First-ever Cognitive Computing Course at IIT Stuart Offers Hands-on Experience with IBM WATSON

In 2014, IIT Stuart was selected as one of the pilot schools for teaching Cognitive Computing, a revolutionary technology that IBM utilizes in its “Watson” computer, which has demonstrated capabilities ranging from recommending clinical treatments to defeating “Jeopardy!” game show champions.

The new course, offered for the first time in the spring 2015 semester, was taught by Martin Bariff, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Assistant Director of the M.S. MAC program. Bariff said that despite some challenges, IIT Stuart students achieved the building of an actual WATSON application. He also said that IBM was impressed with students’ accomplishments, which went beyond creating a business with students actually developing a prototype from scratch. IBM will continue its partnership with IIT Stuart to offer the course in Spring 2016.