Prochonism Criticizes TV Shows for Time Lingo Goofs. Do TV Writers Care?
June 26, 2012
We have stumbled upon an interesting site. Prochronism.com is the project of Princeton History grad student and Harvard Cultural Observatory fellow Ben Schmidt. It tracks lingual anachronisms (words or phrases are not in their correct historical or chronological time) heard in period TV shows. Schmidt creates word clouds and charts that graphically represent the usages of such language. He also offers commentary. For example:
“The worst phrase, at 30x more common, is ‘status meeting.’ It’s a very rare term in either period, which means that we might be able safely to ignore it: but there are a lot reasons not to. It falls pretty readily into the category I discussed in my Atlantic piece of Mad Men dropping 70s and 80s corporate speech in the 1960s recklessly; the very few places it is used in the 1960s seem to slant towards the government/engineering end of the spectrum, making it out of place at a creative small startup; and the Ngram curve veers pretty sharply up around the Carter/Reagan great divide.”
Picky? Perhaps, but we language folks can get that way. What’s interesting to us, though, is the juxtaposition of text mining and the boob tube. What does such a focus say about America’s intellectual bifurcation?
The sun may not rise. TV writers drag themselves out of bed late in the day anyway and may miss the news about their egregious disregard of TV lingoing.
Cynthia Murrell, June 26, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Inteltrax: Top Stories, June 18 to June 22
June 25, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, some fast-moving news in the big data business.
Our story, “Small Businesses Need Analytics Too” showcases the rising tide of small companies improving business through big data.
With the rise in big data business, “Analytic Customer Support Reaches New Heights” shows how helping the customer is helping vendors differentiate themselves.
Perhaps no news is bigger than the money IBM is spending on big data, as we covered in “IBM Sees the Future and Invests.”
The news landscape is always changing in big data. We’ll keep an eye on the small businesses and the IBMs and everyone in between to keep readers up to date, everyday.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax.
June 25, 2012
A Closer Look at Data Sovereignty Issues across Geographical Borders
June 25, 2012
At GigaOM.com, Barb Darrow weighs in on data sovereignty issues around the globe in her post, “Data Sovereignty Issues Still Weigh on Cloud Adoption.” Darrow points out that many large enterprises may embrace cloud computing, just not for key jobs because of restrictive regulations.
The author explains:
These laws…mandate that a company keep a customer’s data in that customer’s home country. One oft-cited reason is to prevent that data from being subpoenaed by a foreign power… Multiple regulations governing where a company can store customer data means that multinationals have to field data centers in every country where they have a presence — a trend that flies in the face of the appeal of borderless clouds.
One takeaway regarding the issue is that cloud service providers have to be able to meet regulatory obligations specific to the business sectors they address. Darrow also points out that until such hurtles are surpassed and cloud providers can provide detailed assurance where data resides, many businesses will keep residing on premise or in private clouds.
Darrow brings some good points to the discussion and highlights issues that need addressed in our global information age where data easily spans across physical borders. You may want to consider a third party solution built by experts in search and data management in the cloud with the European Union in mind. With Mindbreeze, you have options for on-premise and cloud usage:
Our information pairing technology makes you unbeatable. Information pairing unites enterprise information and Cloud information. This results in a complete overview of a company’s knowledge – the basis for your competitive advantage – allowing you to act quickly, reliably, dynamically and profitably in all business matters.
Compared to U.S. solutions, Mindbreeze seems to be on the right track. Read more about the full suite of solutions at http://www.mindbreeze.com/.
Philip West, June 25, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
More Data to Query from Carbon Monitoring
June 25, 2012
As companies become more focused on tracking and minimizing their carbon footprints to enhance their sustainability records as well as their bottom lines, carbon monitoring software has surged in popularity. Such applications have matured quickly in recent years, and numerous guides and standard calculations now exist to assist companies with assessing and benchmarking their carbon emissions and ensuring their compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
Unfortunately, carbon monitoring can be difficult to standardize, as every organization has different monitoring needs based on its operations and culture. Consequently, traditional business intelligence software may collect much inaccurate and superfluous environmental data, thus compromising its utility. In light of these reliability concerns, some software makers have invested in their product portfolios to offer more comprehensive, integrated carbon monitoring capabilities. As noted in the article by William Newman and Cindy Jennings entitled “Automated Carbon Monitoring Works Best with Close Industry Fit, Integration” that recently appeared online on Search Manufacturing ERP’s site:
“Broad sustainability performance applications, including product compliance elements, are available from many enterprise resource planning (ERP) and product lifecycle management (PLM) vendors such as SAP, Dassault Systemes and PTC, as these large software vendors position themselves for growth in the carbon monitoring market.”
