Week 6 [30.05-05.06.2016] How Can Graph Analytics Uncover Valuable Insights About Data?

Recent  years  have  seen  emergence  of  cloud  computing platforms  which  can  be  used  as  utility  infrastructures  for performing  large-scale  data  analytics.  Many data analytics applications require   processing of large-scale graph data. As the sources, types, and amounts of data continue to expand, so will the need for different kinds of analytics to make something of that data. Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to analytics -- no magic pill that will get your organization the insight it needs to stay competitive. Graph analytics has emerged as the new hot topic, but to what end? What is the impact of graph analytics technology on organizations seeking to discover the cause, effect, and influence of events on business outcomes? Graph Analytics is a rapidly developing area where a combination of graph-theoretic, statistical, and database techniques are applied to model, store, retrieve, and perform analyses on graph-structured data. These techniques enable us to understand the structure of a network and how it changes in different conditions. They can also find paths between pairs of entities that satisfy different constraints, identify clusters or closely interacting subgroups inside a graph, or find subgraphs that are similar to a given pattern.

Link to article: https://infocus.emc.com/william_schmarzo/how-can-graph-analytics-uncover-valuable-insights-about-data/

1) why we use graph ?
2) Computer software for graphs?
3) Graph analysis will push big data evolution to the next plateau of scale and sophistication?

Week 6 [30.05-05.06.2016] The Hyperloop project

Hello everyone, today I would like to share with you some news about the Hyperloop project. The project involves the creation of a new means of transportation which could compete with the ones that are already available (i.e. cars, trains, ships, planes). Hyperloop was envisioned by the popular entrepreneur Elon Musk back in 2012 as a 5th type of transportation. The idea is that a tube is built between distant locations and a capsule with aerodynamic capabilities is inserted inside to travel through it. A curved tube could create enormous forces that could be intolerable by passengers that is why the route should be as straight as possible. The capsule has to be capable of travel without any kind of wheels which would create friction and slow it down. In fact it is designed to levitate over a magnetically induced surface at speeds exceeding 1220 km/h. This is also how magnetic trains work (maglev) however the main difference here is that engineers are trying to reduce the friction formed by air, hence the tube. Another interesting fact is that Elon Musk made the idea "open" and therefore encouraged many teams around the world to cooperate and work upon it. Currently tests are being performed to check the feasibility of the proposed technologies that involve the project.

For further information you can watch this video:

The article published by SpaceX can be found here: http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha-20130812.pdf

To encourage discussion I propose the following questions:
1. Have you heard about Hyperloop before or any other projects envisioned by Elon Musk? Which one is your favourite, and why?
2. Is it worth to invest into this technology or shall engineers turn their focus into alternatives (if so, then which)?
3. How do you feel about the decision that Elon made to open the project and involve other companies in its development? What are the benefits and drawbacks of this initiative?

Week 6 [30.05-05.06.2016] Fashion: Georg Simmel

I would like to introduce an article about fashion and simulation.
It shows interesting aspects of fashion and the influence that fashion has on social phenomena. We do not say only about the clothes.

Link to article: http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/3/2/forum/2.html

Questions:
1. Are economists should consider factor of fashion, while create forecasts?
2. Are fashion has a big impact on the economy?
3. Do you ever interested in any aspect of fashion? What kind?

Week 6 [30.05-05.06.2016] The Big Impact of Small Groups on College Drinking

Hi. Today I would like to switch from IT to a bit different topic. 

We all have been students and probably most of us have had a chance to experience the so called „students' life". The article I would like to present applies to social aspects of drinking culture among students. Some of you may already know the contents, as this paper comes from JASSS.

 


The Big Impact of Small Groups on College Drinking

To help you with discussion I will start with questions:

1. Have you been involved in students' life during your "academic years"?

2. Have you ever experienced heavy episodic or "binge" drinking mentioned in article?

3. What do you think in general about drinking culture among students?