RD

Rise Of Big Data Issues Spurs Industry Commission

By

The explosive growth of data emerging from social media, mobile applications and other sources is creating new challenges in terms of how to harness and obtain value from it.


The federal government’s recently announced $200 Million Big Data Research and Development Initiative is prompting new and higher profile attention from industry on how to better address the explosion of big data.

The latest example is the decision by TechAmerica Foundation, announced late last week, to create an expert commission on the big data issues.

“Big Data is one of the biggest issues that the technology industry has to tackle in the near term and we want to bring together the leading thinkers on the issue to provide the path forward,” said Jennifer Kerber, President of the TechAmerica Foundation.

Kerber cited the fact that more than 90% of the data that has ever existed was created in the past two years, according to a report in Fortune Magazine. Yet, the notion of what actually constitutes big data from the ongoing flood of information, and what new opportunities are emerging around big data, remains vague and not well understood, she said.

With the world’s data doubling every 18 months, the real question is how to make intelligent decisions based on that data, and that’s a question that is critical for government and industry to answer, she said.

The government of course has been dealing with big data issues for many years and has a variety of major initiatives already underway.

But the explosive growth of data emerging from social media, mobile applications, machine sensors and other sources is creating new challenges in terms of how to harness and obtain value from it.

Kerber said the new commission will seek to explore what capabilities are required to succeed with big data; how to use big data to make intelligent decisions; how will agencies effectively govern and secure huge volumes of information, while protecting privacy and civil liberties; and what value will it really deliver to the U.S. Government and U.S. citizens.

The TechAmerica Foundation said it is currently accepting applications for commissioners.

 /  Published May 7, 2012 at 11:17 AM

Government’s Advanced Supercomputer Begins Aiding Research Teams

By


The federal government’s National Science Foundation science is giving more than two dozen research teams access to Blue Waters, a sustained-petascale supercomputer which is on its way to becoming one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world.

Six of those research teams have already started to use Blue Waters, as part of a program to support research in studying vexing problems in science and engineering, the NSF reports. Keep reading →

 /  Published March 22, 2012 at 1:19 PM

Defense Department Wants Cyber Arsenal, Report Says

By

The U.S. Defense Department has accelerated its efforts to develop offensive cyber weapons that could be used to dismantle hostile military networks in countries where U.S. forces are operating, The Washington Post reported today.

The report cites the Pentagon’s growing frustration with the military’s inability to disable enemy air defense systems and other military communications networks in places like Libya, where U.S. pilots flew combat missions to protect civilian populations from attacks by the Libyan army. That frustration has reportedly led to a five-year, $500 million budget infusion for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon’s main research and development organization, to fast track research into offensive cyber tools. Keep reading →

 /  Published March 19, 2012 at 3:46 PM

Feds @ Work: DHS Science Guy Dan Gerstein Looks For Fast Payoff

By

Dan Gerstein doesn’t wear khaki any more, but his career in the Army still influences his approach to his current work: practical with a touch of inspiration.

As deputy undersecretary for Science and Technology at the Homeland Security Department, Dan Gerstein helps oversee a broad array of research and development activities. The common theme, ultimately, is effectiveness of the DHS mission of homeland protection both through its own people and through first responders at all levels of government. It does this by applying R&D to both knowledge-based and technology-based solutions.
_______________________________________________ Keep reading →

 /  Published January 27, 2012 at 8:08 AM

Feds@Work: NNSA’s Bob Osborn Creating Single Agency View On Cybersecurity

By

This article was originally published by FedInsider.

CIOs often say that cybersecurity should be built into software and systems, and not thought of as a later add-on. In practice this ideal is seldom reached. But the National Nuclear Security Administration is in the midst of a three-pronged IT initiative to both modernize its infrastructure and get closer to having cybersecurity baked in. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 30, 2011 at 11:02 AM