New Spin for OmniFind: Content Analytics
May 2, 2011
IBM has dominated my thinking with its bold claims for Watson. In the blaze of game show publicity, I lost track of the Lucene-based search system OmniFind 9.x. My Overflight system alerted me to “Content Analytics Starter Pack.” According to the April 2011 announcement:
The Starter Pack offers an advanced content analytics platform with Content Analytics and industry-leading, knowledge-driven enterprise search with OmniFind Enterprise Edition in a combined package. IBM Content Analytics with Enterprise Search empowers organizations to search, assess, and analyze large volumes of content in order to explore and surface relevant insight quickly to gain the most value from their information repositories inside and outside the firewall.
The product allows IBM licensees to:
- Find relevant enterprise content more quickly
- Turn raw text into rapid insight from content sources internal and external to your enterprise
- Customize rapid insight to industry and customer specific needs
- Enable deeper insights through integration to other systems and solutions.
At first glance, I thought IBM Content Analytics V2.2 was one program. I noticed that the OmniFind Enterprise Edition 9.1 has one set of hardware requirements at http://goo.gl/Wie0X and another set of hardware requirements for the analytics component at http://goo.gl/5J1ox. In addition, there are specific software requirements for each product.
The “new” product includes “improved support for content assessment, Cognos® Business Intelligence, and Advanced Case Management.”
Is IBM’s bundling of analytics and search a signal that the era of traditional search and retrieval has officially ended? Base image source: www.awesomefunnyclever.com
When you navigate to http://goo.gl/he3NR, you can see the different configurations available for this combo product.
What’s the pricing? According to IBM, “The charges are unchanged by this announcement.” The pricing seems to be based on processor value units or PVUs. Without a link, I am a bit at sea with regards to pricing. IBM does point out:
For clarification, note that if for any reason you are dissatisfied with the program and you are the original licensee, you may obtain a refund of the amount you paid for it, if within 30 days of your invoice date you return the program and its PoE to the party from whom you obtained it. If you downloaded the program, you may contact the party from whom you acquired it for instructions on how to obtain the refund. For clarification, note that for programs acquired under the IBM International Passport Advantage Agreement, this term applies only to your first acquisition of the program.
Visualization Tools for Data Analysis
May 2, 2011
Just like consumers companies often compare the products on the market. Companies gather loads of data to help them meet the needs of their clients and stay productive. Visualization is an important data analysis tool that transforms text into graphics in order to make the data easier to comprehend. Users can then study the graphics and look for trends or patterns.
The hefty price tag for visualization tools often make them seem unattainable for many. The Computerworld article “22 Free Tools For Data Visualization and Analysis” provides an in depth review of 22 free tools that can be used in data visualization and analysis. Statistical analysis, data cleaning and mapping are just a few tools available.
With data analysis such an important part of staying competitive in the business world, companies must have the tools needed in order to effectively do the job. With nothing to lose, but maybe a little time, this deal seems too good to pass up. This is worth downloading and tucking away. Useful article.
April Holmes, May 2, 2011
Freebie
Condé Nast Commits to a New Core Competency
May 2, 2011
We love to hear people say “We told you so.” We won’t use that phrase in this brief write up about Condé Nast’s about face. The company has backed off developing iPad instances of Condé Nast magazines. It seems that even affiliation with the popular iPad does not guarantee success in the online world. According to MacRumors.com’s article “Condé Nast Slowing Plans for iPad Magazines Amid Weak Sales,” the company has decided to slow down its initial plan to put all of its magazines on the iPad due to weak sales of the titles currently offered. The article states:
“It’s a shift,” one Condé publisher said. “The official stance was we’re going to get all our magazines on the iPad because this is going to be such an important stream. The new change is maybe we can slow it down. In my opinion it makes Condé look smart because we have the ambition, but we’re not rushing.”
We interpret this alleged comment to mean, “We are losing money on our original idea.”
Instead of Condé Nast pushing forward on the magazine, each individual magazine publisher will be responsible for developing their own iPad applications while Condé Nast vows to focus more on generating unique iPad applications and offering clients exclusive content. With publishers taking on the non traditional role of software developers one must wonder who is focusing on the actual content.
In my view, a magazine is good at selling ads around commissioned content. The shift is that a magazine outfit is going to produce software and rich media. In short, Condé Nast has a new core competency. Snap. Just like that. So easy. Just like search. Piece of cake.
Stephen E Arnold, May 2, 2011
Freebie unlike software development
Panda and Google Shaping Generation Tools. Yes, Google Tools!
May 2, 2011
Search Engine Journal has posted “Web Content—6 Free Tools to Generate Great Ideas (and all from Google).” With these tools out there, no wonder Google has to deal with content that is not so hot. The article asserted:
Whether you are looking to write pages of content for your website, quick posts for Twitter or an interesting nugget for an email newsletter; sometimes it’s a challenge to come up with a regular source of ideas for content that will entice readers and help your search engine rankings.
We beg to differ—we do it all the time, and it’s not that hard!
However, if you’re looking for a quick fix, check out Google’s own tools for creating baloney. The piece elaborates on each of the six tools, which are:
- Google Alerts
- Google Reader
- Google Suggest
- Google AdWords Keyword Tool (The most blatant SEO churner.)
- Google Webmaster Tools
- Google Analytics
Panda may have its work load increased. One unit of Google helps Web masters generate content. Another part of Google wants that content to fit some poorly explained criteria. Knife edge if you ask me, assuming the source is spot on.
Cynthia Murrell, May 2, 2011
Freebie
Online Translation: Good and Bad Sometimes
May 2, 2011
“Google Translate Has Great Uses, Disastrous Misuses,” asserts Deseret News. We agree.
