On Another Apollo Anniversary, a Reminder: IBM Space Technology Continues to Evolve
History’s publicists have done well by Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong’s first moon steps in July 1969. However, fewer recall the Apollo 12 lunar mission four months later. It almost didn’t happen. On Nov. 14, 1969, in the first minute after lift-off, two lightning bolts struck Apollo 12. The spacecraft’s main power supply went dark, […]
How a NASA Flight Controller’s Quick Thinking Saved Apollo 12
Less than a minute after Apollo 12 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 14, 1969, it was struck twice by lightning. The electrical surges knocked out the main on-board power supply and disrupted the telemetry feed that was sending data from the command module to NASA controllers on the ground. Their monitor […]
It’s a Long and Open Road Ahead for Bus & Coach Travel
As one of the oldest forms of public transport, the bus occupies a special place in our hearts and lives. For more than a century, these vehicles have carried us to work, school, holiday destinations and festivals. But bus and coach companies can hardly afford to be sentimental nowadays. Technological innovations are creating new models […]
Values, Leadership and Serving America’s Veterans
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” – George Washington Students of American history know that we have a mixed track record when it […]
IBM’s Robert H. Dennard and the Chip That Changed the World
The inspiration, as is often the case, came late one evening. Bob Dennard, then a 34-year-old IBM electrical engineer, was pondering a colleague’s research presentation he’d seen earlier that day. It was autumn 1966, and Dennard had been helping design a new form of computer memory using silicon-based transistors. This approach, known as microelectronics, would […]
How a Hybrid Multicloud Strategy Can Overcome the Cloud Paradox
Public clouds have a lot to offer. Public clouds bring about agility, elasticity, and speed, which make a company’s IT shop become a lot more responsive to the needs of its business. By shifting workloads to the cloud, businesses can make great strides in reducing costs and boosting productivity. This allows them to focus on […]
A First Look at What a 5G-Enabled World Looks Like, Courtesy of Samsung and IBM
For years thought leaders in the technology, telecommunications, and media spaces have offered tantalizing visions of how 5G will transform society: lightning-fast video downloads, self-driving cars, eSports, robotic factories, and other revolutionary technologies yet-to-be imagined. But these predictions often include qualifying language, reminding readers that, of course, no one can really predict the future, and […]
Watson Anywhere: The Future
(Part 3 in a Series) There’s a paradox in the world of AI: While it’s the largest economic opportunity of our lifetime (estimated to contribute $16 trillion to GDP by 2030), enterprise adoption of AI was less than 4% in 2018. A recent Gartner survey said that the 4% in 2018 has now grown to […]
Some Assembly Required: What’s Ahead in Automotive Design
Industry 4.0 has arrived in the automotive industry, bringing substantial shifts in worker skill sets, line machinery maintenance and production quality control. According to the Association for Talent Development, knowledge workers are now in demand on factory floors, and CIO notes that proactive maintenance could help organizations cut the $50 billion they spend each year […]
The 3 Beachheads of AI
(Part 2 in a Series) We have been partnering with and assisting clients on their data needs and strategies for years. It’s clear that data and AI are two-sides of the same coin; in fact, this understanding spawned the AI Ladder concept. We’ve developed skills training in the areas of data science and machine learning; […]
Rethinking the Mayflower: How I Came to Build an Autonomous Ship to Cross the Atlantic
To cross the Atlantic with an unmanned, autonomous ship will push technology to its limits. Like the Mayflower’s 101 passengers in 1620, we’ll also need a lot of help and some good luck. I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. I spent a lot of time messing around in the ocean, swimming and diving. Unlike my […]
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Championing a Culture of Security
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month in many places around the world – so it is a great time to reinforce the importance of championing a culture of security, both inside IBM, and with our clients worldwide. Supporting smart habits in the workplace can go a long way in preventing cyber incidents that might lead to […]