May 24 2013
Contain your project phases!
Consider the following scenario: A large, multi-million dollar, multi-year IT project is transitioning from the build phase to the test phase. The project has already encountered significant difficulties and dates have been re-planned previously, extending the timeline and cost of the project. As the planned end date of the build phase approaches, there are still some pieces of the application that are being developed, some that are still being unit-tested by developers, and a large number of unit testing defects.
May 22 2013
Making Predictions with Microsoft Data Mining Tools – Part IV
After deciding which mining model is best, you need details to make predictions actionable. Microsoft enables a couple of ways to access those details.
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) includes the Data Mining Query transformation which uses input data with an existing mining model to return a prediction. You can automate predictions by including a Data Mining Query transformation in a SSIS package and returning predictions in a regular data flow.
To make the prediction exporting process easier to understand, I will use SQL Server Data Tools to manually export a batch of selected prediction details.
May 21 2013
Where to get started with big data?
Organizations are aware of what big data has in store, but are not sure if this new technology adds any value to their specific organizational scenarios. Most are thinking "we do not do much with the social media data or web logs or have any real need to analyze such information within our business context". However, the cost effective storage and data discovery platforms that can give new insights are some things people are liking, but they are assuming these are something they may use in the future (and not now).
So, to really understand what could be the best place to start with big data is a great idea to explore.
May 19 2013
Making Predictions with Microsoft Data Mining Tools – Part III
Once you have successfully processed your mining structure and mining models, it is time to view your results. To begin viewing those results, simply click the Mining Model Viewer tab.
Within the Mining Model Viewer tab, select the mining model you wish to review. Ideally you gave your mining models meaningful names so you can easily distinguish mining models from the names in the pull down list. The actual screen shown depends on the algorithm used by your selected mining model. For example, the screen print below shows the results of a Decision Tree mining model.
May 19 2013
Thoughts on Google I/O 2013
Google I/O 2013 has ended and while we saw a few new things on the Android front, this year's event was much more dialed back than 2012 as far as the platform is concerned. There was no Android update announced, much to the chagrin of some bloggers. In my opinion, this isn't that big of a deal as the platform is in a very stable, viable place right now. The platform along with the Android Design Guidelines provide the foundation for developers to deliver almost everything possible in their apps.