Iris Insight Discovery Platform Offers New Approach
February 6, 2013
Is this another data-analysis revolution or just more fancy graphics? Wired reports, “Data-Visualization Firm’s New Software Autonomously Finds Abstract Connections.” Ayasdi asserts that their Iris Insight Discovery platform helps you find answers in your data to questions you didn’t even know to ask.
If you check out the article, start with the embedded video; it does a good job of explaining the product. Writer Liat Clark explains:
“It’s a type of machine learning that uses hundreds of algorithms and topological data analysis to mine huge datasets before presenting the results in a visually accessible way. Using algebraic topology, the system automatically hunts down data points close in nature and maps these out to reveal a network of patterns for a researcher to decipher — any closely related nodes of information will be connected and clustered together, like how a social network arranges its data according to relationship connections.”
By removing the requirement for human-generated queries, the software is unfettered to offer up any patterns and anomalies it detects. Chances are, at least some of those will turn out to be important. The platform is apparently already producing exciting results in the medicine, and DARPA has optimistically bankrolled much of the development, hoping its use of the platform will bolster our national security. Now, a new round of funding is launching the product into the public realm.
When Ayasdi was formed in 2008, it was built on a decade of research at Stanford, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), and the National Science Foundation. The company is now located in Palo Alto, California. Their unique name is Cherokee for “to seek.”
Cynthia Murrell, February 06, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Visual Aids Always Make Data Analysis Better
December 24, 2012
You might have asked yourself the question, “what is data?” The answer according to Dictionary.com is individual facts, statistics, or items of information or a body of facts/information. Data basically supplies you with knowledge about a subject. When it comes to data analysis, you will probably ask yourself this question as well, “what is the best way for me to represent my data findings?” The answer to this one is even simpler: use visual aids. If you are unsure where to find useful and free data visuals, Computer World has been keeping a running inventory of “Chart and Image Gallery: 30+ Free Tools for Data Visualization and Analysis.”
Running through the list you will notices there are free tools for presentations, charts, and other ways to represent your analysis findings without relying on an expensive, commercial software. These free tools do require a certain set of skills; each one is ranked according to difficulty:
“Skill levels are represented as numbers from easiest to most difficult to learn and use:
1. Users who are comfortable with basic spreadsheet tasks
2. Users who are technically proficient enough not to be frightened off by spending a couple of hours learning a new application
3. Power users
4. Users with coding experience or specialized knowledge in a field like GIS or network analysis.”
With Big Data becoming even a bigger player in the business world taking advantage of these tools will help your organize the results from your Big Data analysis. Visual aids have come a long way from the standard PowerPoint.
Whitney Grace, December 24, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Visualization Woes: Smart Software Creates Human Problems
December 10, 2012
I am not dependent on visualization to figure out what data imply or “mean.” I have been a critic of systems which insulate the professional from the source information and data. I read “Visualization Problem”. The article focuses on the system user’s inability to come up with a mental picture or a concept. I learned:
I know I am supposed to get better with time, but it feels that the whole visualization part shouldn’t be this hard, especially since I can picture my wonderland so easily. I tried picturing my tulpa in my wonderland, in black/white voids, without any background, even what FAQ_man guide says about your surroundings, but none has worked. And I really have been working on her form for a long time.
A “tulpa” is a construct. But the key point is that the software cannot do the work of an inspired human.
The somewhat plaintive lament trigger three thoughts about the mad rush to “smart software” which converts data into high impact visuals.
First, a user may not be able to conceptualize what the visualization system is supposed to deliver in the first place. If a person becomes dependent on what the software provides, the user is flying blind. In the case of the “tulpa” problem, the result may be a lousy output. In the case of a smart business intelligence system such as Palantir’s or Centrifuge Systems’, the result may be data which are not understood.
Second, the weak link in this shift from “getting one’s hands dirty” by reviewing data, looking at exceptions, and making decisions about the processes to be used to generate a chart or graph puts the vendor in control. My view is that users of smart software have to do more than get the McDonald’s or KFC’s version of a good meal.
Third, with numerical literacy and a preference for “I’m feeling lucky” interfaces, the likelihood of content and data manipulation increases dramatically.
I am not able to judge a good “tulpa” from a bad “tulpa.” I do know that as smart software diffuses, the problem software will solve is the human factor. I think that is not such a good thing. From the author’s pain learning will result. For a vendor, from the author’s pain motivation to deliver predictive outputs and more training wheel functions will be what research and develop focuses upon.
I prefer a system with balance like Digital Reasoning’s: Advanced technology, appropriate user controls, and an interface which permits closer looks at data.
