Author: contentenginellc

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is calling on data scientists, software engineers, designers and researchers to build an open source software application that puts advances from machine learning into the hands of practicing clinicians. In addition to creating cutting-edge clinical software that helps detect lung cancer early, top contributors are eligible for a share of $100,000 in prize money. 

“The earlier lung cancer can be detected, the better,” said Bonnie J. Addario, a 13-year lung cancer survivor and ALCF founder. “My hope is that the winners of this challenge create software that achieves real change in the way radiologists are able to help patients and save lives now.”

The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 55 percent when the disease is still in the lung, but just four percent once it has spread. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the world, killing more people than the next three most common cancers (breast, colon, prostate) combined. This year physicians will diagnose nearly 225,000 Americans with lung cancer.

ALCF has partnered with DrivenData, a mission-driven company that brings advances from data science and artificial intelligence to organizations tackling the world’s greatest challenges. DrivenData runs online competitions where technical experts from around the world compete to build the best solutions for tough questions in big data and machine learning. The goal of this challenge is to bridge the gap between research algorithms and clinical practice in early detection by developing an end-to-end application, as a community, that connects the predictive power of machine learning with functional software tested against errors and a clean user interface focused on clinical use.

Throughout this challenge, contributors will have the chance to submit code patches that add features to the software, improve functionality and make the predictive algorithms more precise. As project maintainers review and adopt code patches, the most advanced version will become the new starting point for the community to build on.

Meanwhile, contributions that provide meaningful progress can earn points from a technical panel of experts in machine learning, engineering and clinical settings. A live leaderboard will keep track of points earned throughout the challenge. At the end of the challenge, ALCF and DrivenData will award prizes to top overall contributors.

There will also be prizes for top contributors filling key roles throughout the process. The project needs:

• Data scientists to build out the machine learning algorithms
• Software engineers to develop backend functions and data pipelines to run the tool
• Engineers and designers to build out the user interface
• Community contributors to enrich the documentation, discussions and outreach

“We are excited to bring together the most brilliant technical and medical minds to create technology that will help clinicians catch lung cancer early enough to manage its impact on patients and save lives,” Addario said. “We designed The Lung Cancer Early Detection Challenge based on conversations with practicing clinicians, lung cancer survivors, researchers and engineers. I am optimistic that this challenge will help turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by the year 2023.”

To learn more about the challenge and watch the video, click here: https://concepttoclinic.drivendata.org/?kol_redirect_url=https%3A%2F%2Flung-cancer.drivendata.org%2F

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest international philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer through research, early detection, education and treatment. The Foundation’s goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006, as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $30 million for lung cancer research and related programs. For more information about the ALCF please visit www.lungcancerfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

About DrivenData
DrivenData brings the transformative power of data science to organizations attacking our world’s greatest challenges. DrivenData’s online machine learning challenges are designed to find top talent, connect them with real-world data problems, and highlight their innovative solutions for social good. DrivenData is home to more than ten thousand data scientists and engineers, an energized community of some of the best minds in data science including thoughtful professionals and passionate learners looking for opportunities to test their skills on real-world problems. For more information about DrivenData please visit www.drivendata.org or follow us on Twitter.

 

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SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation

BANGALORE and PORTLAND , Oregon, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ —

Hemex Health, an early stage medical diagnostics enterprise, announced the selection of Tata Elxsi as the product design and engineering partner of its latest Lab-in-a-Box diagnostic device.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440033LOGO )

Hemex Health is designing a cost-effective and easy-to-use, point-of-care device that helps health workers provide quick and accurate diagnosis of malaria and sickle cell disease. The Lab-in-a-Box diagnostic device can diagnose malaria and sickle cell disease in just minutes, more quickly and affordably than any other point-of-care diagnostic on the market today. The new device integrates both malaria and sickle cell diagnostics inside a single unit.

