IBM's Watson

    Every night my husband, Ben, and my daughter, Elizabeth, and I watch Jeopardy and see who can answer the most questions.  Well, I have to say most nights Ben wins the challenge. When we were first married, the same Jeopardy was run back to back each night.  When I realized this, I would watch the first Jeopardy before Ben came home from work (I got home earlier than he did.) and would memorize as many questions as I could.  My short-term memory is pretty good!  Needless to say, he could not get over how smart his wife was and was also pretty bummed at getting beaten. One night he arrived home early and caught me scoping out the first Jeopardy!  All I can say is that it was good while it lasted.  I still get a chuckle out of thinking about his expression when I was killing him at Jeopardy and his expression when he found out I was cheating!
    Recently, I heard that the two best Jeopardy contestants would be going up against a computer system named Watson.  A little research led to the IBM site IBM: The next Grand Challenge.  You see, IBM attempts what they call "Grand Challenges" such as having a computer system beat a chess master at chess or mapping the human DNA genome.  This time they have attempted to create a computer system that understands natural language content and can search and analyze data.  IBM feels that this system could give new insights into - and gleen new information from - existing data. 
     IBM speculates that this new technology would be used in future data management and analytics.  We have smart phones, smart cars, smart homes, and now we could have smart cities.  IBM feels that this technology could integrate transportation, utility usage, and health care (to name a few) into a system that maximize a city's resources.  This is a quote from the website:

     "Jeopardy! The IBM Challenge poses a specific question with very real business implications: Can a    system be designed that applies advanced data management and analytics to natural language in order to uncover a single, reliable insight — in a fraction of a second?"
   
    Look for the advertisements for the Jeopardy challenge and if you would like to see the videos and learn more about Watson, go to:
http://www-03.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/what-is-watson/the-next-grand-challenge.html

e-Books: Kindle versus Nook Color

     I'm going to blog on my favorite pasttime - reading!  I love to read, and a year ago my husband got a Kindle for me.  Now, when he first gave it to me I was not sure that I would like it.  I mean, my practical side was screaming that I would not be able to share books with friends and family. So I accepted the gift, acting like I liked it, but thought, "I'm never going to use this!"  Well, I turned it on and within 10 minutes had set up my Amazon account and had figured out how to download my first book.  I read that one and downloaded the next in the series.  (I love Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series).  All I can say is that Ben has created a monster.  I LOVE the Kindle.  It is instant gratification.  If I want to read a book, newspaper, or magazine, I can turn on the Kindle's Wi-Fi, go to Amazon and download my choice of reading material.
     When our instructor requested blogs on new technology, I knew that my first attempt would be about the latest in e-books.  I have chosen to look at Amazon's Kindle 3 and the Barnes and Noble's Nook Color.
      The Nook Color uses the new VividView color touchscreen technology and a LCD screen.  The Nook can be read indoors or outdoors without complications from glare.  It has 8 GB of memory  - enough to store 6000 books!  Its battery is good for 8 hours after one charge.  It has built-in Wi-Fi but no 3G.  The Nook Color has a media player that can accomodate 100 hours of music or audio books.  It is excellent for magazines, children books, and other reading materials.  There are 2 million books available for purchase from Barnes and Noble. The recommended retail price is $249.00.
     The Kindle 3 has 4 GB of memory with a capacity for 3500 books.  It is the thinnest on the market being just 0.335 inches thick.  It is 4.8 inches wide and 7.5 inches tall.  It uses the E-ink technology which gives you a reading experience equal to reading a book.  The screen is not backlit so it avoids the eye strain that comes from viewing a lighted screen for hours.  The battery will last up to one month on one charge with the Wi-Fi turned off.  It will last up to 3 weeks with the Wi-Fi turned on.  With a Kindle, you have direct access to the Amazon store and free Wi-Fi across the U.S.  Amazon has 700,000 books available for purchase with the Kindle and an addition 1 million available for free.  Amazon also keeps a backup of all the books you have purchased and will download a book to you again if you delete one by mistake.  The purchase price for the Kindle 3 is $139.00. 
     It is amazing how you can get attached to a gadget, and I love my Kindle.  If you are interested in reading more about the lastest e-books. Go to:
http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/

Introduction

    Hi there! Well, there is a first time for everything.  I have never blogged about anything.  I'm not sure I even know how to do it - but I will give it my best shot.  I guess CTS 287 is exposing me to more than new, emerging technologies!
    My name is Pam, and you can say that I have had a mid-life crisis.  I have gone back to school after 30 years! (I'm nuts, right?)  I graduated the first time from NCSU with a BS in Textile Management.  After working in the industry for 7 years, I stayed home to rear 3 daughters.  After more than 20 years, I felt it was time to once again join the work force. (I'm sure my husband has wondered why it has taken me this long!) I will graduate from ECC in May with an Associate in Computer Information Technology. I chose CIT because I wanted computer skills before applying for a job.  I had practically no skills when I started school so my computer experience mainly has been obtained through school and personal use.
     So here I am, starting a new career at my age and still wondering what I want to be when I grow up!