Your daily digest of “All Things Big Data” gathered, collected and researched by your very own 10Fold Big Data Practice team.
Big Data
Big data is going to continue to grow and that means the need for more big data-skilled employees. Companies cannot wait for college students to graduate with their PhD in data science, they need people now. Online training is helping bridge the gap when it comes to filling big data openings. Online training can also help cut costs for companies on things like traveling for training sessions. It is also boosting internal hiring. Rather than having to look outside the company, businesses are finding candidates within with the right background and skillsets to train on big data.
Companies are using big data to understand their employees’ health better so they can predict if and when they will get sick. Companies are using firms like Castlight Healthcare Inc. to collect and crunch employees’ data to identify if, for example, they are at risk for diabetes or a heart attack. If data identifies that certain employees are at risk, then the employer can send a personal message to advise them to see a doctor or begin a weight-loss program. There is some controversy over this, for example, exposure of personal health data to employers or others, but it can also expose real health concerns to employees that they didn’t know existed.
Can Online training bridge the big data skills gap? – CIO
Bosses Harness Big Data to Predict Which Workers Might get Sick – WSJ
IoT
Coverage continues over IBM’s new open-source IoT development tool, Quarks. IBM hopes that Quarks will become the industry standard for IoT development. It will be supported by the IBM Streams platform that specializes in compiling and analyzing gigabytes for live data in real time.
IoT-connected devices is growing at an unprecedented pace. It is being seen in everyday high tech gadgets like Fitbit, but also in low tech industries such as manufacturing companies, which are able to attach IoT sensors to their existing equipment to enable the machines to talk to each other, gather data, and report back. This is resulting in better maintenance indicators of when equipment needs service and tracks power consumptions on devices that are using too much power. IoT is also helping facilities’ management monitor building devices for off-hour consumption through sensors, and is even helping to drastically reduce waste.
Coverage continues over IBM’s new open-source IoT development tool, Quarks. IBM hopes that Quarks will become the industry standard for IoT development. It will be supported by the IBM Streams platform that specializes in compiling and analyzing gigabytes for live data in real time.
IBM goes open-source for better IoT Apps – PYMNTS
IoT Sensors giving low-tech industries high-tech benefits – Information Management
Cognitive Computing
There were several articles addressing IBM and GBM (Central American IT integration company) announcing a partnership to accelerate the use of IBM’s Watson’s cognitive computing capabilities in Latin America. The new company is called Cognitiva, and will be dedicated to delivering cognitive computing solutions to help clients transform their industries and create data-driven businesses. IBM believes that healthcare sector will be a successful space for Cognitiva.
IBM Broadening Watson Cognitive computing capabilities in Latin America – Infotechlead
IBM and Cognitiva to Usher in a New Era of Cognitive Computing using Watson in Latin America – PR Newswire