Opera Solutions

Opera Blog Home

OPERA BLOG

Former Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman James E. Cartwright Joins Opera Solutions’ Advisory Board

February 7, 2012 – 12:00 pm
Categories: News, Press Releases

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 6, 2012 — Gen. James E. Cartwright, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is joining the Advisory Board of Opera Solutions, LLC (www.operasolutions.com), a global leader in machine-learning science and advanced Big Data analytics.

Cartwright, a four-star general in the U.S. Marine Corps, retired in August 2011 after four decades of military service, having capped his career as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Previously he led the U.S. Strategic Command during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, where he established his reputation as an expert in applying advanced technology in national defense matters. He is a respected military advisor in the areas of strategic deterrence, nuclear proliferation, missile defense, and cyber security.

In his new advisory role, Cartwright will primarily be involved with Opera Solutions Government Services, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to serving local, state, and federal government departments and agencies through solutions and services targeted at national security and anti-terrorism, waste/fraud/abuse, and procurement optimization.

“It is a privilege to add Gen. Cartwright to our distinguished roster of strategic advisors,” said Arnab Gupta, Chairman and CEO of Opera Solutions. “His vision and ability to integrate systems, organizations, and people have sparked innovation in critical areas of U.S. national defense. We look forward to his advice on how best to apply our capabilities in Big Data management and cutting-edge predictive analytics in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our public sector clients.”

“It’s no secret that Big Data analytics can provide important and meaningful mission-based support to military and government agencies,” said Cartwright. “Opera Solutions is fast becoming a leader in this space. I am excited about the capabilities they can bring to the public sector, and look forward to counseling them on the best ways to make the most meaningful contributions.”

Want to stay connected with Opera Solutions and our latest updates? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Post a comment

Tagged , , , , , , |

Man Plus Machine Makes People Extraordinary

December 22, 2011 – 10:00 am
Categories: Events

Opera Solutions CEO, Arnab Gupta, tells O’Reilly Radar’s Online Managing Editor, Mac Slocum, that the complementary relationship between human and machine creates a new class of opportunities because machine intelligence allows people to become extraordinary.

To see the interview, watch the video below.

Want to stay connected with Opera Solutions and our latest updates? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Post a comment

Tagged , , , , , , |

Calling for a New Paradigm: Machines Plus Humans

December 21, 2011 – 6:00 pm
Categories: Events

At this year’s O’Reilly Radar Strata Conference “Making Data Work,” Opera Solutions CEO Arnab Gupta’s keynote address explored the powerful combination of man plus machine in chess, medicine, and business.

To see the full keynote, watch the video below.

Want to stay connected with Opera Solutions and our latest updates? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Post a comment

Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Opera Solutions Announces Winner of 4th Annual Opera Open

December 19, 2011 – 10:00 am
Categories: Events, News, Press Releases

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 14, 2011 — Opera Solutions, LLC (www.operasolutions.com), a global leader in machine learning science and advanced Big Data analytics, today announced the winner of their fourth annual Opera Open innovation competition. Media Moguls, captained by Principal Scientist Frank Elliott (San Diego), and including Carmine Mangione (San Diego), Tajinder Singh (New Delhi) and Kylie Francis (Jersey City), was awarded 1st place and $50,000 for their idea – an adaptive network based upon social networking analytics that aims to deliver a vastly increased selection of movies and TV to viewers on demand.

The Opera Open gives employees an outlet to use their business acumen and creativity in applying Opera’s analytics, technology, and machine learning capabilities to new solutions and business areas. The competition is open to all except senior management, who are expected to mentor teams and provide support where needed.

Media Moguls won over stiff competition on a global scale. More than 50 teams from Opera’s offices in North America, Europe, and Asia entered this year, competing for more than $100,000 in prizes. They were winnowed down to 10 finalists from which three winning teams were selected.

