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IBM IS PUTTING its Watson supercomputer to work fighting cancer, in what is described as the first commercial programme of its kind to use “big data” to help patients with the disease.
The US computing giant unveiled its initiative with health insurer WellPoint and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
The supercomputer, which gained fame by defeating two human champions in the ‘Jeopardy!’ quiz show, has been sifting through some 600,000 pieces of medical evidence, two million pages of text from 42 medical journals and clinical trials in oncology research.
This can speed up the way data is analysed to make the best diagnosis and find the optimal treatment, says Craig Thompson, Sloan-Kettering’s president.
“It can take years for the latest developments in oncology to reach all practice settings,” Thompson said.
“The combination of transformational technologies found in Watson with our cancer analytics and decision-making process has the potential to revolutionise the accessibility of information for the treatment of cancer in communities across the country and around the world.”
IBM first announced plans to work with WellPoint in 2011, and last year began receiving data from the New York research hospital which specialises in cancer.
The first application will work with 1,500 lung cancer cases, where clinicians and analysts are training Watson to extract and interpret physician notes, lab results and clinical research.
The Maine Center for Cancer Medicine and Westmed Medical Group will be two centres testing the service and providing feedback to WellPoint, IBM and Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
“IBM’s work with WellPoint and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre represents a landmark collaboration in how technology and evidence based medicine can transform the way in which health care is practiced,” said Manoj Saxena at IBM.
“These breakthrough capabilities bring forward the first in a series of Watson-based technologies, which exemplifies the value of applying big data and analytics and cognitive computing to tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges.”
The programme is being commercialised under the name Interactive Care Insights for Oncology, powered by Watson.
Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas Watson, can ingest tens of million pages of data in just seconds.
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I get the sentiment, but please take it easy on the purse strings. We’re losing the run of ourselves and we have to pay all this back later.
How about instead of all these meaningless gestures. The government spend some actual time addressing the chronic issues in healthcare and home care for elderly people in our society (and all other).
It’s like Anglo Irish discounting rates of mortgages for its customers. Focus on the bigger issue for once.
@Mr_Bumkee: If the hotels want to offer vouchers by all means. They will still be mostly empty so everything counts
@Mr_Bumkee: never mind the cost, is coralling groups of vaccinated older people into a hotel for group dinners the best thing for a vaccine with 95% effectiveness? It’s almost as if it’s too subsidised hotels and restaurants rather than help elderly people.
@Mr_Bumkee: use the money, to get our children
back to school safely,…and vaccinate the Teachers.
Kind regards from the west of Ireland.
@Mr_Bumkee: bigger issues cost money, for the government it biggest press littlest money
Over 65′s just had to sacrifice hugely? Im sorry but there’s alot more people whom have faced the same level of sacrifice under 65.
@JillyBean: exactly ,
@JillyBean: Exactly …. Sorry if this considered as harsh, but over 65’s have not suffered like the young people of this country, or family-owned SME’s etc. …. The over 65’s still got to shuffle round Penney’s at Christmas, while playing sport, nightlife and socializing with friends, for the younger generation, was ‘off the table’ …. Who is driving this narrative ….?
@Martin Galvin: well that’s not true though . Most over 65s haven’t left their homes in a year . Be fair ! They do suffer extreme loneliness and mental health issues . This attack is unwarranted . You can certainly say other groups have suffered and that would be true but there’s no need to lie about the over 65s
@JillyBean: Exactly I’m over 65 I don’t want anything. Too many businesses closed since last March I’d rather they addressed that issue immediately.
@Martin Galvin: Martin I’m over 65. I don’t want anything except the businesses closed since last March a chance to reopen. By the way I don’t shuffle neither do any of my counterparts. Believe it or not we also like to socialise enjoy nightlife and a bit of sport. Not all over 60′s are decrepit!