“Access to quality and affordable health care is still a challenge across the world today, especially in rural settings. Lack of facilities and suitable clinical tools for the rural and economically challenged areas of the world means that diseases such as malaria and sickle cell often go undiagnosed with devastating impact on families and communities,“ said Patti White, CEO, Hemex Health. “In our strategic mission to develop and launch this Lab-in-a-Box product, we have been actively looking for a partner that understands the challenges of these markets and possesses comprehensive capabilities from concept development to engineering and launch of medical products that meet regulatory standards. We are delighted to have found the right partner in Tata Elxsi.“ 

According to the statistics provided by WHO, it is estimated that up to 3.4 billion people (half the world’s population) are currently at risk for malaria, especially in developing countries. Sickle Cell, on the other hand, is genetic in nature and known to cause recurring long-term health issues such as anemia, bacterial infections and stroke. As of 2015, it was estimated that up to 7% of the world’s population carry this gene. International agencies acknowledge that progress on these diseases is hampered by the lack of affordable diagnostics at the point of care.

“The social impact that technology can bring in delivering health care to the underserved and unserved sections of the society, especially in the emerging markets, is tremendous and multi-fold,” said Mr. Nitin Pai, SVP – Marketing and Strategy, Tata Elxsi. He continued, “Intelligent engineering and the use of next-gen technologies can help make healthcare accessible and cost-effective — the main challenges that many in the developing countries of the world face today. We are pleased to be supporting Hemex in the development of this novel and innovative technology.”

About Hemex Health 

Hemex Health was founded on the belief that people everywhere, no matter how underserved or remote their region, deserve access to affordable, life-sustaining medical care. Hemex Health is part of the OTRADI Bioscience Incubator located in Portland, Oregon.

About Tata Elxsi 

Tata Elxsi is a global design and technology services company, headquartered in Bangalore. It addresses the healthcare, automotive, broadcast and communications, consumer electronics industries. This is supported by a network of design studios, development centers and offices worldwide.

Tata Elxsi’s Medical Device and Healthcare practice work with leading medical device OEMs and technology companies for product design & engineering services from market survey & research to product development and launch. It brings together expertise in market research and human factor engineering, hardware and software engineering, verification & validation, regulatory standards & compliance requirements along with technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud and IoT. Tata Elxsi’s Medical Device and Healthcare practice is ISO 13485 certified.

Media contact:
Patti White
CEO – Hemex Health
+1-971-801-2573

Hari Balan
Corporate Communications
+91-80-2297-9123

Website: http://www.tataelxsi.com

SOURCE Tata Elxsi

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — TruValue Labs today announced the ESG Momentum score, the first ESG indicator that leverages artificial intelligence, big data and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB™) materiality framework. The score reveals the direction, or trend, of ESG performance based on daily data. ESG Momentum was built to serve investment professionals who know that today’s company valuations depend on performance in the areas of environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG).

ESG2.0 means moving beyond company self-reported data

Today much of ESG data is derived from company-provided materials – taking an inside-out perspective on ESG, focused on what companies disclose. TruValue Labs takes an outside-in perspective – capturing the widest variety of perspectives available on companies’ ESG performance.  

Unique within the industry, TruValue Labs’ ESG2.0

• Leverages AI technology to analyze unstructured data
• Creates ESG performance scores based on non-company disclosed data
• Updates on a continuous basis

Why ESG Momentum™ matters for the investment industry

Research studies show a correlation between ESG momentum and investment performance. Furthermore, the studies found that improvements in sustainability are often a better indicator of future success than a company’s current ESG score^i,ii.

TruValue Labs’ Insight360™ suite of products now includes an ESG Momentum Score™, which quantifies the positive or negative ESG momentum of a company.

In addition to an ESG Momentum Score and a timely Pulse Score™, which charts ESG activity as events happen, the Insight360 platform includes a longer-term measure of ESG performance called the Insight Score™, which is suitable for portfolio and index construction.

All three scores enable a range of investment strategies, leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze the massive volume of publicly available data on companies. Unlike annually produced ESG ratings, TruValue Labs’ scores incorporate events as they occur.

“When it comes to ESG, investment professionals need more than ratings based on annual, company self-reported information—they require timely data from an external, objective perspective that we call ‘ESG2.0,'” said Hendrik Bartel, CEO and co-founder of TruValue Labs. “This next-gen ESG data incorporates events around the clock, with scores that demonstrate how company performance is changing over time.”

“TruValue Labs’ new Insight and Momentum scores, built using the SASB materiality framework, will further the mission of improving the availability and transparency of ESG data and support decision making for a broad spectrum of investment strategies,” said Mark McDivitt, head of ESG Solutions at State Street Global Exchange.

