From Database to Complete Data Platform

Speaker:	Prakash SUNDARESAN
                Microsoft Shanghai

Title:          "From Database to Complete Data Platform"

Date:		Friday, 31 August 2007

Time:		10:30am - 11:30am

Venue:		Room 3501 (via lift nos. 25/26)
		HKUST

Abstract:

The field of modern Databases has a history of over 40 years, from the 
early days of the network model and ISAM systems transitioning to the 
relational model with the work of Codd and Date. Over the years, the field 
has seen many developments such as the emergence of object-oriented 
databases, the integration of technologies such as XML, and adaptation to 
the web. We believe are currently in the midst of perhaps the most 
significant redefinition and expansion of the field, from merely a 
"database" to a "complete data platform". In this talk we will discuss the 
trends and technologies driving this transformation and how the Microsoft 
Data Platform in particular addresses the challenges of data management in 
today's environment.


Bibliography:

As Product Unit Manager for SQL Server, Prakash Sundaresan leads SQL 
Server R&D team in China. With offices in both Beijing and Shanghai, the 
China R&D center is one of 3 strategic R&D centers for SQL Server 
world-wide and is chartered to work on established core product components 
as well as driving innovation in new areas. Prior to taking on his current 
role, Prakash served as Director of Program Management in the SQL Server 
Strategy team where he was responsible for developing long-term product 
and business strategy, driving the planning effort for future releases, as 
well as driving key technical and business initiatives crucial to the 
success of SQL Server. Prakash joined SQL Server and Microsoft in 1998. 
Over the years, he has contributed to the development of SQL Server 7.0, 
SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 in various leadership roles. Prakash 
also spent 18 months in the SQL Server Customer Advisory Team, helping 
numerous large customers across Asia implement extremely complex 
mission-critical systems on the Microsoft platform. Prior to joining 
Microsoft, Prakash was a Development Lead at Informix Software, where he 
helped build the XPS massively parallel database system. He also spent 
time at Digital Equipment Corp., where he worked with Dr. Jim Gray (ACM 
Turing Award winner and pioneering researcher in database systems) on 
advanced technology projects. Prakash holds an MBA from the University of 
Washington, Seattle, a Master's in Computer Science from the University of 
Wisconsin, Madison and a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from 
the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.