@Martin Galvin: I am over 65 but definitely DO NOT have to shuffle ANYWHERE. You seem to be out of touch, as it is the young generation who flock Penneys!! I don’t want a voucher for hotel. Ridiculous waste of resources.
@Purplepickle: Absolute rubbish ….!! I travel the country for a living & the ones out & about are the more mature generation…. Non-essential shopping journeys to ‘pick up a few bits’, while the younger ones have barely left the house…. No sports training, no nightlife, no mixing with friends …Frankly, quite sick of seeing it now.
@Martin Galvin: l am over 65 and have been isolating since last March. I can’t wait to get back to normality and meeting up with family and friends again. I don’t need any handouts from the Government nor do l need to shop in Pennys. I just can’t wait to get the vaccine so l can rejoin life again. This virus has affected all age groups particularly the older generation so show a bit of respect, because someday you will be over 65.
@Martin Galvin: however the statistics on the age of people who received fines for breaches of covid regulations would not agree with you. Mostly young males.
@JillyBean: this is another deflection from ff..dont be pulled into a fight between one section of society and another, over 65s against under 30s ect ,this is a government tactic to deflect away from the fact that they havent got an iota what they are doing with this virus ,as of this morning another new variant b1525 has been detected in ireland,it certainly didnt come in on the wind..
@Franny Ando: well said. Over 65s still enjoy life like anyone else.
@Martin Galvin: I think basing your rant on your person experiences as you travel the country is kind of a nonsense . A huge number of over 65s have health issues that make them vulnerable . The younger ones are the ones currently causing a large outbreak in Limerick because they don’t adhere to guidelines . I think you are just biased and ranting so I will leave you off .
@Purplepickle: exactly
I can’t get ovre the selfish nature of people in this country I really can’t.
Over 65s have seen people they know die, be it parents or friends or siblings because of this disease.
They have worked and tolled to make this country what it is. They deserve a bit of respite and if allowing them to go and eat out or stay in the country in a hotel is all they get, I’m sure they are way more appreciative of this than the people who say it is a bad idea
@Martin Galvin: Well god fecking love ya. Boo Hoo Do you stop on your country wide travels and question every over 60 year old you see to see if their shopping is essential. There are lots out and about walking of all ages. Loads of young kids and teens out with their friends. If you haven’t seen them on your extensive travels I suggest a much need triple Specsavers!
@Peter Roche: it’s really mad that the jelly person’s comment was so liked – comparing not going on a weekend away to lahinch and going to pubs with our elderly relatives being locked indoors because it’s their age group that get hospitalised and die! It’s one thing having empathy with everyone over the past year, but the degree of selfishness on here is something else!
@Martin Galvin: That’s some statement, “The young people did not go shopping at christmas, they did not play sport or enjoy the nightlife and did not socialize with friends” What colour is the sky in your world?
I’m 66 and that’s just an insult, 65 is not old these days we’re having the time of our lives what with mortgages paid in the autumn of our lives.Give a taught to young families who have spent almost a year going without it’s them I feel sorry for and they should get financial help if it’s so freely available.
@Angela O’regan: well said.
There should be some kind of law that only intelligent people should be allowed run for the Dail
@Shaun Gallagher: I don’t think he’s as silly as his proposal suggests. He’s a native of Clonakilty, a town that lives on hotels, pubs and restaurants. If you want to kickstart these local businesses for your voters with state money, then what better way of doing it than under the guise of a hospitality award scheme for over 65s.
@GrumpyAulFella: Maybe you’re right and what I wrote is really not all about him but some of the stuff that TD’s and ministers have come out with in the last while is just plain crazy.
@Shaun Gallagher: you’re right, this is crazy and would cost about €60m I reckon, with about 600K over 65s in the population. I don’t think this is a politician looking after over 65s, this is a politician getting tax payer funds into the hands of hotels, pubs and restaurants in Clonakilty.
@GrumpyAulFella: If you want to kick-start these businesses try opening them.