About TruValue Labs™

TruValue Labs is the first company to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover timely Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data on a variety of asset classes. The company’s mission is to deliver increased transparency to investment professionals by providing data and analytics that go beyond traditional fundamentals. The flagship product, Insight360™, delivers timely and investable insights by revealing intangible value and risk factors from unstructured data. Visit www.insight360.io to learn more about the SaaS and API products.

ⁱNN Investment Partners. (2016.) The materiality of ESG factors for equity investment decisions: academic evidence. Available on request from NNIP

ⁱⁱThornburg Investment Management. (2016.)  ESG Momentum Stocks: Sustainable Investing’s Diamonds in the Rough. Retrieved from https://www.thornburg.com/pdf/TH3716_ESGMomentum_BW.pdf

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SOURCE TruValue Labs

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Information Services Group (ISG) (NASDAQ: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, today announced the launch of the first in a series of ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant research studies, the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG’s global advisory team.

The new ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant reports provide valuable insights to enterprise buyers and ISG’s own advisory community on the strengths, competitive differentiators and unique selling points of leading service providers serving the U.S. market. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors will use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG’s enterprise clients.

“What sets our groundbreaking research apart is our robust, independent methodology that combines our unique data assets with input and advice from our experienced ISG consultants who work every day with both service providers and enterprises clients to help achieve optimal outcomes from their partnerships,” said Esteban Herrera, partner and global leader of ISG Research. “No other research offers this kind of real-world perspective drawn from the front lines of digital, IT and business process outsourcing. Our clients will derive tremendous value from these reports.”

The ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant reports place service providers in one of four quadrants:

• Leaders: Those offering the most appropriate solutions to meet the specific needs of clients;
• Product Challengers: Those with an attractive portfolio of services but limited competitive strength;
• Market Challengers: Those possessing competitive strength but needing to improve their portfolio attractiveness, and
• Contenders: Those needing to improve both their portfolio attractiveness and competitive strength.

The horizontal axis of each ISG quadrant evaluates the competitive strength of providers based on brand image and awareness, geographic coverage, experience, execution capability, and sales and marketing ecosystem. The vertical axis of the quadrant evaluates portfolio attractiveness on such parameters as vision and strategy, pricing competitiveness, technology competency, partnership ecosystem, innovation and differentiation, and breadth of services.

Providers that score high on both axes, placing them in the upper-right quadrant, are identified as “Leaders.” Providers that do not make the “Leaders” quadrant but demonstrate significant traction in either their competitive strength or their portfolio attractiveness, and are projected to continue this trajectory, are identified as “Rising Stars.”

First Quadrant Report Focuses on ADM Services

The first report in the ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant research series focuses on Application Development and Maintenance (ADM) Services. It evaluates 34 service providers across six quadrants, one geared to End-to-End ADM, three to specific ADM services – Applications Development, Applications Support & Maintenance, and Applications Testing – and two that are vertically focused, one on the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) industry, the other on the Healthcare and Life Sciences (HCLS) industry.

Of the 34 providers profiled, only Accenture, Cognizant, DXC, IBM, HCL, TCS and Wipro were listed as leaders in all six quadrants.

“Leveraging the research and analysis of our quadrant study on ADM, enterprise clients and their ISG advisors will be better able to identify providers that are best suited for the client’s specific situation,” said Ashish Chaturvedi, lead author of the report. “The report provides a unique set of insights into individual providers as well as broader industry trends.”

Chaturvedi noted that “all providers included in the quadrant, regardless of whether they are identified as contenders, market challengers, product challengers, or leaders, are relevant players in the industry.”

The ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant report series draws insights on service provider capabilities from focused surveys, briefings, interviews with providers, input from ISG advisors, ISG benchmarking data, and data drawn from the ISG Contracts Knowledgebase™ and ISG Engagement Database™.

The release of the first ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant report on ADM Services marks the debut of this research product in the U.S. A similar product currently is offered in the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) market, recently augmented with ISG advisor input to enhance the value of the research.

Beyond the U.S. and DACH, ISG plans to expand its ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant research into other geographic markets in 2018. Future reports will focus on such areas as Digital Workplace Services, Contact Center Services, Public Cloud Services, Data Center Services, Automation and Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Finance & Accounting Outsourcing Services, and Engineering Services.

The ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant reports are a complement to the existing series of ISG Provider Lens™ Archetype reports, which offer a first-of-its-kind evaluation of providers from the perspective of specific buyer types.

An executive summary of the ISG Provider Lens™ ADM Quadrant Report is available on this webpage. For a complete version of the report, please contact ISG. Excerpts of the report will be available soon to ISG Insights™ subscribers.

Customized versions of this report covering the applications testing and applications development capabilities of service provider Mindtree also are available.

About ISG

ISG (Information Services Group) (NASDAQ: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 700 clients, including 75 of the top 100 enterprises in the world, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; technology strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

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SOURCE Information Services Group, Inc.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — A perfect storm of retiring baby-boomers and the ongoing global economic downturn, are causing the number of skilled seafarers in the global industry to shrink dramatically, but attendees at Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats Middle East (SOMWME) will hear from an expert panel of speakers how automation and advances in connectivity could solve the looming skills crisis.

The issue will be addressed on day one of the biannual Seatrade Offshore Marine and Workboats Middle East (SOMWME) 2017 exhibition and conference, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 25 – 27 September 2017, where speakers at the ‘Manning Update’ will assess the role of automation in tackling the ongoing challenge.

“The number of skilled personnel across multiple functions has been in decline for a number of years. In 2010, The Manpower Report by BIMCO/ISF calculated the global supply of officers stood at 624,000, compared to a demand for 637,000, concluding the figures were ‘near-ideal’.

“However, by 2016, the shortfall stood at 16,500 officers and is predicted to rise to 147,000 worldwide by 2025. In the United States, figures published in 2016 by the U.S. Maritime Administration placed the country’s shortfall at 70,000 mariners by 2022,” said Emma Howell, Group Marketing Manager, Seatrade portfolio, UBM EMEA.

Moderated by Captain Michael P. Elwert, Group Chief Executive Officer, Elektrans Group, the panel will feature William Tobin, Underwriting Syndicate Manager — Offshore, The Shipowners Club and Captain John Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer, The Nautical Institute, as well as Revd Dr Paul Burt, Regional Director, Gulf & South Asia, Mission to Seafarers.

Captain Lloyd commented: “The increasing sophistication of technology is opening the door to serious discussions about the remote control of ships, perhaps one day leading to completely autonomous vessels. While moving in this direction gives wonderful opportunities to improve reliability, one of the key challenges will be to balance the cost of reliability against performance and financial viability through savings. That is really a matter for the technologists and the economists to address.”

Automation in shipping is not a new concept; many responsibilities, checks and safety functions are now carried out autonomously. But in the age of driverless vehicles and remote controlled drones, the first unmanned, autonomous ship, could be on the horizon. 

It would not be the first time, complicated skill sets are delegated to artificial intelligence — aviation has undergone a similar transformation, with the role of the pilot evolving with each new generation of aircraft. However, innovations in shipping can be leveraged to address a gap, rather than requiring existing specialists to up-skill.

Lloyd continued: “On the operational side it is important we create a regulatory framework which gives an opportunity for these vessels to be developed and then to identify the skills required to operate them safely and efficiently.

“It is likely these skills will draw heavily on maritime knowledge and experience if we are to develop effective solutions.  As the professional body for those in control of ships, The Nautical Institute is already actively engaged in these discussions and looks forward to the next generation of ships and operations supported by world-leading technology and innovation.”

Part of SOMWME’s Power 60s series the Manning Update will be followed by a session on finance and law, moderated by Eithne Treanor, founder and MD of E Treanor Media and featuring Bora Bariman, Head of Energy & Marine, Corporate & Institutional Banking Group, National Bank of Fujairah; David Manuel, Senior Marine Specialist – Petrodata, IHS Markit; Knut Mathiassen, Managing Partner, NorthCape DMCC; and Tien Tai, Partner, Holman Fenwick Willan.

Elsewhere in the conference programme, discussion will turn to green and efficient vessels for the future.

Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats is the largest workboat and offshore marine event outside of the USA, attracting more than 200 offshore marine and workboat companies.

For more information and event updates, contact Emma Howell, Group Marketing Manager, Seatrade Portfolio: Tel: +44 1206 545121; or log on to www.seatradeoffshoremarine.com.