Stephen E Arnold, December 10, 2012
Google Maps: A Prelude to Broader Predictive Search
October 4, 2012
Short honk. Google’s MoreThanaMap subsite signals an escalation in the map wars. You will want to review the information at www.morethanamap.com. The subsite presents the new look of Google’s more important features and services. The demonstrations are front and center.The focus is on visualization of mashed up data; that is, compound displays. The real time emphasis is clear as swell. The links point to developers and another “challenge.” It is clear that Google wants to make it desirable for programmers and other technically savvy individuals to take advantage of Google’s mapping capabilities. After a few clicks, Google has done a good job of making clear that findability and information access shift a map from a location service to a new interface.
Several observations:
First, Google wants to keep its mapping capabilities front and center. Second, the challenges iPhone’s native maps present to some users is a subtext in this subsite. Third, Google Maps are important. Google does not connect the dots to voice search, online advertising, and predictive information display. The “global community” approach underscores Google’s desire to wrap the glob with its maps and overlaying and predicting technologies. Those aspects of MoreThanaMap will become available as Google nudges its Maps forward. Interesting stuff.
Stephen E Arnold, October 4, 2012
Centrifuge Releases Latest Version of Visual Networks Analytics Platform
September 24, 2012
Centrifuge recently published “Centrifuge Delivers Scalable Big Data Analytics With Visual Networks Analytics Version 2.7” which discusses a new solution that minimizes the need for data scientists while accelerating discovery across disparate data points. Sounds pretty cool…and complicated.
According to the news release, Centrifuge, a provider of Big Data analytics and visualization solutions for fraud, security and risk, announced the availability of the latest version of its Visual Networks Analytics platform. It addresses the need to derive context intelligence and pattern discovery in big data by delivering powerful technology that addresses the growing need to quickly filter, sift and understand large amounts of data.
Renee Lorton, Centrifuge CEO, explains:
“Corporate Information security is a big data analytics challenge that cannot be addressed with traditional data mining, BI, or legacy analytics approaches. The sheer volume and complexity requires a powerful investigative discovery approach that is easy enough for a non-data scientist to use. Machine data, for example, is one of the fastest growing segments of big data, generated by websites, applications, servers, networks, mobile devices and other sources. Now, discovering patterns in Big Data is both easy and cost effective with Centrifuge’s powerful interactive data visualization.”
With an increasing number of organizations being hacked, information security is becoming a higher priority. A variety of industries would benefit from this technology.
Jasmine Ashton, September 24, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Centrifuge Video Worth a Look
September 18, 2012
Centrifuge Systems has a metaphorical-type video explaining its system and method, lengthily titled: “Uncover the Mysteries in Big Data and Fraud Data Analysis with Centrifuge Systems.” The overview runs 1.24 minutes and is worth a look. If you like that one, check out more instructive videos at the company’s resource page. These folks are good at explaining things.
Centrifuge recently released version 2.7 of its analysis software. About their technology, the site explains:
“Centrifuge Visual Network Analytics gives you the power and flexibility to connect, visualize and collaborate without complex data integration, costly services or a data science degree. Using advanced link analysis, you can ‘bring your own data’ from any source, filter and combine as desired, and quickly make connections between people, behavior and events.
“Centrifuge Interactive Visualizations move beyond simple visual dashboards to give you the ability to interpret data within the context of your business. With patent-pending Collaborative Discovery, you can share findings and collaborate with others for deeper insights and faster problem-solving.”
Centrifuge is proud to have garnered a place in the 2012 FinTech Innovation Lab Program, and to have been placed on the 2012 Always On Global 250 Private Company Top Ones to Watch list. The company is Headquartered in McLean, VA.
Cynthia Murrell, September 18, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Centrifuge Rolls Out Big Data with Visual Analytics
September 16, 2012
Centrifuge has released its latest version, we learn from “Centrifuge Delivers Scalable Big Data Analytics with Visual Network Analytics Version 2.7.” Centrifuge focuses on corporate fraud, security, and risk. The upgraded platform brings more speed to intelligence and pattern discovery for large amounts of data. The press release states that Centrifuge is the first big data analytics solution to allow customers to bring in their own data, eliminating the often expensive data transformation step.
Centrifuge CEO Renee Lorton explained her company’s niche :
“Corporate Information security is a big data analytics challenge that cannot be addressed with traditional data mining, BI, or legacy analytics approaches. The sheer volume and complexity requires a powerful investigative discovery approach that is easy enough for a non-data scientist to use. Machine data, for example, is one of the fastest growing segments of big data, generated by websites, applications, servers, networks, mobile devices and other sources. Now, discovering patterns in Big Data is both easy and cost effective with Centrifuge’s powerful interactive data visualization.”