They will be grateful if you would just give them the vaccine at this stage. Stop getting distracted with side projects!
Where is all the money coming from?
@Newto2016: EU printing it like there is no tomorrow.
@Newto2016: ff trying to grow their own sf money tree.
@John Mulligan: Its not a money tree.its called quantitative easing, always freely available when banks and culture funds need rescueing.
40% of all dollars ever created have been in the last 12 months.
Im lost for words. Emotionally everyone lost out. Im in the category and i dont want €100 as a reward for doing what i was meant to do
@Margaret Mcgarry: Don’t worry too much about it. Because: (a) FF are naturally inclined to invent crazy schemes to buy affection using other people’s money, and (b) even if they did try to go ahead with it, this coalition is sufficiently unnatural that they’d wind up giving everyone in the Ivory Coast a toaster, 9¾ iodine tablets, and a splitting headache, long before you’ll see a cent of that.
Cohort of society with most wealth (and who traditionally vote) – the money is needed elsewhere
What about giving it to people who have lost their jobs,
@Nan: Quite a lot of people in that age group (like myself) were still working, but we were not entitled to any extra payment (like the PUP) because we had the state pension (or the widows pension). This meant that our income has reduced quite considerably. Most of us would not have qualified for the tax refunds on money spent in hotels last autumn (or would not have felt safe to venture out). I for one wouldn’t say no.
Is this a joke? Give something to the families who have lost their livelihoods
I’m over 65 and totally sick of being patronised and portrayed as some poor crateur to be minded. Most of us didn’t suddenly turn dooolally when we retired. In reality my age group are least affected financially or otherwise by the lockdown. I haven’t had to homeschool or try to work from home or worry about my job or business. Where is all this money coming from anyway? If we’re not careful the government will ruin us again.
I am in that group but I would prefer to get the vaccine as soon as possible rather than silly suggestions from politicians
Forget about those free vouchers , let them explain why the Old Age Pensioners got no increase in the pension for the last 3 years while those in leinster house milk the system , not forgetting the extra tax they call property tax that they rob from the same pensioners for living in theeir own homes .
A vote gathering exercise…Sure isn’t Christopher a great fella altogether, looking after us . Can we collect our cheques at the all new Galway tent? We need to get rid of these lads .
Lots of people have had to make huge sacrifices over the past year- its by no means confined to the over 65s. In this house- while we have been able to work from home- we have 2 people on immune suppressants, another with type 1 diabetes, and two with pulmonary sarcoidosis. We don’t get out at all- and we’re not on any list (as far as we can tell) for an expedited vaccine. There are lots of households far worse than us. What about everyone whose job no longer exists?
If you want a scheme- it is deeply unfair and divisive to tailor it so it only applies to one group- it should apply across the board to everyone. Aside from anything else at all- we all deserve something to look forward to after the appalling year we have been through (and god only knows how long we still have to go)………
@Shane McCarrick: they have an amazing scheme where you can claim tax relief on hotels +restaurants- alcohol- what a joke. Wonder if they’ll release the figures on the uptake?
How about a voucher for family carers still begging to be considered members of society through this pandemic, or a voucher for those who lost a loved one, or who lost a business that will never get back up and running, or a better idea is not setting people against each other with “who has it harder” nonsense. The most extreme experience can’t be so easily defined with an age bracket.
What’s this eejit on about? Does he own a pub or hotel or something? 100euro for looking after myself during a pandemic or for taking a free vaccine? After seven decades of ups and downs I was never less in need of this largesse which my grandchildren would end up paying for along with all the debt we’ve already stacked up for them. Maybe it would have been more useful back in the eighties when we were tightening our belts while his ilk were tucking in their Charvet shirts. But I don’t expect him to understand: after all he and his mates are getting their pay raises in the midst of this miserable time.