About UBM’s maritime portfolio — connecting customers globally

UBM is one of the world’s leading B2B events organisers providing vibrant and dynamic events enriched with digital and print media. Its events allow its customers to make connections and do business efficiently and effectively.

UBM has three principle businesses: UBM Americas, UBM Asia and UBM EMEA who together provide high quality Events and OMS activities through regional focus, closely collaborating when brands extend globally. UBM is the largest “pure-play” exhibitions organiser in the world, No.1 International Exhibitions organiser in China, India and Malaysia (Asia) and No.1 Exhibitions organiser in the US.

Included within the UBM maritime portfolio is: Sea Asia; Seatrade Maritime Middle East; Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats Middle East; Seatrade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa and Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia; Marintec South America; Offshore Marintec Russia; Marintec Indonesia; Marintec China, Sea Japan and Expomaritt.

Seatrade, an integral portfolio within UBM provides a range of global exhibitions, conference, events, awards, news websites and publications that covers every aspect of the cruise and maritime industries.

Founded in 1970, Seatrade connects people and creates opportunities for companies to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote brands and expand markets.

The Seatrade portfolio is headquartered in Colchester, UK, and globally represented across 23 countries from the UAE and Asia to South America and across Europe. From Singapore, both the Sea Asia and Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia are managed under the umbrella of UBM Asia, the largest trade show organiser in the region, and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia.

Seatrade Maritime Review and Seatrade Maritime News are the official titles in print and online for all the UBM maritime portfolio, as well as associated events: Posidonia and gmec.

To find out more about the Seatrade portfolio, visit http://www.seatrade-global.com/seatrade-global-information/about-seatrade.html and for UBM EMEA please visit, http://ubmemea.com/.

For UBM Asia, visit www.ubmasia.com

Media Contact
STEVEN JONES
Managing Director
Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 455 9769
E-mail: steven.jones@shamalcomms.com
Office 106, Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City
PO Box 502701 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website: www.shamalcomms.com 
A member of the WorldWisePR Affiliates

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SOURCE Seatrade Communications

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Looking to create a technology career path for millions of Americans, CompTIA today formally launched the Association of Information Technology Professionals (CompTIA AITP) as a member support and advocacy organization that will attract and develop the workforce that will shape the 21^st Century economy.

“America’s Tech workforce is a national asset, and we need it to grow and develop so that the next wave of technology — smart cities, IoT, cyber security and artificial intelligence — can reach their potential,” said Nancy Hammervik, executive vice president, industry relations, CompTIA. “What CompTIA AITP represents is an organization helping tech workers of all backgrounds and education enter the workforce, grow in their skills and have successful careers.”

Starting with a national organization and chapters in 20 states, CompTIA AITP will help Americans — whether they have a college degree or not — chart a pathway to a technology career. CompTIA sees the challenge as more than just a skills gap but also a confidence gap — where many don’t think they have the background or support to be part of the technology industry.

Closing both the skills gap and confidence gap — where a diverse mix of people see a future in technology — is a role consistent with the legacy of CompTIA, which has provided certifications to 1.2 million tech workers trying to strengthen their skill sets.

CompTIA AITP takes a “resume to retirement” approach to helping tech workers in their careers with a blend of online and in-person opportunities:

• TechTalent powered by CompTIA will serve as a clearinghouse for tech jobs. There are hundreds of thousands that are regularly unfilled, including those that don’t require a college degree. Unlike traditional search engines, TechTalent delivers actionable career path information, including job-specific, detailed data on the market demand for special skills and capabilities and relates that information to individual career goals. Not only does TechTalent connect users with job postings, it also educates them on the specific skills that employers are looking for in filling these jobs and the salaries they can expect to earn.
• CompTIA AITP will help workers grow their careers through networking, connections with peers and mentors and access to a wealth of industry insight and trends. Through a partnership with Lynda.com, AITP members will have access to more than 1200 online courses, to help improve leadership and business skills, from finance and project management to communication and customer service.
• Through CompTIA AITP’s 20 “hub” chapters, members will get to expand their personal network, share and gain information from peers in their city or region and gain hands-on mentoring assistance. AITP intends to continually expand its local chapters.
• Discounts on CompTIA certifications and continued education is made available to CompTIA AITP members so they can strengthen their skill sets.
• Job Pulse is geared towards hiring managers and job seekers looking to get real-time labor data to better understand the job market. It finds what jobs are in demand, where they are and how much they pay.
• To stay on top of trends, CompTIA AITP offers a portal of whitepapers, presentations and reports providing updates on the technical issues, best practices and developments shaping the technology industry.