The write up points out a new ease-of-use feature and flexible relationship matching. Also, the Relationship Path Discovery function serves up all possible connections, but points out the shortest ones. The new version also includes an extensible data framework that broadens users’ access to a wealth of data set types.
Headquartered in McLean, VA, Centrifuge embraces the considerable challenges behind corporate security data analysis. It is proud to have garnered a place in the 2012 FinTech Innovation Lab Program, and to have been placed on the 2012 Always On Global 250 Private Company Top Ones to Watch list. Their trademarked slogan is “See Clearly Now.”
Cynthia Murrell, September 16, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Building a Better Dashboard
September 13, 2012
How do you fix a the problem of poorly designed dashboards? Why, start a contest urging folks to come up with a better one, of course. Stephen Few has issued that challenge, the 2012 Perceptual Edge Dashboard Design Competition, from his Visual Business Intelligence blog under the post titled “Defeating Bad Dashboards by Example.” One contender, Michael Schiff, has written about his solution at The Mashup, also titled “Defeating Bad Dashboards by Example.” Though Few specified contestants may use a program like Photoshop to create a mock up, Schiff chose to make his interactive. Kudos to him.
Few’s challenge is based in the teaching field, but we should be able to apply the principles explored by contestants to business intelligence and other fields. He writes:
“This will be the most challenging event of this type to date resulting in the most esteemed award for dashboard design (in my not-so-humble opinion) since I judged a similar competition for the B-Eye-Network back in 2006. . . .
“The winning dashboard will be featured in ‘Information Dashboard Design, Second Edition’, due out during the first half of 2013, and in an article in the ‘Visual Business Intelligence Newsletter”. No, you won’t win $10,000 or an all-expenses-paid vacation to the Bahamas. Instead, you will have an opportunity to advance the information age by showing a better way to display data for performance monitoring. In other words, you will have a chance to do something useful for the world.”
Ah, virtue as its own reward and all that. Bragging rights will just be the icing, right? The submission deadline is September 21, so hit up Few’s post for details if you would like to take part. Otherwise, check his blog sometime around October 10 for the winning design. I know I’m curious about the results.
Cynthia Murrell, September 13, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Performance Dashboard ROI Calculator from Visual Mining
September 12, 2012
Visual Mining offers a (free) calculator to determine the value of a visual dashboard—see the Business Dashboard ROI Calculator at their site. Naturally, their focus is on their own software, NetCharts Performance Dashboards, but you may be able to extrapolate. The tool’s description reads:
“Reporting and analysis for your business shouldn’t be an arduous undertaking. But many businesses spend 10, 20 or even 40 hours per month assembling financial reports. With performance management dashboards, you don’t have to involve IT or consultants to customize reports, and you don’t need to spend endless hours copying, pasting and assembling data out of spreadsheets or report writers.”
Well, yes, that’s a performance dashboard for you. To use the calculator, you will enter the business’ revenue and an estimate of how many hours currently spent each month producing reports. Then plug in how much you might spend on the software, and the calculator will spit out estimated returns.
Visual Mining has been building data visualization software since 1997. Despite its old-school roots, the company prides itself on keeping up with technology, from supporting the latest browsers and devices to employing advanced chart-rendering methods. Their NetCharts is Web-based, and they also produce tools for developers to build customized, integratable dashboards. The company is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
Cynthia Murrell, September 12, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
New Visualization Service from BT
August 16, 2012
BT (British Telecommunications) has launched a new product called Assure Analytics, MarketWire informs us in “BT Simplifies Big Data and Security Challenges with New Visualization Service.” The security data analysis service focuses on big data, naturally, and aims to facilitate fast and effective decision making. The press release reveals:
“The service, which instantly fuses together structured and unstructured data from any number of sources – such as emails, reporting systems, databases and internet news feeds – brings the information to life for businesses through insightful imagery and mapping which highlights potential patterns, threats, interdependencies and outcomes across their organization.”
Interestingly, the company is practicing what it promotes. The write up notes:
“BT is already using Assure Analytics in its battle to protect the UK telecoms network from copper theft. The service is helping the company analyze crime statistics, fault reporting and geographical information – highlighting patterns and theft hotspots to inform its prevention and response policies.”
The world’s oldest surviving communications company, BT began as The Electric Telegraph Company in 1846. The company provides a range of communications solutions to customers in over 170 countries. Not surprisingly, it is the official Communications Services partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Cynthia Murrell, August 16, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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