Community Corner

What is the IBM Watson Exhibit at the Computer History Museum?

The Computer History Museum unveiled its IBM Watson Jeopardy stage set, their latest exhibit on Tuesday to trustees, major donors and media.

For one year, visitors to CHM in Mountain View will be able to learn about the history of IBM Watson, its time on the game show and even try their luck at playing it on a simulated Jeopardy game.

"This is not a replica," Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research Dr. John Kelly said. "That's where Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter stood when Watson beat them."

And in addition to stints as a game show celebrity and museum exhibit, IBM Watson now also has a job as a research assistant.

"Watson can read a lot," said Michael Karasick, vice president and lab director at IBM's Almaden office. "It's an assistant that's read every book, article and research paper."

As a research assistant, several medical institutions around the nation—including the Cleveland Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center—have begun to use Watson's software to either train medical students or help doctors consider strategies, Karasick explained.
  
WellPoint health care uses IBM Watson to assist nurses with insurance procedures.

"Watson helps with speed and can go through lots of medical literature," Kelly said. And even more fascinating for Kelly, is that "it can tell you where the edges of knowledge are...Patents are well covered but can tell you where there are gaps."

The notion of IBM Watson—as an example of cognitive intelligence—on exhibit at the Computer History Museum appeared to fit right in, according to Kelley.

"IBM's history permeates this museum," he said. "Watson's the next era of computing."

And the folks at CHM welcomed IBM Watson's temporary visit.

"IBM has been a long time supporter of museum," said John Ahney, assistant director of corporate business. "They wanted to put it somewhere where it will get some attention."

In such an accessible location in Silicon Valley, IBM Watson will most likely get a lot of attention. Especially from those people trying to beat it in the simulated game. 
 
"If someone is that fascinated that's great," Ahney said.



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