Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for automatically creating a speech-based user interface involve identifying a software service definition that includes service inputs, service outputs, and context data and accessing a standard user interface incorporating the service input and output. The standard user interface defines a set of valid inputs for the service input and a set of available outputs, at least one of which based on the context data. Audio data is associated with at least some of the inputs in the set of valid inputs to define a set of valid speech inputs. A speech-based user interface is automatically generated from the standard user interface and the set of valid speech inputs.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for matching developers or entities with certain skills with work projects is provided. In one embodiment, a project manager utilizes a bid management agent which receives project specifications from the project manager specifying such things as, for example, project duration, work product desired, skill sets desired by the developers, experience level desired of the developers, and compensation. The bid management agent broadcasts a request for quotes for the project to utilization management agents. Each utilization management agent is employed by a different developer or entity and receives and tracks the interests and skills and other attributes of the developer and sends a quote to a bid management agent when it receives a request for a quote for a project which matches the interests, skills, availability, and other attributes of the developer for which the utilization management agent is employed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for automatically creating a speech-based user interface involve identifying a software service definition that includes service inputs, service outputs, and context data and accessing a standard user interface incorporating the service input and output. The standard user interface defines a set of valid inputs for the service input and a set of available outputs, at least one of which based on the context data. Audio data is associated with at least some of the inputs in the set of valid inputs to define a set of valid speech inputs. A speech-based user interface is automatically generated from the standard user interface and the set of valid speech inputs.

Abstract: There is provided a platform provisioning system and method. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is a computerized method of provisioning a new environment to an application platform, the method including analyzing a current state of the application platform, defining business requirements for the new environment, defining technical requirements for the new environment, generating a logical architecture for the new environment based on the business requirements and the technical requirements, performing a gap analysis on the application platform based on the current state of the application platform and the generated logical architecture, generating a technical architecture for the new environment based at least partially on the gap analysis, generating a physical architecture for the new environment based at least partially on the technical architecture, and provisioning the new environment based at least partially on the physical architecture.

Abstract: A data processing system having a processor and accessible memory, the data processing system executing a first operating system, the data processing system also having an application and virtualized application environment, the application and virtualized application environment capable of being packaged and moved to a second data processing system. There is also a machine-usable medium encoded with a container, the container storing a packaged data processing system application and associated virtualized application environment, the virtualized application environment capable of being executed on a plurality of different operating systems. There is also a method, including executing an application in a virtualized application environment on a first device and packaging the virtualized application environment and the application in a container. The method also includes unpacking the container on a second device and executing the application in the virtualized application environment on the second device.

Abstract: A technique for addressing whether a computing environment is likely to meet an uptime criteria involves evaluating plural predetermined criteria, identifying an action based on the evaluation, and then implementing the action. A variation involves evaluating the predetermined criteria, and then generating a report with an assessment about the capability of the environment to meet the uptime criteria. Still another variation involves evaluating the predetermined criteria, determining a respective numerical value for each criteria, applying weights to the numerical values, and adding up at least some of the weighted values in order to obtain an assessment value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided and includes separating a plurality of persons into first and second groups and communicating an issue to each of the groups. The issue relates to a problem to be addressed by the groups. Each of the groups then independently evaluate the issue. The groups then caucus to produce a consensus on an evaluation of the issue. The groups then separate and each group independently generates a proposed strategy. The groups then caucus thereafter, resulting in a consensus on the proposed strategy. The selected proposed strategy is then initiated.