Inteltrax: Top Stories, March 19 to March 23
March 26, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, the myriad of ways companies are handling tough times through analytics.
One positive light was shone in “Netflix Sets Analytic Example” which shows how the once-sagging movie giant is correcting its course with analytics.
On the flipside, “LexisNexis Fighting a Losing Analytic Battle” shows the original king of analytics and discovery to be going about a big data conversion all wrong.
And on a slightly less concerning note, “Mobile BI Might Be Too Much for Some” shows that while handheld analytics is cool, it’s wasted on many users.
Big data anatlyics is a soaring field, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ups and downs on the way to the top. We help you see all the good and the bad this wild world of innovation has to offer by bringing you the latest every day.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting
www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax, March 26, 2012
Inteltrax: Top Stories, March 12 to March 16
March 19, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, how some online sources are embracing the big data revolution.
One of the hottest names in online retail in the last 12 months, is breaking analytic ground, according to “Groupon Expands into Big Data,” but is that a good idea?
Another online giant is losing a little analytic ground to its social media competitors, as we learned in “Facebook No Longer Biggest Analytic Source” .
The internet presence of nonprofits has certainly increased and analytics is helping them help more people, according to “Nonprofit Analytics Could Spell Big Business” .
Just like with any industry, the online world has taken a shine to analytics. The results, much like anywhere else tend to be positive, but also involves some shrinking. No matter who’s involved or what direction they’re headed, it’s a fascinating ride and we’ll be monitoring it every day.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax.
March 19, 2012
Google and Semantic Search
March 15, 2012
The Wall Street Journal certainly has a scoop if one has been ignoring Google’s actions over the last five or six years. For a traditional “real” news publication owned by News Corp., the newspaper knows how to generate what I call “faux excitement.” The for fee version of the Wall Street Journal story is at http://goo.gl/DnRrP although the link may go dead in a New York minute.
You will want to snag a copy of the dead tree edition of the March 15, 2012, newspaper. Turn to Section B1 and read “Google Gives Search a Refresh.” If you have don’t have an online subscription to Mr. Murdoch’s favorite newspaper, click here.
I found the write up bittersweet. An era has ended at the Google. Google is moving into the choppy waters of “smart” search. Others have been in the kayaks trying to navigate meaning for a long time. Perhaps the best known player is Autonomy, which is now the “baby tiger” at Hewlett Packard. Google wants to skip the baby tiger metaphor and jump to the semantic shark.
My research suggests that Google has been grinding away at semantic search for a while, at least a decade. There were signals about Google wanting to get beyond the “clever” linking method and the semantic techniques of Oingo (Applied Semantics) a decade ago. (Notice the word “semantics” in the company name?)
Then Google took a couple of steps forward when it landed the Transformics technologies and hired Dr. Ramanathan Guha. You can get the run down on Dr. Guha’s semantic leanings when you work through the hits for this query on Google: Ramanathan Guha semantic Web. No quotes required. Dr. Guha is the wizard behind the Programmable Search Engine, which I described in some length in Google Version 2.0: The Calculating Predator, published by the UK outfit Infonortics five years ago. The monograph may still be in print, and if you can snag a copy, you will see how Google’s wizard explains a system and method to populate “fact tables” and perform other feats of semantic legerdemain. The Wall Street Journal focuses on Google’s acquisition of Metaweb Technologies which is more along the lines of a a complementary content or fact generating system. Google has a tendency to “glue” technologies together, not toss the shark technologies out with the bathwater.
The write up is one of those fear-uncertainty-doubt maneuvers which technology companies enjoy. “Real” journalists are too savvy to fall for the shiny lures. The persistent reader will learn that there is no release date for the new Google search. This surprised me because I was sure I read and later heard that Google version 2.0 was Google Plus, not plain old search with some WolframAlpha.com like touches and Blekko nuances stirred in for enhanced flavor. I must admit I was confused about a news story written in the present tense which is really about some search advances which will arrive at an indeterminate time in the future, maybe tomorrow, maybe in September when the leaves turn.
The story suggests that Google is making changes because of Microsoft Bing, Apple’s voice search, or Facebook, which has no search service of much consequence. My hunch is that Google is making changes to search for one reason: ad revenue via traditional browser based search is softening. This is bad news for anyone dependent on online advertising revenue to pay for airplanes, Davos visits, and massive television and print advertising. Forget the competitors, Google has to do something that works to pump up margins and generate massive revenue. After more than a decade of trying to diversify its revenue, Google is under the gun. If Google’s magic touch were actually working, then the company should be rolling in dough from multiple revenue streams. Where is the payoff from appliances, enterprise sales, and me-too services which have essentially zero impact on companies like Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft.
