One of the frustrating things about large data storage system is the inability to find information quickly. Imagine trying to find two related packages in a 100-story building, and you get some idea of the dilemma computer engineers face. Data mining is a technique that helps identify patterns in data to show relationships that are often unexpected. The applications for business are nearly endless. Insurance companies can make better decisions about who to insure.
Stores can reduce their inventories by discovering exactly what their different customers want.
Hu's part of the project involves designing a fast computer storage system that can speed up data mining processes.