on the obvious increased need and compliance complexity. " ... "We're learning through experience, and what we see happening out there, that more and more of the focus of breaches and attempts to get into systems…