Database System Speedup

Current database systems use technology and abilities of CPUs from 10 to 20 years ago. Traditional database management system require too much hardware, and they make poor use of it. CWI computer scientists came up with database operations that work on sets of vectors, instead of on one database value at a time. As a result, some operations that take tens or hundreds of CPU clock cycles in other databases take just a handful in the VectorWise system. The scientists also constructed the system in a way that the work is done on data in the CPU's cache, where the processor cores can have quick access. In addition, fast decompression algorithms and table rearrangement are utilized.

One limitation of the prototype software is that the new system is designed to run on a single machine with a database of less than 10 terabytes.

Reference: IEEE Spectrum

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/ingres-and-vectorwise-claim-database-speedup

Right and Honourable Computer - Law

European researchers have created a legal analysis query engine that incorporates artificial intelligence, game theory and semantics to offer advice, conflict prevention and dispute settlement for European law. Since European law is complex with intellectual property right (IPR) and digital rights regulation seeking a method to combat piracy, the ALIS project has developed in response.

Game theory looks at how strategic interactions between rational people leading to outcomes reflecting on a person's preferences. These types of interactions are rendered mathematically and developed into algorithms. The tool aims to speed up the work done by lawyers and help resolve more straightfoward cases faster.

Reference: Science Daily