IBM's Watson does healthcare: Data as the foundation for cognitive systems for population health

IBM's big bet on Watson is all over the news. This week's World of Watson event helped bring Watson to the limelight, with attendees from 110 countries. If numbers impress you, Ginni Rometty's number-dropping in WoW's keynote should leave you impressed indeed. Watson is meant to be positioned as the leader in a market worth $32 billion (cognitive systems), help organizations make better decisions worth an estimated $2 trillion, and make a difference in the lives of nearly one billion people through its 700 clients. They will not accept healthcare they do not understand, costs too much, and requires them to leave the comfort of their home too often.