Google’s PR thrust to focus attention on how it will improve search comes too quickly after Google got “real” journalists to believe that Google 2.0 was the “social” services. Well, how has that worked out for Google? I wrote about James Whittaker’s explanation of “Why I Left Google”. If you haven’t read the Whittaker write up, click here. The passage I noted was:
I couldn’t even get my own teenage daughter to look at Google+ twice, “social isn’t a product,” she told me after I gave her a demo, “social is people and the people are on Facebook.” Google was the rich kid who, after having discovered he wasn’t invited to the party, built his own party in retaliation. The fact that no one came to Google’s party became the elephant in the room.
Net net: Google has been in the semantic game a long time. Semantic technology is now in operation at Google, just as plumbing. Now Google wants to expose the pipes and drains.
The reason?
Semantic are hoped to give Google more hooks on which to hang advertising messages. Without something new, revenue growth at Google may degrade at a time when Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft continue to grow. The unthinkable? Nope, the reality.
Stephen E Arnold, March 15, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Search and Why People Quit
March 14, 2012
I saw two headlines which initially did not ring my chimes. I scanned “Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs.” Pretty tame stuff, particularly when I get the name dropping and the baloney; for example:
It might sound surprising to a skeptical public, but culture was always a vital part of Goldman Sachs’s success. It revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. The culture was the secret sauce that made this place great and allowed us to earn our clients’ trust for 143 years. It wasn’t just about making money; this alone will not sustain a firm for so long. It had something to do with pride and belief in the organization. I am sad to say that I look around today and see virtually no trace of the culture that made me love working for this firm for many years. I no longer have the pride, or the belief.
These assertions about the “golden past” were chopped from the same species of corporate pig as the “nothing worthwhile comes easy” from the mid 1970s at Booz, Allen & Hamilton. Companies create myths in order to shape the hearts and minds of the new hires. The “culture” is more important than family, free time, vacations, and apple pie. Then the money makes it clear that the outfit is pretty much about money, making lots of it and convincing one another how smart those lucky enough to work at the firm really are.
I found the obligatory “wake up call to the board of directors” indicative of the mind set which gets a person hired in the first place.
The second story was “Why I Left Google.” The write up is oinking from a similar pen. However, there was a nuance which caught my attention. The Google write up, therefore, has more protein on the back ribs. Here’s the passage:
Under Eric Schmidt ads were always in the background. Google was run like an innovation factory, empowering employees to be entrepreneurial through founder’s awards, peer bonuses and 20% time. Our advertising revenue gave us the headroom to think, innovate and create.
I had never thought of Eric Schmidt as a “real” manager. But there was another factoid or assertionoid to be accurate. Here you go:
It turns out that there was one place where the Google innovation machine faltered and that one place mattered a lot: competing with Facebook. Informal efforts produced a couple of antisocial dogs in Wave and Buzz. Orkut never caught on outside Brazil. Like the proverbial hare confident enough in its lead to risk a brief nap, Google awoke from its social dreaming to find its front runner status in ads threatened. Google could still put ads in front of more people than Facebook, but Facebook knows so much more about those people. Advertisers and publishers cherish this kind of personal information, so much so that they are willing to put the Facebook brand before their own. Exhibit A: www.facebook.com/nike, a company with the power and clout of Nike putting their own brand after Facebook’s? No company has ever done that for Google and Google took it personally.
Ah, has, ego in the heart of the numerical machine. In my study and work in and around things Googley, the human element never caught my attention. Now I am going to have to think about how a giant corporation reacts when another commercial firm gets trounced in a real life NCAA play off.
One final thought: why are these folks quitting? My hunch is that neither really knows. At age 67 I know what I do, why I do it, how I do it, and for whom I do it. I hope both of these wizards can look beyond their skirmishes with reality.
I would like to run a query for that concept, but as you know, search is not so good unless sponsored by an outfit with enough dough to put “relevant” results before me. I will query “Faustian bargain.”
Stephen E Arnold, March 14, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Attensity Election Forecasts
March 14, 2012
Is the prediction half right or half wrong? Sci-Tech Today seems to opt for optimism with “Twitter Analysis Gets Elections Half Right.” Attensity attempted to demonstrate its social analytics chops by forecasting Super Tuesday Republican Primary results using Twitter tweets. Their predictions were about 50% accurate; isn’t that about what you’d get flipping coins?
A lack of location data seems to be the reason Attensity’s predictions were less precise than hoped. Writer Scott Martin reveals:
Part of the problem lies in a lack of location-based data about Twitter users’ tweets. Such information is ‘scarce’ on Twitter, says Michael Wu, principal scientist of analytics for Lithium, a social-analytics firm. That’s because Twitter users would have to turn on the ‘location’ feature in their mobile devices. A vast pool of location-based tweets would enable analytics experts to better connect tweets to where they come from across the nation. In the case of Super Tuesday, that would mean more localized information on tweets about candidates.
Another roadblock to accurate prediction lies in identifying when multiple tweets come from the same enthusiastic tweeter, or are spam-like robo-tweets. Furthermore, there is no ready way to correlate the expression of opinions with actions, like actually voting. It seems that this analytic process has a long way to go. It also seems that half right is close enough to spin marketing horseshoes.
