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PolySpot’s latest video explains the features and functions of Version 6 of its Administration Console. With this latest release, PolySpot leapfrogs of the administrative interfaces available from many other vendors. PolySpot Information At Work includes a configuration and administration console that covers the entire process, from connector management to search service creation.
The company has provided a video demonstrating the uses of this new administrative console and detailing these high-value enhancement; for example, the ability to configure views with a click, modify the document view with a single click, and autocomplete.
PolySpot, leader in information access solutions, has released a brand new administration console as part of the company’s infrastructure component, Information at Work. Information at Work is a cost-effective component that can help users develop applications to access the information they need.
The updated console provides quick and easy-to-use intermodule navigation with new navigation menus and focuses on providing guidance during the workflow of configuration. Other features of the interface include:
PolySpot Silo Breaker: Distributed data extraction framework.
PolySpot Sense Builder: Dedicated, asynchronous structuring and semantic enrichment platform.
PolySpot SearchMart: Service based on PolySpot InfoWarehouse used to publish index-linked search services. Can be accessed via a range of different applications using an XML/HTTP API.
The video can be viewed here. We think the video demonstration is useful and worth checking out.
Andrea Hayden, October 17, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Cloud security for the enterprise needs improvement as many software vendors are beginning to provide their own cloud storage capabilities, and some companies are stepping up to the plate by offering new features. We learn in the article “Box Beefs Up Security and Search for Enterprise Storage” on GigaOM that search and content solution vendor Box is offering numerous new features including two-step authentication, company-wide search for administrators, and content scanning.
We learn about some of the new features in the article:
“Box is also offering new tools to let admins search across all enterprise content by parameters including user, content type and date range. Box users could always search across their own files, but this is universal search — using Box’s own search technology — across all a company’s users.
‘You can search across the whole organization for just video files that are saved in the last few days,’ [Box VP of marketing Robin ] Daniels said.”
Cloud storage can be an issue for companies which need to focus on security and manageability for compliance reasons; however, cloud security is an issue for search in general. Enterprise search still needs authentication capabilities and Intrafind’s ability to provide feature-rich solutions which include secure search, semantic linking, and sophisticated tagging creates a compliant and functional search environment within any organization.
Andrea Hayden, October 17, 2012
In the beginning of the Big Data craze, there was always the impending potential of tiny mobile devices, tablets and Wi-Fi connections bringing even more data to the table. Now, massive amounts of data repositories from all the user activity on exists, but the question of analyzing it effectively and quickly still remains on the table.
With the consistent boasting of the benefits of Big Data, it is no surprise that the TechCrunch article “Telefonica Wants To Turn Its Mobile Data Into A Big Data Business, Launches Dynamic Insights Unit” states the mobile industry is ready for their piece of Big Data action:
Big data is one of the key building blocks of the digital economy. Approached in a smart and responsible way it has the potential to transform every part of business and society. Telefónica says that Dynamic Insights’ first product will be called “Smart Steps” and will be aimed at companies and public-sector organizations to “measure, compare, and understand what factors influence the number of people visiting a location at any time. Presumably, it will combine not just user numbers over given periods but also track movements at particular locations.
Having access to all that data does no good without a reliable information management platform to allow enterprise wide access to relevant data swiftly and securely. We’ve got our eyes on PolySpot information delivery solutions.
Jennifer Shockley, October 17, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Business2Community covers the importance of Web site indexing in its piece, “How To Build Your Own Sitemap in Five Minutes, and Why You Need To.” In it, the author discusses differences processes for simply creating an effective sitemap. However, he begins with an introduction.
When you ask most business owners and beginning online marketers what a ‘Sitemap’ is, you usually get two responses. ‘What’s that?’ or ‘That’s just too complicated for us.’ Sitemaps for your website aren’t impossible to make, and they certainly aren’t a waste of time. To understand why you need to make your own Sitemap today, you need to understand what they are and how they work.
The author then goes on to recommend various tools and techniques for effectively creating a sitemap. However, there are other solutions that not only automatically generate sitemaps, but also automatically crawl and index any organization’s site in order to enable effective Web site search. One highly awarded option is Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite. Fabasoft Mindbreeze takes the guesswork out of indexing and mapping, reaping high results with little effort. Explore how Fabasoft Mindbreeze might enhance your organization’s online presence today.
