Beyond The Big Data Buzz: How
Data Is Disrupting Every Business In Every Industry In The World
This eBook looks at the practical impact Big Data is having on business and organisations in: Healthcare; Retail; Manufacturing; Financial Services, Banking and Insurance; Education; Transport and Logistics; Agriculture and Farming; Energy; Government and Public Sector; Hospitalities, Hotels and Restaurants; Professional Services; Sports; and Businesses built on data. This eBook is a must read for anyone who would like a complete overview of what big data really means, industry by industry.
Download this ebook from https://www.bernardmarr.com/img/Beyond%20the%20Big%20Data%20Buzz.pdf
Blockchain: Unpacking the
disruptive potential of blockchain technology for human development
Technologies
old and new are propelling the current wave of innovation around the world.
Artifcial intelligence, robotics and machine learning are all gaining new
ground and being deployed in a wide variety of contexts globally. One of the
more cryptic but oft-hyped technologies is blockchain, an emergent technology
developed as part of Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency invented in 2008. Whereas
Artifcial Intelligence and robotics innovations seem to have a dark side, many
perceive blockchain technology as a platform for positive and even radical
change.
Yet
for developing countries, the high sophistication and complex infrastructure
requirements (bandwidth, connectivity and high operating costs) of this
technology might prove challenging if countries intend to be active players and
not just end users or consumers. Exploring the relevance of new technologies to
address existing socio-economic gaps and support internationally agreed
development targets including the globally-recognized Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) is critical for countries in the global South. The question for
developing countries is not only how this could be workable but also who could
be involved in harnessing blockchain technologies to close development gaps,
foster social inclusion and promote democratic governance.
This
white paper explores the potential blockchain technology could have in fostering
human development in developing countries. The frst part (after the executive
summary) provides a non-technical overview of blockchain. It then moves to illustrate the range of
applications in development areas and sectors from a public/private goods
perspective. The third section examines the actual relevance of blockchains in
developing countries. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for
additional research and potential development programming using blockchain
technologies. The annexes lay out the
information and communications technology for development (ICTD) framework and
a more technical presentation of blockchain technologies.
This paper centers on blockchain applications that go beyond cryptocurrencies. The core focus is thus on the use of blockchain technology as a generic 5 application platform in developing countries.
Full paper at https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/bitstream/handle/10625/56662/IDL-56662.pdf
This device lets you talk to your computer - without saying a word
MIT
researchers have developed a computer interface that can transcribe words that
the user concentrates on verbalizing but does not actually speak aloud.
The
system consists of a wearable device and an associated computing system.
Electrodes in the device pick up neuromuscular signals in the jaw and face that
are triggered by internal verbalizations — saying words “in your head” — but
are undetectable to the human eye. The signals are fed to a machine-learning
system that has been trained to correlate particular signals with particular
words.
The
device also includes a pair of bone-conduction headphones, which transmit
vibrations through the bones of the face to the inner ear. Because they don’t
obstruct the ear canal, the headphones enable the system to convey information
to the user without interrupting conversation or otherwise interfering with the
user’s auditory experience.
The
device is thus part of a complete silent-computing system that lets the user
undetectably pose and receive answers to difficult computational problems. In
one of the researchers’ experiments, for instance, subjects used the system to
silently report opponents’ moves in a chess game and just as silently receive
computer-recommended responses.
Full
post at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/04/computer-system-transcribes-words-users-speak-silently
Click G For
Media Monopoly
With many teeth in the information dissemination pie, Google has popped up as the new Big Media—without really creating any ‘content’
With many teeth in the information dissemination pie, Google has popped up as the new Big Media—without really creating any ‘content’
Google Games
- Google decides the advertising rates for different publications by its own metrics.
- The company, a mass aggregator, does not pay publishers directly for content created.
- Google, without a ‘permanent establishment’ in India, is still battling tax authorities.
- Publishers have complained about the Chrome ad-filter, which will block advertisements it deems intrusive from February.
- Concerns over search manipulation have led to the European Union cracking down on the web giant.
“Currently, the predominant business model for commercial
search engines is advertising. The goals of the advertising business model do
not always correspond to providing quality search to users.”
Read the interesting article at https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/click-g-for-media-monopoly/299691
Some Changes in Information
Technology Affecting Marketing in the Year 2000
Text
of a presentation made by Mr. Paul Baran (an Internet pioneer, who had invented
packet switching techniques that can be credited with playing a key role in the
development of the Internet. Baran received many accolades in his life
including the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, National Medal of Technology
and Innovation, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.) to the American Marketing Association, in
July 1968, predicting changes in communications media by the year 2000 and
their effects on marketing. Cost considerations in marketing distribution will
encourage major innovations through the use of computer systems. Large-screen,
colour, person-to-person TV communication will be available well before the
year 2000. Coupled to a huge automated information storage and processing base,
and equipped with push buttons, the screen and computer will restructure
merchandising concepts. Shopping will be done at home via TV display. Consumers
will be able to select items and compare advertising claims more rationally
than today. The "serendipity" or "impulse buying" effect
can be maintained by an extra TV selector that will provide randomness in
selection to any degree desired, duplicating the behavior of individual buyers
in conventional shopping.
Read
this presented in 1968 https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/papers/2009/P3717.pdf
Earlier posts of Interesting Reads at http://infoforuse.blogspot.in/2018/05/interesting-reads-archives.html