As writer Adam Wooten states, machine translation sites like Google Translate are wonderful for getting the gist of text in a language you don’t happen to be fluent in. In fact, there are several others that also address this need, including: GeoFluent from Lionbridge; IMTranslator; and WorldLingo.
In TMCnet’s article, “Lionbridge launches GeoFluent Real-Time Translation Platform,” writer Jai C.S. describes the new offering. This paid platform boasts “a statistical machine translation engine developed in IBM’s Watson Research Center,” and includes a multilingual chat feature. It also runs on multiple devices and promises secure exchanges. Check it out here.
ImTranslator describes their product in their own blog. This option includes components like a virtual keyboard, spell-check, a multilingual dictionary, and email and print functions. I like the idea of the “convert text into voice in 10 languages” feature. The translation itself, however, relies on Google Translate.
WorldLingo lures us in with a free translator, similar to Google’s, but it offers several pay options a la carte. These include machine translations for entire Web sites, emails, documents, and chat. Also, and this is important, the company offers the services of professional human translators.
Which brings us back to Deseret’s article. When it comes to weighty matters such as legal documents, financial information, and marketing copy, you’d better call in the humans. Check out this partial list of machine translation mistakes Wooten cites:
“A Chinese restaurant sign displayed the words ‘Translate Server Error’ above its storefront after a free translation site failed. A newspaper mistranslation repeatedly misquoted a former president of Kazakhstan as referring to the important issue of ‘passing gas.’ Israeli journalists nearly sparked an international incident when they seemed to insult a Dutch diplomat’s mother in a machine-translated message. Finally, an automatically translated furniture tag contained a racist slur that seriously offended customers in Toronto, Canada.”
For personal reading or for informal communications where all parties are aware of the limits of machine translation, these tools fit the bill– free or inexpensive, quick, and easy. The additional tools from the paid sites could come in very handy; the chat feature sticks out as one that may quickly become indispensable.
However, there’s no substitute for knowledgeable professional humans when it comes to the important stuff. It’s worth the investment of time and money– unless you don’t mind publishing something akin to the Chinese menu that offered “Stir-fried wikipedia.” Mmm, sounds tasty!
Cynthia Murrell, May 2, 2011
Freebie
Protected: How Chaos Can Result from a SharePoint Project
May 2, 2011
Is Google Skating on Thin Ice with FOSS?
May 1, 2011
With the sudden announcement that the much anticipated Android Honeycomb 3.0 system will be delayed the FOSS (Free Open Source Software) community and other developers are all ears as they wait to hear what Google will do next. According to the Tech News World article “What Does Google Owe FOSS?” Google delayed the project due to technical glitches. The article asserted in a direct quote from a Googler:
We have more work to do before we can deliver them to other device types including phones. Until then, we’ve decided not to release Honeycomb to open source.
The FOSS community was ready to jump right into implementing the new Android 3.0 upgrade into their devices so the delay has left many in the FOSS community feeling uneasy. Some worry that “Google might recant and keep Honeycomb out of the open source inventory altogether.” With Google taking a major blow with the loss of the Texas Linux patent lawsuit, there has been even more speculation on how the Honeycomb delay and Google’s strategy from here on out will affect the FOSS community. As usual “mums the word” with Google so we will just have to watch as the story unfolds. But there is that $5 million fine and a legal precedent. Nah, ice is thick. Skater floats like a butterfly.
April Holmes, May 1, 2011
Freebie
More on the Panda DNA
May 1, 2011
I thought panda’s slept all day and focused on bamboo and being uncooperative with panda watchers’ picture taking. ZDNet announces that “Google Panda Algorithm Update Benefits News Sites.” Well, that’s good. Improving the rankings of real content was the point. Explains the article,
To test the changes and provide a rare glimpse into Google’s algorithmic workings, ZDNet UK’s sister site CNET News compiled nearly 100,000 results by testing Google.com in March and again on Friday after the most recent alterations took effect. News sites generally benefited from the changes.
However, not everyone is liking the Panda beastie. AccuraCastNews reports “Google Panda Update Seriously Affects Popular U.K. Sites.” The article notes the 10 sites in the U.K. whose rankings have fallen the most, and by how much, since the Panda was brought to life.
It fails to make a case, though, that these sites deserve to keep their previous pinnacles. In fact, they mention eHow.com, which suffered in both markets. Um, yeah. They’re one of those content farms Google was targeting.
The AccuraCastNews piece also lists the 10 U.K. sites that have benefitted the most from the new algorithm. Look for yourself to see whether you think the losses and gains make sense.
Cynthia Murrell May 1, 2011
Freebie just like those old May Day parades
Shakespeare, a Real Trendsetter
May 1, 2011
This short item is not strictly about search, but it provides some insight into language which wizards are working overtime to get computers to understand.
The old saying “history repeats itself” continues to hold true. According to the Phrases.org article “135 Phrases Coined by William Shakespeare” the famous poet can actually be called a trendsetter. We learn:
“Barry Manilow may claim to write the songs, but it was William Shakespeare who coined the phrases. He contributed more phrases and sayings to the English language than any other individual – and most of them are still in daily use.”
Who would have guessed that the popular singer Manilow has a little Shakespeare in him. Phrases such as “All that glitters is not gold,” “As dead as a doornail” and “Good riddance” can be found in some form in books, songs and even in movies. Even if Shakespeare is not actually responsible for coming up with all of those lines the fact that he was able to leave his mark on so many even those who have never read or even heard of his literary works is amazing in itself. Imitation is the truest form of flattery.
Alice Holmes, May 1, 2011
Freebie unlike a college text containing Will’s complete works
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