Emily Rae Aldridge, October 17, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext.
Numerous opportunities exist online to assist in the development of education, such as social networking, blogs, and even simple email. However, according to an article I spotted on Phys.org titled “Study Reveals Disparity Between Students’ and Professors’ Perceptions of the Digital Classroom,” the integration of education and information and communication tools (ICTs) is not exactly welcome by many students. A recent study from Concordia University shows that students actually prefer an engaging lecture to some wired supplement.
The article elaborates on the results:
“Instructors were more fluent with the use of emails than with social media, while the opposite was true for students.
‘Our analysis showed that teachers think that their students feel more positive about their classroom learning experience if there are more interactive, discussion-oriented activities. In reality, engaging and stimulating lectures, regardless of how technologies are used, are what really predict students’ appreciation of a given university course,” explains [Magda Fusaro from UQAM’s Department of Management and Technology.]”
The countless possibilities that exist online to expand learning and teaching methods could prove to be a mad rush to the Web for many learning establishments as they attempt to explore the options. However, if this study is accurate, students may not be willing to go along on the ride. It appears online information and services may not be able to fill student expectations.
Andrea Hayden, October 17, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Boston.com’s “Attivio Collects $34 Million in New Funding to Help Companies figure Out What They Know” caught the attention of the goslings here in Harrod’s Creek. I have spoken with several senior managers in the content processing and analytics space, and I can report that none of these individuals had his or her arms around the broader meaning of the $34 million Attivio landed.
Boston.com reported:
“One thing our software does is correlations,” Riaz explains. “You may have an unpaid invoice that belongs to Cisco, and we help you figure out that the reason its unpaid is that you may have all these support issues with them that you need to address.” Riaz says part of the appeal of Attivio’s software, which it calls the Active Intelligence Engine, is that “we can merge into their existing information infrastructure so that we’re adding value in days.”
What the reports of Attivio’s funding omits is the possible impact of the money on the search and content processing sector. Let me outline four consequences of this funding deal:
First, the competition is going to have to find a way to cope with Attivio’s marketing and sales activities. Attivio is a pretty good marketing operation. However, with additional funding, Attivio will be able to compete against its traditional competition and push into sectors which are more familiar with IBM- and Oracle-type solutions.
Second, the prospect pool for Attivio will grow. Money today works like catnip. Companies looking for a way to cope with distributed and fractionalized data will include Attivio in their short lists. Money works this magic.
Third, people who are working at smaller analytics firms or who are in a cube at a Google-type operation will consider Attivio as a job hop option. This means that smart people will gravitate to Attivio because it offers a green field opportunity.
Fourth, innovators are likely to knock on Attivio’s door. Raw invention is one thing, but turbo charging comes from learning about hot new systems and methods. I think Attivio will benefit from a flow of ideas from small outfits looking for a mover and shaker.
Good news for Attivio. Maybe some other investment firms will look at the information delivery sector and another hot prospect. Exciting times.
Stephen E Arnold, October 16, 2012
The mobile app field is on fire right now as more businesses add Web and mobile applications, and one company is making great strides in mobile search capabilities. Cloudant has announced its cloud database service is adding full-text indexing and search powered by Apache Lucene. We learn in “Cloudant Upgrades Cloud Database Server With Integrated Text Indexing and Search Basedon Apache Lucene” on PRNewswire that Cloundant “Search 2.0” allows developers to enhance their Web and mobile apps with full-text search and analysis of documents.
The article continues:
“‘Search 2.0 enables the types of text analytics that just aren’t possible with the limited in-database search capabilities of SQL or other search systems,’ said Mike Miller, co-founder and chief scientist at Cloudant. ‘I can’t think of any application out there that wouldn’t benefit from better search. By drawing on the speed and simplicity of Lucene, we are able to provide developers with an easy, familiar way to do that for large amounts of application data that will perform at-scale for massive amounts of users.’”
While Cloudant’s moves in the mobile search field are impressive, our research indicates that accurate enterprise search is still needed in the industry. Intrafind’s enterprise search applications can answer the need to “find information securely.” The company’s iFinder is a basic solution for structured and unstructured enterprise data, allowing users to gain access the information needed in an enterprise quickly and efficiently.
