Understanding the relationship between a computer and its owner

Microsoft has unveiled its first ever laptop, the new Microsoft Surface Book. Microsoft has tapped into personalising device use through the Power BI not only at personal level but also at the corporate level. PHOTO | MICROSOFT WEBSITE  

In Summary

• Microsoft has tapped into personalising device use through the Power BI not only at personal level but also at the corporate level.
• According to Microsoft’s Technical account manager, Mr Sean Wasonga, deployment of the Power BI is critical to have an impressive return on investment.

By WINFRED KURIA
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As the levels of global technological development rises, many people strive to own personal computers to connect to the rest of the world.

This need has given rise to the term “Personal Computing” (PC) which means ownership of a computer for personal use.

However, what is often missed out in the word is the relationship between the device and the owner.

PERSONALISED EXPERIENCE

The term can be translated to mean personalised experience through applications.

Microsoft has therefore tapped into personalising device use through the Power BI not only at personal level but also at the corporate level.

During the fifth annual Chief Information Officers (CIO) 100 symposium aimed at empowering CIO’s through technology use to maximise Return on Investment, Microsoft gave an insight on how to bring the server stored data to life for companies.

The company packages the application as a functionality that lets the device connect to data in Excel spreadsheets, favourite news tabloids and any company data in holistic view.

More critically, CIOs go through live data at a glance besides overseeing twitter trends to keep tabs on sales and product or service uptake.

IMPRESSIVE RETURN

According to Microsoft’s Technical account manager, Mr Sean Wasonga, deployment of the Power BI is critical to have an impressive return on investment.

“With power BI, businesses and end consumers are able to realise the benefits of data visualisation and analysis, allowing them to be more productive in their day to day business activities.

For example, analysts no longer have technical barriers with Power BI, they are able to manipulate data to showcase up to date presentations on performance indicators and answer complicated queries around their businesses” said Mr. Wasonga

Being a CIO in a company, an individual only needs to use natural language to get an answer on anything company related from the system.

NATURAL LANGUAGE

For example, "what were total sales last year."  Use Q&A to explore your data using intuitive, natural language capabilities and receive answers in the form of interactive charts and graphs. Q&A is different from a search engine — Q&A only provides results about the data you have in Power BI.

Asking the question is just the beginning. An individual can now travel through your data refining or expanding your question, uncovering trustworthy new information, zeroing in on details and zooming out for a broader view.

Users can now craft data stories and save reports as well as create personalised dashboards and keep up on metrics that matter to them.

Microsoft is looking to achieve interactive data connection away from the traditional dusty files and server storage of information.

Powered by an in-memory storage, the Power BI will transit company analytics from long sitting hours to only a tap of a button.