Populism from Fianna Fail to appease its little voter base. They will never change
When did FF change it mind on WE Are All IN THIS TOGETHER. Now they are trying to say some more then others or are they just trying to hold on to the age group that they know might vote them back in . When we have another election.
Trying to buy votes in the next election
Ahhhh treat them. It’s been hard on them. Many of them were alone through all of this. And the rhetoric around deaths of old people was cringeworthy at times. We should value them more. The changes they have seen and worked for and fought for in our 100 years!!
Surely we can buy the old folks a curny scone and cuppa tay? How about using the money we give to greyhound racing?
@Dearbhla O Reilly: it’s been hard on them? And it hasn’t been hard on the younger generation whose whole future was torn anyway from them? A lot of them lost their jobs, couldn’t go travelling, didn’t have a real first year of college experience, didn’t get to say goodbye to their school friends properly, didn’t get a debs, had weddings cancelled, postponed having children. They gave up all of that to protect older and vulnerable people . And then it will be the younger generation who are the ones paying for all of this for years to come. But ye the old people are ones it’s been hard on.
@Sam Harms: ah relax. Its only a cup of tea. Lol
@Sam Harms: Leave us over 60′s alone. We didn’t ask for a stu-pid voucher. You do know people in this age group work too. They/we don’t get pup. We also didn’t get to say goodbye to friends or family that passed from covid or suicide. We didn’t get to see our grandchildren, nieces or nephews get married or even see our grandchildren full stop. They never gave up anything that any other member of the public,irrespective of age, gave up. So suck it up and stop.trying to apportion blame. We are all been.banjaxed together.
What is this
Honestly it just omits the thousands of other younger people who have not left their homes since March or had any visits . There are very many younger vulnerable people and their carers who have literally not left their homes in a year and have had no visitors even at Christmas . Delivery drivers are the only people they have spoken to in person so to speak . We don’t have the money for this gesture as good as it would be for the hospitality industry . Put the money into proper border controls so we have no more variants that undermine the vaccine coming in to the country . That’s really what all vulnerable people want .
One way to devide the nation. Everyone has suffered, people who lost loved ones, frontline workers, children/young people. EVERYONE suffered, therefore everyone should recieve a voucher…..well to be honest you can keep the voucher because the hotels will probably up their prices to €200 for a night stay. Sounds more like a way to help the hotels than a gift for the over 65s.
Everything’s shut! What good is a voucher you can’t spend??? When everything opens again, people will be more than happy to spend their own money.
The country will be bankrupt after all of the PUP payments. How could we possibly afford this?
What next?a bonus for getting out of bed?I would think most over 65s are in a better place than most, people from all sections of society are struggling horribly,maybe those people don’t vote accordingly,can’t see what else motivates this kind of nonsense,by the way I’m 60 years old so no axe to grind.
Christopher is trying to buy votes. A desperate stunt. I’d expect no better from FF.
FF Politician trying to keep the grey vote on side, as that is the main cohort of people left, that will vote for them.
How about ensuring vaccines are available for vulnerable people?? What the hell are these TD’s on?? Nobody wants vouchers, they want vaccines..!
How’s about all countries are forgiven their debt due to this Covid crisis, reset and we all benefit! This Govt need to stop stupid spending and get real with the purse strings either way!
Im sorry but no over 65 have not sacrificed that much. The kids have sacrificed much more. How many kids really need to repeat a year of schooling as they have in reality lost nearly a full year of education but they will not get to. They will be pushed into the next level even if they are not ready.
Its a nice sentient but you shouldn’t need to be given rewards for doing whats in the national interest anyway. Being free from a killer virus is surely a reward in itself.
FF with their eyes on the next election. Cynical chancers!
Is he off his game or what? We cant bring ourselves to pay student nurses after nightmarish year theyve had and this lad wants to send everyone in the country over 65 off on holiday at the govs expense!!!Mental
Distraction item, to move the discourse away from the fact they are nowhere near vaccinating over 65′s as yet
@Nigel o’Neill: And no where near coming up with a plan to reopen the bloody country
No, young people should. They have sacrificed the most out of all demographics.