Andrea Hayden, October 16, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
IBM branched into cloud computing with PureFlex and applications with PureApplications, so seeing them move toward data analytics is not surprising. The TechCrunch article “Meet PureData, IBM’s New Big Box For Big Data,” discusses the latest edition to IBM’s Pure series.
Apparently big players like IBM and Oracle have decided to sell their big box systems and replace the old servers that their customers utilize for legacy software:
They call these boxes converged systems. They essentially are new age mainframes with state-of-the art compute, storage, and networking all in one system. The PureData System is designed to manage petabytes of data. According to IBM, it can manage up to 100 databases and can perform analytics in a matter of minutes versus hours to understand consumer purchases and other data-intensive tasks, such as detecting credit card fraud. It focuses on transactional applications such as e-commerce, customer analysis and analyzing operations.
The combination of IBM’s three Pure strategy will create an all in one solution, but they are stepping into the game a little late. Developers like PolySpot have been providing an all-in-one solution for almost a decade offering a platform that delivers information. Their unique infrastructure component can be used to sort, store and develop innovative and cost-effective applications, while providing users with quick, access to the relevant data necessary to increase operational efficiency and ROI.
Jennifer Shockley, October 16, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under Analytics, Enterprise, Infrastructure | Comments Off on Operational Efficiencies Improve with Solutions that Deliver Information
It is often said that the power of a solution and its ease of use are conversely proportional. If a solution is powerful, it will no doubt be very difficult to master, or vice versa. The rule holds very true for SharePoint. Even as SharePoint 2013 is unveiled, highly trained developers are being warned that additional training will be needed. The Redmond Channel Partner covers the issue in, “Office 365, SharePoint and SQL Server: Our Experts Weigh In.”
The author states:
Meanwhile, as the flagship Microsoft database and collaboration platforms become more entrenched, provisioning and managing them have become more complex. The new capabilities and use cases of Windows Server — combined with the new requirements of SQL Server and SharePoint — require organizations to offer extensive new skill sets.
So how is a small or medium size organization supposed to cope with the growing demands? Fabasoft Mindbreeze offers an entire suite of solutions for the enterprise, all designed to be intuitive and powerful, even for an end-user who is not a highly skilled developer. Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise is a small third-party solution that adds quality, usability, and style to the enterprise seamlessly. Read more to see if the solution can optimize your organization’s intranet.
Emily Rae Aldridge, October 16, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext.
Data insights can come from many places, of course, and previously unexplored sources can be well worth pursuing. Open-source-project blog Enthought[s] informs us of a novel data wellspring in “Explore NYC 311 Data.” Inspired by this year’s Datagotham talks on “urban science,” writer David Kim and colleagues wondered what insights they could glean from NYC 311 data. NYC 311 is New York City’s information line, but it also serves as a repository of residents’ complaints. Through the city’s Web site, they were able to access data on about four million 311 calls between January 2010 and August 2012. Kim writes:
“NYC 311 calls are categorized into approximately 200 different complaint types, ranging from ‘squeegee’ and ‘radioactive’ to ‘noise’ and ‘street condition.’ There are an additional ~1000 descriptors (e.g. Radioactive -> Contamination). Each call is tagged with date, location type, incident address, and longitude and latitude information. . . .
“Simple aggregations can help analysts develop intuition about the data and provide fodder for additional inquiry. Housing related complaints to HPD (NYC Dept of Housing Preservation and Development) represented the vast majority of calls (1,671,245). My personal favorite, ‘squeegee,’ was far down at the bottom of the list with only 21 complaints over the last two years. I seem to remember a crackdown several years ago. . . perhaps it had an impact.”
Perhaps. Not being a big-city dweller, I cannot comment on the importance of squeegee crackdowns. However, Kim’s observation on that matter is just one example of the sort of hypothesis one can draw from the litany of New Yorkers’ complaints.
The article goes on to discuss the team’s efforts at visualizing the data, their aggregation techniques, and their desire to add in more data sets. Kim makes a point of crediting the open source tools they used– PostGIS, Psycopg2, Pandas, D3, QGIS. If you are interested in tapping the possibilities of datasets, the article is worth checking out for the details.
Cynthia Murrell, October 16, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under Data, News, Open source | Comments Off on Exploring the New York City 311 Dataset
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