IBM announced its partnership with Indian
Institute of Technology - Kharagpur, Indian Institute of Technology -
Bombay, the Indian Statistical Institute – Kolkata and Birla
Institute of Technology and Science - Pilani to introduce a Cognitive
Computing course to empower India's university students to build
applications infused with Watson's intelligence.
In January 2014, IBM made a billion dollar
investment to usher in a new era of cognitive computing. Over
the past nine months, IBM has made some breakthrough discoveries and
met significant milestones with new partners
and clients across the world. Watson is a ground-breaking platform
that represents a new era of computing based on its ability to
interact in natural language, process vast amounts of disparate forms
of big data and learn from each interaction.
According to technology research firm Gartner, Inc., smart
machines, will be the most disruptive change ever brought about by
information technology, and can make people more effective,
empowering them to do "the impossible."
This first-of-its-kind in India, Cognitive Computing course will
help students gain technical knowledge and hands-on expertise in
fields such as natural language processing, machine learning and
content lifecycle management that is required to develop new
cognitive computing applications.
Co-designed by the Watson Group and leading academic experts in
fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, students
who take the course will begin by learning through presentations and,
discussions about Watson, studying its underlying technologies before
switching to hands-on engagement with Watson.
Enrolled students will form a business team and together they will
have access to their Watson instance via the Watson Developer Cloud.
As a classroom, they will select an industry to focus on, such as
retail, travel or healthcare, and work as a team to ingest relevant
data into Watson and then train it. Ultimately, the students will
break into sub-teams and develop prototype apps and a business plan
based on their Watson industry of choice.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to up skill the
students, expand and strengthen their understanding of Big Data and
Analytics in order to meet the growing demand for highly skilled
workforce- needed in today’s marketplace. IBM has been hosting
Watson Case Competitions over the past year giving students a glimpse
into the promise Watson holds to transform industry and
professions.
Prof. Pabitra Mitra, Associate Professor for Computer Science and
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, said,
“In collaboration with IBM, our goal is to secure a future for a
wide range of students including those studying computer science,
mathematics, communications and marketing.”
Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya, Computer Science and Engineering
Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay said, "To
embrace this growing opportunity, companies today must hire a
workforce with a broad range of Cognitive Computing, Big Data and
Analytics expertise."
Dr. Debapriyo Majumdar, Assistant Professor, Indian Statistical
Institute, Kolkata said, “It’s crucial that today’s
learning is aligned with the industry and our institute is producing
graduates who have knowledge and skills that are in demand both
locally and globally."
According to research firm Gartner, Inc., smart machines will be
the most disruptive change ever brought about by information
technology, and can make people more effective, empowering them to do
"the impossible." Building on the 4.4 million IT jobs
Gartner predicts will be created to support Big Data by 2015, the
three universities will educate a new generation of innovators who
can bring to life this new dynamic of people and machines working
together to solve pressing industry and societal challenges.
"Watson is at the forefront of a new era of computing,
fueling a new market and ecosystem of clients, partners, developers,
venture capitalists, universities and students. IBM India’s
partnership with the three universities represents another milestone
in IBM's global advancement of Watson”, said Vani Singh, India
Leader, IBM Watson Group. “We aim to help participating
universities succeed in their vision to turn today’s students
into tomorrow’scognitive computing leaders”
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