Other winners in the contest included Craig Nies’ List, captained by NY-based Associate Joe Troyen-Schwartz, which was awarded the 2nd place prize of $20,000 for proposing a tool to help C2C marketplace consumers realize fair market value for goods they buy and sell to each other. AddSale, captained by New Delhi-based Business Analyst Harsh Shah, captured the 3rd prize of $10,000 as well as the People’s Choice Award of $5,000 based on votes from employees. AddSale’s idea is a tool that helps retailers better engage their customers in-store or at point of sale. More than 20 other teams garnered merit prizes for making it to the semifinals and finals.

“The ten ideas represented in the Open finals were innovative, engaging and perfect illustrations of why Opera Solutions is a center for learning and innovation in the Big Data space,” said Arnab Gupta, CEO and Founder of Opera Solutions. “They also show how worthy our younger staff is of our support. These employees are truly the next generation of leaders who will continue to push Opera’s thinking in a wide range of areas.”

Opera typically commercializes promising ideas, allowing creators to participate in the process as much as possible. Concepts presented during prior Opera Open competitions have led to new products and solutions in a number of different areas for the company, ranging from text analytics to performance assessment for teachers and students to analytics supporting philanthropic organizations’ activities. One idea opened the door for an attrition prediction assignment with a major online dating service.

This year’s competition was judged by a panel comprised of Opera’s senior project delivery and scientific management as well as external experts, including principals at premier private equity and venture capital firms, some of the leading machine learning scientists in the world, and business leaders.

“Every year, the Opera Open exceeds my expectations in every way,” Gupta said. “I can only imagine the creative new ways our employees will leverage our capabilities and IP during next year’s Open.”

Want to stay connected with Opera Solutions and our latest updates? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Katie Smith-Adair
The Morris + King Company for Opera Solutions
212-561-7475
katie.smith-adair@morris-king.com

Ken Bruno
The Morris + King Company for Opera Solutions
212-561-7459
ken.bruno@morris-king.com

Post a comment

Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

Opera Solutions’ Distinguished Lecture Series: Steve Wozniak Sits Down For Q&A

November 7, 2011 – 4:00 pm
Categories: Events

From his early beginnings — when he would tinker with his engineering know-how to pull masterful pranks — to the creation of the Apple I and Apple II, Wozniak has always blended of creativity and problem solving to result in a mind-bending solution.

As part of Opera Solutions’ Distinguished Lecture Series, Wozniak sat down to field questions from Anton Popov, a fellow Operaite, near our San Diego office. From targeted advice intended for entrepreneurs to Wozniak’s philosophy on life to his favorite pranks, questions ran the gamut.

Because we know Wozniak’s thought-leading insights run in parallel to Opera’s problem solving mission in advanced analytics, we want to share with you some takeaways from Woz’s Q&A:

  • On the heating-up debate of man vs. machine or man plus machine, Wozniak said, “You need the human intellect to solve a problem,” because while a computer can do a million things in a second, it needs the right direction and the right guidance.
  • When asked about his favorite invention, he cited the Apple II computer because “Everything was done by hand.” Literally. Wozniak mentioned, “I had to write the zeros and ones by myself [on paper],” to code the software.
  • This turned the discussion to how he created the floppy disk because of a sales event in Las Vegas. Since he wanted to see the Sin City’s lights, and only three salespeople were invited, he created the floppy in a labor-intensive two weeks because THEN he could attend the event. By the end Wozniak said he “felt so good about the floppy disk, like it was a part of me.”
  • A helpful nugget for aspiring entrepreneurs: “Know what you really believe in,” and “If you really care about something, it’s a part of you, and even if no one sees its guts, it still matters.”
  • When asked about what is more critical, educational background or work experience, Wozniak delivered two insightful points: 1) “You can get education a lot of ways,” citing street smarts or in the workplace, and 2) “A lot of the great things you can do can’t be found in books.”
  • One Operaite’s question took a more philosophical path, asking Wozniak about his thoughts on life. He said, “Truth is the apex of all good,” because he figured out as a young mathematician that “Everything works out to one answer, and to me that represents truth.”
  • In addition, Wozniak enlightened Operaites further with only four words: “Life is about happiness.”

Want to stay connected with Opera Solutions and our latest updates? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Post a comment

Tagged , , , , , |