Despite the fact that Open Source could generate a certain skepticism, the arguments against the application of this type of software in business environments are gradually dissipating. Prejudices have less and less weight thanks to the success that some companies are achieving such as RedHat, In addition, large technology companies such as Facebook and Google are entering the world of Open Source. In this article we will discuss the main Open Source innovative trends that we can use to reduce costs and improve corporate culture.
Machine Learning
According to the International Business Times, It is estimated that 58% of work activities could be automated by cognitive machines in the next 10 years.
It is precisely the food industry that stands to benefit most from this reality. Machine Learning and companies that are innovating in this direction. An example of this is the company Seldon, which has developed a machine learning platform that helps other companies to implement recommendations and predictions in real time. What can these recommendations be used for? When we enter certain shopping websites, such as Amazon for example, we are presented with a customized selection of products that might interest us.
These recommendations are based precisely on Machine Learning, which Data Dcientist needs not only to build the algorithms, but also to make this model scalable.
In this way, Seldon has been able to position itself at the forefront of the machine learning through Open Source. In 2015, Seldon presented its platform as an entirely Open Source project, moving from a SaaS to an end-to-end machine learning based platform.
Last year there were also large companies, such as Google e IBM, that opted for Open Source machine learning: Google launched TensorFlow, IBM has opted for System ML and, finally, Microsoft has just released an AI platform.
Internet of Things
In addition to all the news from the major carriers, there was also big news at Mobile World Congress regarding the latest in Open Source. Ubuntu, for example, will launch its first Smartphones and Tablets, which, according to Forbes, will be the best Open Source mobile devices on the market.
Last February the Linux Foundation presented the project Zephyr, which will build a real-time operating system for the Internet of things. Although this announcement did not receive much attention, it could be the beginning of a new system for the Internet of things. Open Source scalable and could be used in multiple IoT architectures. This would mean that the barriers between, for example, the thermostat in our house and the wearable device we wear on our wrist would disappear, because they could communicate using the same protocols, as noted by TechRepublic.
3. Big Data
The Big Data tools with Open Source software such as Spark, Flume and Hadoop allow companies (especially in the marketing industry) to process data on a scale never before imaginable. Today, any interaction between the consumer and the product can be captured, processed and analyzed to determine patterns and preferences.
This information can help design better advertising and more efficient social media platforms, which would help build a fully customized product.
4. Databases
According to the V3 technology portal, the companies can save up to 90% thanks to Open Source databases. How can this be possible? Well, thanks to the costs saved by having a Cloud platform, which allows great flexibility. Interestingly, according to experts, it is easier to change operating systems than to change databases.
According to a recent Gartner report, The Open Source database management systems market has grown by 31% since 2013 and is worth about $500 million. According to their forecasts, in 2018 70% of database management systems will be Open Source (and the 50% of those already in existence will be converted to Open Source).
5. Large companies are betting (on a small scale) on Open Source.
In 2015 Apple was widely applauded during Swift's presentation, a programming language that allows you to design apps for iOS, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch. It is designed to give developers more freedom thanks to its open source code, which is a response to the .NET environment that Microsoft, the great Open Source bet of the company chaired by Bill Gates.
Also at the end of last year, Facebook announced the construction of new servers specifically for Artificial Intelligence developed in open source, as explained by TicBeat. Why is Mark Zuckerberg's company interested in Open Source? On the one hand, it is an opportunity to attract new talent in the field of development and, on the other, to ensure control of the revolution that artificial intelligence will bring.
But it's not just the big technology companies. Some entities dedicated to international cooperation, such as Unicef will invest in Open Source technologies. Right now, Unicef is investing several millions of dollars in startups. based on Open Source software and that have interesting proposals in terms of emerging technologies, as we will see in the next point.
6. Emerging technologies
As we mentioned in the previous point, there are many emerging technologies designed with Open Source software. A good example is RepRap, the first low-cost open source 3D printer, capable of printing on plastic and other types of materials (on their official website they even joke about printing another RepRap for a friend).
It should also be noted that there is the Open Science, projects in which code, models and data are shared, as is the case of the International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy (INORE). This initiative, spearheaded by young researchers, seeks to share globally their work on the following topics renewable energies.