Transcript Is Database Research Relevant to Industry?

IBM Research
Is Database Research Relevant to
Industry?
Rakesh Agrawal
Intelligent Information Systems Research
IBM Almaden Research Center
Almaden Research Center
IBM Research
Framework
Current
Industry
Pragmatic
Research
Pie-in-the-sky
Research
2005 Almaden Research Center
Nobody ever
accused
me of that!
Stay till
lunch
Tomorrow!
Future
Industry
Serendipity!
???
IBM Research
Assertion
 Database Research has the opportunity to make tremendous Impact
– Huge increase in the amount of data collected
(Facilitated by tremendous advances in processor, storage, and
networking technologies)
 However, we must move our focus from managing bits to deriving
value from bits.
 Redefine what a database management system (What is the
intersection of the topics covered in 1974 Sigmod proceedings to
the 2005 BNCOD proceedings?)

Three illustrative potential application areas
2005 Almaden Research Center
Intelligent Information Systems
Improving Productivity Using RFID Networks
Pedigree Query: Trace
backwards path
Product A
Lot 345
Retailer A
A
Consumer
Manufacturer 1
Retailer B
Raw Material X
Lot 123
Product B
Lot 567
Supplier
Retailer C
Manufacturer 2
5 cent RFID chip
by 2006
Product C
Lot 987
Recall Query: Trace
forwards path
Retailer D
© 2005 IBM Corporation
Intelligent Information Systems
Early Warning Systems
 Examples: Tsunami, Earthquake,
Bio-terrorism
 Event sensors
 Incomplete & uncertain
information
 Massive data mining
© 2005 IBM Corporation
IBM Research
Improving Education
(Particularly in Developing Countries)
Developing
Education &
Training
Material
Developing
Relevant
curriculum
ECN
Imparting
Training &
Education
Material
Distributing
Education &
Training
Material
Framework for IT-Enabled Education System
IBM. Education Report to President of India. Jan 2005.
2005 Almaden Research Center
IBM Research
Impact of Past Database Research on Industry
 President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee
Cyber Security: A Crisis of Prioritization
Feb 2005
 Role of Federally Supported Fundamental R&D in Creating BillionDollar segments of the IT Industry (Fig 1, p16-17)
 Identified 19 topics

3 database topics:
– Relational databases
– Parallel databases
– Data mining
2005 Almaden Research Center
Intelligent Information Systems
Summary
 Database technology has a
central role to play in
addressing challenges of the
21st Century.
 However, we must move our
focus from managing bits to
deriving value from bits.
 Redefine what a database
management system is.
© 2005 IBM Corporation