ETE2016

Philly ETE 2016 Keynote – David Ferrucci – AI: A Return to Meaning

This talk draws an arc from Theory-Driven AI to Data-Driven AI and positions Watson along that trajectory. It proposes that to advance AI to where we all know it must go, we need to discover how to efficiently combine human cognition, massive data and logical theory formation. We need to boot strap a fluent collaboration between human and machine that engages logic, language and learning to enable machines to learn how to learn and ultimately deliver on the promise of AI.

Philly ETE 2016 #28 – Jason Grout – Interactive Computing with Jupyter: Past, Present, and Future

Jupyter (formerly part of IPython) is a popular tool for interactively exploring and sharing computational ideas. The Jupyter project provides a consistent environment for dozens of languages, including Python, Julia, and R. The Jupyter web notebook makes it easy to use interactive controls to manipulate and visualize computations and provides a widely-used format for documents that include both code and exposition. In this talk, we will give a brief overview of the Jupyter ecosystem and show examples of how Jupyter fosters interactive exploration and collaboration. We will also look at current and future developments in the platform, including the current rewrite of the notebook.

Philly ETE 2016 #26 – Martin Snyder – Delivering Agile Methodologies and Emerging Technologies in Hostile Environments

Innovating in such environments can be a challenge, but it is both personally and professionally rewarding to do so. In examining the motivations behind these hostile cultures, we can see patterns and opportunities where individuals or teams of developers can serve two masters and deploy cutting-edge technologies and techniques while still honoring both the spirit and the letter of a myriad of restrictions.

Philly ETE 2016 #25 – Leigh Ann Shaffner – Agile HR

Agile HR represents a new, emerging way for HR to partner with their leaders and people. The paradigm is shifting from one of controls and standards to a new level of engagement – one that focuses on the facilitation and improvement of organizational agility. This means helping to build and drive programs that create adaptability, foster innovation, provide transparency, and inspire collaboration. Building on these principles, Comcast’s Technology + Product team is reimagining Performance Management. We are an innovative and agile organization and we are transforming our Performance Management approach to reflect our culture, provide real-time feedback, and develop our most important resources – our talent.

Philly ETE 2016 #23 – A. Jesse Jiryu Davis – Dodge Disasters and March to Triumph as a Mentor

Good engineers write good code, but the best engineers raise the skills of their junior colleagues, too. If you’re a senior engineer, you must learn to mentor new hires. Especially if you’re committed to diversity: mentorship is critical to the careers of women and minorities in tech. I have failed at mentoring, then succeeded. I distinguished five warning signs that a mentorship will fail, and five prerequisites that make a mentorship very likely to succeed. Learn from me, and march to mentorship triumph.

Philly ETE 2016 #22 – Liv Erickson – Virtual Reality Beyond Gaming: Immersive Technologies In the Industry

This session will provide an overview of the current state of VR and AR technologies, and walk through the code behind a WebVR-enabled site for data visualization. We’ll discuss how VR and AR is being used outside of the gaming industry by non-profits and enterprises to help drive their businesses, and showcase examples of how immersive tech is already being used to redefine our relationship with the digital world.

Philly ETE 2016 #20 – Jeanine Heck – Breaking New Ground with Product Development

Comcast’s X1 Voice Remote is in millions of homes, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Users appreciate the high utility and accuracy of the voice remote. As a product manager, it is Jeanine’s responsibility to understand customers’ needs, position the product against competitors, and ensure aligns with the company’s goals. She will give insight into all of these areas, with an extra emphasis on the understanding customers’ needs and how that shapes the product roadmap.

Philly ETE 2016 #19 – Sarah Mei – Factory, Workshop, Stage

I will outline a new model for software development that places the people who do it in the center of the picture, instead of on the periphery. Applying it to our projects gives us real, immediate answers to the hardest questions of software today.