Inforbix, like its cutting-edge peers, offers highly customized cloud-based PLM solutions that enable its users to easily find, reuse, and share all types of product data to enhance monitoring, compliance, and profitability.
Tonya Weikel, June 25 2012
New Version of Funnelback
June 25, 2012
Funnelback’s latest version boasts a number of new features, we learned at Regina’s List in “Funnelback 11 Launched with Automated Tuning and SEO Assistant.” The press release describes the new Automated Tuning component:
“Brett Matson, Managing Director of Funnelback, said Funnelback 11 has the ability to continually and automatically optimize its ranking using a correct answer set determined by the customer. This enables customers to intuitively adjust the search engine ranking algorithm to ensure it continuously adapts and is optimized to the ever-changing characteristics of their own information environment. A related benefit is that it exposes how effectively the search engine is ranking, said Mr. Matson.”
Other new features include an integrated SEO assistant, updatable indexes, efficient crawling, 64-bit indexing, a new high performance search interface, a broken links report, and a People Search feature for users’ customers. The software is available on Windows, on Linux, and as a cloud service.
Based in Australia, Funnelback grew from technology developed by premier scientific research agency CSIRO. The company was established in 2005, and was bought by UK content management outfit Squiz in 2009. They offer Enterprise and Website Search, both of which include customizable features. Their memorable name derives from the names of two Australian spiders, the funnel-web and the red back.
Cynthia Murrell, June 25, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
How Librarians Play an Integral Role When Searching for Historical Documents
June 25, 2012
The Center Square Journal recently published “Meet Julie Lynch, Sulzer Library’s Historical Search Engine,” an article that introduces readers to the librarian who oversees the archive of manuscripts, maps and photographs donated by residents of Chicago’s neighborhoods north of North Avenue.
According to the article, the Northside Neighborhood History Collection encompasses more than 30 collections that document the history of schools, religious institutions, neighborhoods, homeowners’ associations, local businesses, community leaders, parks, the Chicago River, and the streets and transportation in communities located north of North Avenue to the city limits on the east, west and north sides of Chicago.
Due to the nature of her work, Lynch is the human equivalent of a search engine. However, she differs in one key aspect:
“Unlike Google, Lynch delivers more than search results, she provides context. That sepia-tinged photograph of the woman in funny-looking clothes on a funny-looking bicycle actually offers a window into the impact bicycles had on women’s independence. An advertisement touting “can build frame houses” demonstrates construction restrictions following the Great Chicago Fire. Surprisingly, high school yearbooks — the collection features past editions from Lane Tech, Amundsen and Lake View High Schools — serve as more than a cautionary tale in the evolution of hairstyles.”
Despite the increase in technology that makes searching information as easy as tapping a touch screen, this article reiterates the importance of having real people to contextualize these documents.
Jasmine Ashton, June 25, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Switches Cure Some Google Search Migraines
June 24, 2012
Many of us have suffered a GSM (Google Search Migraine) due to changing search parameters and now there’s a way to ease the pain. Tuck away your aspirin, the article Google Search Parameters in 2012 gives us a useful run down on Google search ‘switches’ for command line queries.
The author stated the following:
“Knowing the parameters Google uses in its search is not only important for SEO geeks. It allows you to use shortcuts and play with the Google filters.”
“Google keeps adding new parameters to its URL to keep pace with the increasing complexity of the search product, the Google interface and the integration of verticals. While most parameters are known, some aren’t.”
This was followed up with a list of search parameter switches broke down in the following categories; Normal, Advanced, Area (Language, Country), Advanced tools, Other Factors and Unclear Parameters.
Each parameter offers more detail, ensuring that the user can generate more productive results. The other factors category is useful because it tells us how to turn off filters that Google automatically adds. You see, if you don’t set the stage yourself, than Google will do it according to information they’ve obtained from your history.
Google is a very versatile search engine with a vast amount of ways to define results. The convenience of knowing advanced search operators will stimulate and enhance productivity and personal use. The availability of the search parameter switches will make Google search migraines a thing of the past.
