April meeting tomorrow evening!

PDXPUG:  April meeting

When: 7-9pm Thu April 19, 2012
Where: Iovation
Who: Veronika Megler
What: “Data Near Here”: Building A Search Engine for Data using PostgreSQL

We’ve heard a lot about Big Data. Scientists are creating data
archives that are terabytes, petabytes and even brontobytes in size.
But now they’ve collected all this data, how do they find what they’re
looking for? Current techniques quickly fail.

“Data Near Here” is a working prototype of a search engine, built on
PostgreSQL, that uses Internet search-like techniques to attack this
problem. This presentation describes the app itself, and some of the
techniques used and challenges encountered during its (continuing)
development.

Veronika is currently “taking a sabbatical” from her working life, by
pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at Portland State University. This
presentation is based on her research there.  Her core expertise is in
adoption of emerging technologies. Her career has taken her into
almost every corner of the computer industry, including operations,
application development, systems programming, systems management
disciplines, project management, and IT management consulting.  Fun
facts: She’s famous for something she did as an undergrad – writing a
cult computer game, in Assembler. She built her first computer with a
soldering iron, out of capacitors and resistors bought individually.
(Really).

We'll also be raffling off a ticket to this year's OSBridge:
http://opensourcebridge.org/

The meeting will be held at Iovation, on the 32nd floor of the US
Bancorp Tower at 111 SW 5th (5th & Oak).  It's right on the Green &
Yellow Max lines.  Underground bike parking is available in the
parking garage;  outdoors all around the block in the usual spots.  No
bikes in the office, sorry!

Building security will close access to the floor at 7:30.

After-meeting beer location TBD.  See you there!