IBM Unveils New Start Ups and Ecosystem Partners Delivering Watson-Powered Apps in the Cloud

NEW YORK CITY - 07 Oct 2014: Next generation leaders push themselves everyday to answer this key question: How can my organization make a difference? IBM (NYSE: IBM) is helping deliver the answer with new apps that are powered by Watson from Ecosystem Partners to improve the quality of life from better managing health and enriching the customer experience, to enabling new research and education.

On Tuesday, October 7, in New York City, IBM Watson Group Senior Vice President Mike Rhodin and travel entrepreneur Terry Jones attend the opening of IBM Watsons global headquarters in New York Citys Silicon Alley. Terry Jones is launching a new company powered by Watson called WayBlazer that will transform the travel planning experience. (Courtesy Jon Simon/Feature Photo Service for IBM)

IBMs Watson is a groundbreaking 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.

With 19 million global developers and a new generation of innovators entering the workforce, entrepreneurs, startups, and enterprises alike are looking for ways to mobilize their business, transform industries and improve society. 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."

IBM is advancing these new possibilities with Watson and is unveiling Ecosystem Partners that are making their visions a reality. Built on IBM Cloud with SoftLayer at its base, these apps use Watsons cognitive intellect in areas as diverse as helping physicians work with patients to better manage their health, assist veterinarians in providing the best possible care to animals, and tapping into personal preferences to help travelers plan the perfect vacation, and many more.

"These innovators, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit, are transforming the ways industry and individuals operate harnessing the power of Watsons cognitive intellect and creating outcomes once thought impossible to achieve" said Stephen Gold, Vice President, IBM Watson Group. This marks an important milestone for the Watson Ecosystem as we empower organizations to use next generation technology, using information as the cognitive fuel, to help solve formidable challenges across industries.

Leveraging IBM Watson technology, these Ecosystem Partners have developed powered by Watson apps that are generally available and being used by customers and organizations today.

Transforming Travel

WayBlazer (Austin, TX), a new company led by travel visionary and entrepreneur Terry Jones -- founder of Travelocity and founding chairman of Kayak.com, is looking to redefine the travel experience. Researching travel alternatives can be a near impossible chore. Even for travelers that know their destination and dates, the sheer breadth of options and overwhelming amount of data requires visiting 20 or more website to research, compare, and book a leisure holiday. Powered by the cognitive intellect of Watson, WayBlazer knows, engages, advises, and learns about a consumer with each interaction, using a visual and natural language interface to make sure optimal travel choices are made. The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is using a version of the new WayBlazer app. With the app, the organization hopes to improve convention bookings, increase hotel bookings and provide additional revenue streams from Ecosystem Partner and affiliate marketing opportunities. Watch WayBlazer "Unbox" their app here.

Transforming Retail

Red Ant (London, UK) is helping retailers ensure sales associates exceed customers expectations with its Sell Smart app built using Watsons cognitive computing technology. The mobile app is a retail sales trainer that lets employees easily identify individual customers' buying preferences by analyzing demographics, purchase history and wish lists, as well as product information, local pricing, customer reviews and tech specs. It uses voice or text input to enable a simple question-and-answer interface against the wealth of information available within a retail business, including product information, copybooks, manuals, customer reviews, and more. Red Ant is a Watson Mobile Developer Challenge winner.

Reflexis (Dedham, MA) is working with Watson to enable retailers, Quick Serve Restaurants, hospitality, and other companies to uncover hidden demand triggers and provide the best possible customer experience. The company's Watson interconnect module for the Reflexis StorePulse real-time execution application enables companies to drive best-practice actions in response to local events, social media buzz, news, weather, and other influences that affect customer demand. . Watch Reflexis "Unbox" their app here.

Sellpoints (Emeryville, CA), an e-commerce technology provider, is unveiling its Watson powered app called Natural Selection, which uses natural language to put the right products in front of the right shoppers at the exact moment they're ready to buy. For example, when a shopper searches for a product using natural language, such as My second grader needs help learning science basics, the cognitive app returns product results sorted by relevance, which subsequently increases conversion rates for the retailer.

Transforming Non-Profit

Findability Sciences (Waltham, MA) is bringing a Watson app to the non-profit sector to enable funders and donors to ask questions using natural language and receive answers instantaneously. This enables funders to make smarter investing decisions and better work to maximize existing investments to deliver the most impact. Watch Findability Sciences "Unbox" their app here.

Transforming Veterinary Care

LifeLearn (Gue

LINK:	http://www-03.ibm.com/press/uk/en/pressrelease/45071.wss...
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