Jennifer Shockley, June 24, 2012
Search the Impossible Search
June 22, 2012
The concept of “virtual documents” will be a familiar one for many search engine professionals. Simply put, it means assembling an indexable record in a search engine from constituent parts that otherwise exist in different places. A recently posted staff blog on Search Technologies’ Web site provides an excellent example of how virtual documents can directly address a business need.
The perspective of the searcher is often not well served by existing content structures.
The “people search” issue described by the article is a common one, and the case study shown clearly illustrates the value of virtual documents.
Read on at Virtual Documents, Search the Impossible Search.
Iain Fletcher, June 22, 2012
Sponsored by Search Technologies
Critical Patches Fend off Microsoft Active Attacks
June 22, 2012
Internet Explorer has long been a vulnerable target to cyber attacks, malware and the like, but Microsoft has just announced a large batch of patches in order to address vulnerabilities across a wide variety of their software offerings. ComputerWorld UK provides a complete breakdown in, “Microsoft Patches 26 Bugs, Warns Users of Active Attacks.”
Giving attention to all of the vulnerabilities, the author reports on what may be the most critical update, the one in need of adoption first. He quotes Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Security:
‘Certainly, [MS12-036] makes it to the top of the worrisome list,’ said Storms. That update, also rated critical, patches just one vulnerability in the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), a Windows component that lets users remotely access a PC or server. RDP is frequently used by corporate help desks, off-site users and IT administrators to manage servers at company data centers and those the enterprise farms out to cloud-based service providers.
Implications for those organizations that use Remote Desktop Protocol in any manner in their infrastructure, but especially in their enterprise SharePoint deployment, are obvious. There is need for concern and quick action in order to plug the security gap. However, it’s also reported that oddly, the updates must be manually downloaded.
The author continues:
All of the patches must be downloaded manually from Microsoft’s Download Center. They’re not served up through the usual Windows Update service or the enterprise-grade Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) software.
It seems that such critical updates, especially for those who use ubiquitous SharePoint, would be made more readily accessible and users would receive prompt notification.
For enterprises that are concerned about their security needs, consider a smart third party solution like Fabasoft Mindbreeze. Smaller and more agile, these companies can devote greater attention to security needs. Additionally, in the interest of being fair, Microsoft is always going to be a target for malware and viruses because of its sheer size. It is truly a huge target. However, adding Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise to an existing SharePoint infrastructure will not only make the whole enterprise more secure, but also more easily accessible.
Read more about the security adherence of Fabasoft Mindbreeze, including relevant ISO standards. Just one example is as follows:
ISO 27001: The ISO standard 27001 is a worldwide recognized standard for the evaluation of the security of IT environments. For customers the certification means the adherence to clearly defined technical and security-based standards regarding all IT and business processes as well as all the company’s confidential information.
Sometimes bigger is not necessarily better, and this is one instance in which it definitely proves true. Move away from Microsoft, the major target of viruses and malware, and move toward a more agile, more secure solution. Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise, and the whole suite of Mindbreeze products, can not only ease your security concerns, but also provide a more satisfying user experience.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 22, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Traditional Approaches to Data Management No Longer Relevant
June 22, 2012
For decades now only the largest, most affluent companies in a handful of industries had access to product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions. That has slowly been changing, though, with advances in technology including cloud technology. A recent Ten Links article, “IMAGINiT Earns Autodesk PLM 360 Specialization”, announces that Autodesk PLM 360 has joined with Rand Worldwide to offer non-traditional PLM solutions, hopefully hitting a greater audience.
The article explains the goal of the union:
Traditional PLM solutions have been cumbersome, and have required expensive customization and implementation phases. Autodesk’s cloud-based PLM 360 solution creates a highly flexible platform that eliminates the challenges associated with IT infrastructure and hardware requirements.
Other companies are also pursuing non-traditional approaches to PLM. At the root of any PLM solutions is data management. Inforbix, a respected leader in the PLM solutions industry, focuses on new data management solutions when creating their software. They strive to help their customers find, reuse and share product data believing that at the heart of any PLM solution should liberate a company’s data without breaking the bank. As more companies realize the potential of PLM we expect leaders like Inforbix to increase in popularity and others to realize the benefit in thinking outside the box.
Catherine Lamsfuss, June 22, 2012
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