Voucher towards a headstone for anyone who lost a loved one would make a bit more sense
Clownworld on steroids
It’s a very nice idea but what about those under 65 who’ve put in just as much work? For example, those who have been cocooning too (like myself) – They literally range from every age up. I think it would be very unfair.
We have all made sacrifices…we could all benefit from a voucher but who eventually will end up paying for this gesture??…
Must be an election coming up, smacks of bertie and FF’s solutions just buy people or the grey vote off at least maybe throw in free passes to the ploughing match for the farmers too
Should be given to front line workers
Free drink for everyone
Why? While I’m empathetic to them, all they have had to endure is being bored and isolated! Why not offer to help out those who’s jobs have been lost, reduced or decimated by Europe’s longest lockdown, who’ve had to endure not only being bored and isolated as well, but constant stress worry and fear of not knowing if they’ll have a job to go back to, or live off the pittance the PUP & EWSS pay, who’ve eaten through their savings to keep a roof over their heads? While the sentiment is there, the pensioners haven’t had a pay cut! If anything they’ve been home more and not spending, and largely mortgage / debt free. While the rest of the working world have suffered huge financial shock and are still expected to pay 100% of the bills?
Senior citizens did not receive an increase in their pension in 2019 and 2020 based on the pretense of no money in the kitty due to Brexit and subsequently due to the cost of Covid-19. A long-overdue increase would be better appreciated.
Everyone in the country should.
No i don’t think they should be given vouchers. But only because I personally feel that the money, (including money from the fines) would be much better put into a fund and divided between all the health care nurses who have shed blood, sweat and tears coping and looking after the people of this country. To me they deserve the recognition.
I know the elderly suffered greatly but crikey so did everyone else. Do we get vouchers for a meal in a hotel after working throughout the whole pandemic. And unfortunately some of us couldn’t work from home. We had to get out there into the middle of it all. I will await my voucher for what I think a well deserved meal
Put that money towards Mental Health so that those who suffered the effects of lockdown the most can access the help they’re going to need when this is all over (without spending 2 years on a waiting list), regardless of their age.
Will there be a photo of the taoiseach on the vouchers.? Time to rid the country of parish pump politics for once and for all. Fianna Fail out!!!
Seriously? I think I’ve heard it all now! Can I have a €100 voucher too, I haven’t been able to do any of these things either?
Will all the young people who are still suffering from the recession be getting a voucher too? Or is it just those who had the opportunity to get a mortgage, build a career etc?
Jesus the negativity. Anything that helps anyone and in this case 2 cohorts of people, those over 65 and the hospitality sector should be welcomed. Great idea and need more of them.
A nonsense poll by the Journal again
Total waste of money,which could be put to better use,fix the rural roads, from a 66 year old
Nothing wrong with an auld hang sandwich
Seriously? Someone thinks they should get a freebie or an incentive for being given a free jab that will help them stay alive? How’s about they get over themselves!
For f sake, that shower never miss an opportunity to buy the grey vote and, with their own money !
Everyone should get a cheque in the post after this nonsense is over. EVERYONE
@Ross: From whom?
Way their printing cash 100 euros for a coffey by time they open
We all made hard a sacrifice, if anyone should get its, it’s the trainee nurses who are not being paid
You give them a dogg treat for getting the vaccine?
What a silly poll which was always going to attract the them vrs us comments as it has done. People commenting why are some people so angry? Please consider what good is your comment doing at this time when many of all ages are struggling? As Ronan so rightly said….you say it best when you say nothing at all:-)
Should Anyone get a hotel or food voucher after getting the vaccine ?
What in the name of god is the world coming too….?
Hotels will need the business but are well capable of tbeir own over 65 deals as in the past, where mid week suits all…yours etc, an over 65 year old
have your say