To join CompTIA AITP please go to http://www.aitp.org/?page=JoinAITP.

“Think about what CompTIA AITP can mean for a 25-year-old who hasn’t settled on a career. It’s a path forward in a futuristic industry,” said CompTIA’s Hammervik. “And it’s equally important to a 35-year-old who’s been in the tech industry for 10 years but wants to jumpstart his or her career. A newly launched CompTIA AITP addresses what we read about everyday: Americans looking to fit in the economy and have a career path.”

CompTIA AITP is part of a trend: growing industry and governmental programs to provide a career path for Americans in a transitioning economy and also address the issue of unfilled technology jobs — by 2024 there is projected to be a 1.8 million open jobs in the industry. That poses an economic challenge as the new technologies emerge and there is a need for a robust and skilled workforce to maximize them.

“We know Americans are more worried now than maybe ever before about their jobs and future — especially if they don’t have a college degree. Yet, we can’t seem to find enough people to fill all the tech jobs we need,” added Hammervik. “CompTIA AITP is good for tech workers, good for the tech industry and good for the future of the economy.”

CompTIA AITP supports the organization’s mission to expand the workforce not only in numbers but skill sets. The organization has enabled over two million certifications and advocates for pro-tech worker policies that provide training and career opportunities and expand the tech workforce.

For more information on CompTIA AITP, visit http://www.aitp.org/.

CompTIA: Building the Foundation for Technology’s Future

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world’s leading technology association, with approximately 2,000 member companies, 3,000 academic and training partners, over 100,000 registered users and more than two million IT certifications issued. CompTIA’s unparalleled range of programs foster workforce skills development and generate critical knowledge and insight – building the foundation for technology’s future. Visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to learn more. 

Contact:
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
630-678-8468
sostrowski@comptia.org­

 

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SOURCE CompTIA

SHANGHAI, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Avid.ly, a pioneering mobile application developer, has officially released UPLTV, the world’s first user lifetime value (LTV) optimization platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Pilot program participants have seen averaging 30% user LTV increase, with some over 50%.

Avid.ly has positioned the product to solve age-old business model challenges facing independent mobile game developers and startups alike. Combining machine learning and big data from over one billion users, UPLTV analyzes user behavior in real time to balance user retention with monetization revenue and developer profit.

Analysis of User Behavior

UPLTV begins by leveraging Google’s TensorFlow and using long short-term memory (LSTM), a recurring neural network (RNN), to analyze user behavior. This includes how players in the aggregate and individually interact with each game, including when players launch or exit a game, make in-app purchases and their sensitivity to advertising.

Mediation of Monetization Events

The platform automatically mediates what monetization events – opportunities for the player to make in-app purchases or view advertisements – to embed in context-appropriate scenarios. By testing player responsiveness and forecasting 7- and 14-day retention rates, it can optimize subsequent monetization event exposure and frequency to maximize player LTV to a 95% confidence interval.

“Having developed and published mobile apps and games at scale, we intimately understand the headaches faced by developers and startups,” says Brain Xie, CEO of Avid.ly. “UPLTV is the culmination of all our experience tackling the problem of guaranteeing current and subsequent revenue while keeping players immersed in the game.”

Xie notes that UPLTV is just the first step in AI-powered LTV optimization. “Our mission is to blend powerful, time-saving technologies into game development. Our goal is to help our partners convert user gameplay into the sustainable income that allows them to create delightful experiences for their audience.”

For more information, please visit: www.upltv.com

About Avid.ly

Avid.ly is the latest venture by serial entrepreneur Brian Xie, who previously founded Holaverse in 2014 and oversaw its growth to over 400 million users becoming a Top 10 Google Play Developer. In 2016, Avid.ly spun out of Holaverse as the trailblazing international mobile game publisher behind hit titles such as Pet’s Island, Kingslots, and Tasty Treats. The company is now expanding into AI-powered monetization optimization, becoming an SaaS provider to its international partners and clients.

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SOURCE Avid.ly