Sharon Machlis
Executive Editor, Data & Analytics
Sharon Machlis is Director of Editorial Data & Analytics at Foundry (the IDG, Inc. company that publishes websites including Computerworld and InfoWorld), where she analyzes data, codes in-house tools, and writes about data analysis tools and tips. She holds an Extra class amateur radio license and is somewhat obsessed with R. Her book Practical R for Mass Communication and Journalism was published by CRC Press.
Beginner's guide to R: Syntax quirks you'll want to know
Why x=3 doesn't always mean what you think it should, about data types and more.
More data isn't always better, says Nate Silver
Big data may seem to promise big insights to users, but more isn't always better, cautions statistician Nate Silver, who became one of America's most well-known faces of data analysis after his FiveThirtyEight blog accurately...
Six useful JavaScript libraries for maps, charts and other data visualizations
These JavaScript libraries can help format your data for analysis or a compelling online presentation.
Top users of H-1B visas are offshore outsourcers, Computerworld study finds
The biggest users of H-1B visas are offshore outsourcers, many based in India, or U.S.-based companies whose employees are mostly located overseas, according to government data obtained and analyzed by Computerworld.
The data shows: Top H-1B users are offshore outsourcers
The largest single users of H-1B visas are offshore outsourcers, many of which are based in India, or, if U.S. based, have most employees located overseas, according to government data obtained and analyzed by Computerworld.
60-minute security makeover: Prevent your own 'epic hack'
Here are some ways to beef up security on your digital life -- before someone seeking to duplicate the hack that seized control of a Wired reporter's Apple, Amazon and Google accounts finds similar vulnerabilities in yours.
Charting H-1B users, as attention shifts to L-1
Offshore outsourcing firms rely heavily on the H-1B visa to deliver services, and the chart accompanying this story provide data on the top users of the visa since 2009.
Weave open-source data visualization offers power, flexibility
When two Boston-area organizations rolled out an interactive data visualization website last month, it represented one of the largest public uses yet for the open-source project Weave -- and more are on the way.
The top 10 H-1B visa users in the U.S.
Offshore outsourcing companies continued to make up the majority of the top 10 H-1B visa users in 2011, according to new government data. These offshore firms have been adding employees by the thousands as their revenues increase.
Siri for Android -- sort of
Although I'm happy with my Samsung Galaxy S II Android phone, I've also got a bad case of Siri envy. I, too, would like a "personal assistant" that responds to natural language requests such as "Move my meeting...
Hands-on: Zaggfolio Bluetooth keyboard case for the iPad 2
The Zaggfolio for iPad 2 is a well-designed case that includes a removable Bluetooth mobile keyboard. As a result, it can be used as just a case (by removing the keyboard), as just a keyboard (by pulling the keyboard out of the case...
Hands-on: 5 wireless keyboards for the iPad
Even if you're comfortable with the iPad 2's on-screen keyboard and can happily tap out a status update or quick email, you might not want to use it for tasks like writing a lengthy report. One option is to ditch the tablet...
HP's PC division, by the (profit and growth) numbers
A quick look at the data shows that market share isn't as important as profit margins.
Google vs. Facebook by the numbers
With its still-in-limited-field-test social network Google+, Google looks poised to challenge Facebook head-on in the increasingly important social media space. Some analysts give the edge to Facebook with its large head start -- the...
Android vs. iPhone and iPad by the numbers
It looks increasingly like Android will be the major challenger to both Apple's iPhone and iPad.
22 free tools for data visualization and analysis
You may not think you've got much in common with an investigative journalist or an academic medical researcher. But if you're trying to extract useful information from an ever-increasing inflow of data, you'll likely find...
Apple vs. Microsoft by the numbers
A little less than a year ago, Wall Street reached a Microsoft vs. Apple milestone: for the first time, Apple's corporate value surpassed Microsoft's.
Downturn Hits Older Tech Workers Hardest
Older IT workers have been more likely than younger ones to lose their jobs -- and stay unemployed -- since the latest economic recession began in 2008, according to new U.S. government data.
Recession hit older tech workers harder, labor data shows
Unemployment rates for older IT workers increased during the recession faster than they did for younger employees, according to new U.S. government labor data obtained by Computerworld. But that's something that Maribeth McIntyre, an...