Serving several big-name clients, Attensity provides enterprise-class social analytics as well as industry solutions for vertical markets. They pride themselves on the accuracy and ease of use of their tools. My thought is that I will pick horses the old fashioned way.
Cynthia Murrell, March 14, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Inteltrax: Top Stories, March 5 to March 9
March 12, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, trends in big data.
Our biggest trend spotting article was undoubtedly “Big Predictions for 2012 Big Data” in which we laid out the upcoming months and how they will be even bigger than 2011’s massive data year.
“Safety and Security Prompt Analytic Trend” took a closer look at new trends, specifically how to keep folks safe via analytic technology.
Finally, “Consumer Thinking Becomes a Big Analytic Focus” is undoubtedly the hottest topic in big data and we toss our two cents into the hat.
Big data and analytics are an evolving being. The landscape today is nothing like it was twelve months ago. Thankfully, we are watching every blip on the radar to give readers a comprehensive feel for the past, present and future of analytics.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax.
March 12, 2012
Inteltrax: Top Stories, February 27 to March 2
March 5, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, more precisely, a cherry picking of hot topics regarding the world of big data analytics.
In “Big Data Rescues Publishing” we showcase the ways that dashboards and predictive tools can help rescue the siabout teamworknking ships of newspapers and printed books.
This year has been all in big data and “Oracle and Teradata Show Big Partnering Trend” shows how two of the biggest names in the business are shaking hands to get more work accomplished.
However, not all is rosy, as “Unstructured Data Could Cause Intellectual Property Headaches” , especially when dealing with the sticky subject of who owns the rights to much of the unstructured data people are utilizing.
It’s a wide spectrum of excitement and intrigue that big data news is cut from. We’re keeping our ear to the ground in order to cover it all, every day.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax, March 5, 2012
Inteltrax: Top Stories, February 20 to February 24
February 27, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, the happenings within the ever-expanding world of unstructured data.
The first look we took was our story “Unstructured Data Growing at Astronomical Rates” gives proof that the info known as unstructured data (tweets, videos, blog posts, etc) are growing wild, but thankfully smart tools are here to tame them.
Another look, “Unstructured Data is Never Perfect,” offers proof of how hard it is to make sense of this info, but sheds light on companies like Digital Reasoning, who are conquering the unstructured.
In a related realm, “Unstructured Data Storage Demands Equally Powerful Software,” shows that, in order to make the most of unstructured data a combination of powerful software and massive storage is necessary.
Unstructured data is easily the biggest buzz word in big data analytics. That’s because our collection of this useful ephemera is growing at massive rates. Luckily, there are countless tools used to help us make helpful insights using this confusing data and we’ll be tracking it every step of the way.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax, February 27, 2012
Why Does Dassault Need Netvibes?
February 23, 2012
Enterprise Irregulars reports, “Cloud Wars Heating up: Oracle : Taleo, Dassault Systèmes : Netvibes.” Writer Michael Fauscette examines the potential impact of two recent acquisitions. Oracle has snapped up the cloud-based employee management vendor Taleo, while Dassault Systèmes has bought Netvibes, a dashboard specialist.
Most eyes are on the much larger Oracle-Taleo deal, and the article thoroughly explores that development. However, Fauscette is more interested in the smaller matter of Dassault and Netvibes. We are, too. The write up notes:
“I think this acquisition is an interesting tell to a strategic move by Dassault to reposition as a broader innovation platform. Today Dassault is securely positioned in the product engineering and manufacturing world, but product development is under pressure to become more social and to drive more innovation.”
We’re confused. We thought that Dassault property Exalead offered social-compatible dashboard functionality. Is there an issue with existing technology? Or is Dassault doing the IBM dance of just buying stuff and hoping revenue will follow? Perhaps Inforbix, an ArnoldIT client, is putting pressure on the old-line French firm? Instead of innovating, Dassault is doing what ageing companies do to get new ideas: Buy them. More may be needed. Inforbix’ technology is quite promising and, in my opinion, truly innovative.
Cynthia Murrell, February 23, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Inteltrax: Top Stories, February 13 to February 17
February 20, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, some of the biggest trends in the big data industry.
Our story, “Smart Hires Make Analytics Run Smoother” weighed in on the debate that says big data is not for IT departments, but rather should be its own specialized department in companies.
“Analytic Spinoff Companies on the Rise” showed how companies like TruSignal which once dabbled in big data are now spinning off complete analytic agencies.
“Analytic Money Season is Here” detailed the start of the most exciting time of the year in business intelligence. This is when companies start reporting 2011 profits and last year was a big year, so we expect record numbers.
There are a million different directions big data analytics is heading. We are trying to keep our finger on each one of those pulses and you can come along for the ride every day.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com.
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax, February 20, 2012
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