SQL Developer 4.0.1 is out

Oracle have released an updated version of SQL Developer and it is available to download from here.

Jeff Smyth has a blog post on some of the bug fixes in SQL Developer.

and Kris Rice also has a blog post on the new updated release.

So what about Oracle Data Miner. There seems to be a couple of minor new features on being able to select statistical outputs for the transform node. Also the model and test results viewers now automatically refresh if they are open. ODM can not be installed on Oracle Personal Edition (I haven't tried this out yet). 

Plus the Graph node can not have line charts based on mulitiple y axis attributes.  I'll have a blog post on this soon.

World Experts discuss Testing for Accuracy of Predictive Models

A week or two ago there was an article on  www.softwareadvice.com called Predictive Analytics : Testing for Accuracy.  In this article there was 3 very well know data scientist/data miners/predictive modellers. One of these is a Karl Rexter (a friend of mine form the BIWA world) along with Dean Abbott and John Elder.

People keep asking me what is the best way to test their data mining model, with most people expecting that they have to do lots and lots of statistics. They are then confused when I say ‘Oh No you Don’t’, all you need to do is ….   All you need to do is to follow the approaches that are detailed in their article. One thing that they all have in common is that they keep in mind the business problem and how/what the results they obtain mean for the business problem.

They shared their knowledge on testing predictive models for accuracy in a report from Software Advice, a company that reviews business intelligence software. They offer helpful information for other data miners on when and how to use: 

• Lift charts and decile tables to compare performance against random results
• Target shuffling to determine validity of the results
• Bootstrap sampling to test the consistency of the model

Ok Some statistics are used but not too many!!

View highlights from the report below or read it in its entirety here.  Alternatively have a look at the article summary on SlideShare.

3 Tests Experts Use to Validate Predictive Model Accuracy from Software Advice

OUG Ireland Presenters on Twitter

The agenda for OUG Ireland 2014 is now live. You can view the agenda and to register for the event by clicking on the following link.

Over the past couple of weeks some of the presenters have been using Twitter to share the news that they will be presenting at OUG Ireland. If you are not following them on twitter now is time to follow them. So here is the list (in no particular order) and I’ll start it off with myself

Brendan Tierney       @brendantierney

Debra Lilley               @debralilley

Tom Kyte                  @OracleAskTom

Tim Hall                    @oraclebase

Jon Paul                   @jonpauldublin

Roel Hartman           @RoelH

Uli Bethke                 @ubethke

Antony Heljula           @aheljula

Stewart Bryson         @stewartbryson

Patrick Hurley            @phurley

Joel Goodman          @JoelJGoodman

Philippe Fierens       @pfierens

Simon Haslam          @simon_haslam

Martin Nash               @mpnsh

Uwe Hesse                @UswHesse

Martin Bach               @MartinDBA

 

If I’m missing anyone let me know and I’ll add you to the list

Busy start to 2014 Speaking at Conferences **Updated

UPDATED list of conferences

We are just a few weeks into 2014 and it has been a busy time with Oracle User Group Conferences.

January : BIWA Summit

In January I gave 2 presentations at the BIWA Summit. This conference was held in the Oracle Convention Centre at Oracle Head Office.

March : OUG Ireland

I also have one presentation at the OUG Ireland conference in Dublin on the 11th March. As always this is a great day fill with sessions for well known speakers from around the world. This year we will have 6 tracks packed full. It is also a great opportunity to catch up with some friends I have known for 20+ years. Click on the following image for details of the agenda and how to register for the conference.

April : OUG Norway

I’ve also received notice that I will have 2 presentations at the Norway Oracle User Group. I’m delighted with this, as I was at this conference last year and really enjoyed it. This conference will be on the ship again this year between April 3-5, getting back into Oslo around 10am on the 5th April. Click on the following image for details of the agenda and how to register for the conference.

June : OUG Finland

In the past few days I’ve also received news that I will have 2 presentations at the Finland Oracle User Group conference. This will be my first time in Finland and I hope to get a few hours to do some exploring of Helsinki when I’m there. One of my presentations will be on using Oracle Data Miner and the second presentation will be on using R in the Oracle Database (or more correctly Oracle R Enterprise). Click on the following link for more details of the conference.

Hopefully I will see you at one of these conferences. Do make sure you say hello to me and let me know if you have any questions about the Oracle Advanced Analytics Option.

 

Second half of 2014

This second half of 2014 will probably be a bit quieter, but hopefully I’ll be at Oracle Open World in September (speaking or not) and also at the UKOUG Annual Conference (TECH14 or whatever it will be called) in December (speaking or not).

 

My travels (flights and hotel costs) to present at these conferences is made possible thanks to the Oracle ACE Director program. Also to DIT for allowing me to go.