Jim Utsler
Contributor
Jim Utsler, freelance writer and former senior writer, has been writing about technology since the mid-1990s. He has covered myriad technological advances—and seen numerous IBM platform name changes. Although he currently focuses on customer success stories, he also writes articles of general computing interests and about new and emerging technologies. He has also written stories for magazines like Automotive News, Electronic Commerce World and PGA Magazine. Jim is a freelance illustrator and the author of two currently unpublished novels (one a thriller about the early days of PC development). Jim has a degree from the University of Michigan. While in school, he was a copy editor for Mathematical Reviews, an experience that taught him that math actually does make sense. His now, oft-repeated rebuke of himself is, “If I had been born smart enough, I would have been a physicist.” Jim can be reached at jjutsler@provide.net.
Layering the World
September 4, 2017
Microscopes have advanced so far since their inception, they may soon be able to see the small scale in almost infinite detail. But the large scale? It seems much easier to visualize—look up at the sky—but when big, complex data gets thrown into the mix, that may not be the case. The sky is blue, […]
ArticlesIBM Uses Low-Cost Sensors to Help Address Climate Change Issues
September 1, 2017
Natural gas is considered by many to be a cleaner energy source. The downside to natural gas is the methane that is a primary component. If it leaks into the air—estimates suggest approximately 1-2 percent leakage is common at production sites—it absorbs the sun’s heat and warms the Earth’s atmosphere. Methane is estimated to be […]
ArticlesWords in Action
August 1, 2017
Imagine being able to predict the onset of a mental health condition before it hits. Or receive a diagnosis at home instead of a psychiatrist’s office. Or being able to adjust your medications based on patterns in your speech when you casually talk with family and friends. Within the next five years, you may not […]
ArticlesKeeping IBM Machine Learning on z/OS Next to the Data Enhances Analytics
July 5, 2017
Machine learning isn’t some sort of sci-fi-y attempt to make mechanical overlords. Rather, it’s a method by which users can train computers to recognize and even predict patterns in data and, based on machine-learning models, help them make better decisions based on historical, recent and up-to-the-minute information—no matter the format. Machine learning represents an acute […]
ArticlesBankwest Modernizes Its Mainframe Integration Environment
July 5, 2017
UP CLOSE Customer: Bankwest Headquarters: Perth, Australia Business: Retail and business banking services Challenge: Reducing complexity between front- and back-end banking platforms Solution: Taking advantage of Java on the mainframe to reduce reliance on traditional middleware Hardware: An IBM z Systems zEnterprise BC12 Software: IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty, Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) applications, […]
ArticlesThe Future Becomes Reality
June 2, 2017
Imagine being able to look at a car’s engine—almost as if you had X-ray vision—without lifting the hood. Or asking a handheld device how you can fix an oil leak even if you have no idea what you’re doing. Now extrapolate that to jet engines or oilrigs, the complexities of which can be mind-boggling to […]
ArticlesUnintended Emissions
June 2, 2017
Natural gas is considered by many to be a cleaner energy source. The downside to natural gas is the methane that is a primary component. If it leaks into the air—estimates suggest approximately 1-2 percent leakage is common at production sites—it absorbs the sun’s heat and warms the Earth’s atmosphere. Methane is estimated to be […]
ArticlesIBM Researchers Use Machine Learning to Make Storage Smarter
May 1, 2017
With the goal of helping us learn more about the universe, IBM and the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) are collaborating on the IT roadmap behind the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the largest radio telescope in the world (bit.ly/2iywTpL). As part of this effort, called the DOME project, IBM developed a […]
ArticlesIBM Research and Partners Help Traffic Run Smoothly in Madrid
March 20, 2017
Nearly every city plan takes traffic into account to help commuters. But people still face congestion on the road, whether they drive or take public transportation. IBM researchers, such as Paula Ta-Shma, research staff member, IBM Research–Haifa, are working to rectify that, using machine learning and a host of open-source tools. “IoT is leading the […]
ArticlesUse Machine Learning to Make Storage Smarter
March 1, 2017
With the goal of helping us learn more about the universe, IBM and the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) are collaborating on the IT roadmap behind the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the largest radio telescope in the world (bit.ly/2iywTpL). As part of this effort, called the DOME project, IBM developed a […]