Big Data: Transforming Our Lives In Many Ways

The volume of data we now create in two days is equal to data created from the dawn of civilization to 2003. That is, if we are to believe that Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, knows what he is saying. But whether or NOT everyone believes the amount of data created now is in that order, we cannot argue with the fact that we have been hit by Big Data and are experiencing transformations in magnitudes that have never been experienced in history.

Chuck Raasch of USA Today draws our attention to the many ways our lives are being transformed. He also calls attention to challenges and concerns that come with the transformations we are witnessing.

On the positive side, we have Big Data to thank for when we look at a number of scientific breakthroughs that couldn't have been possible without this phenomenon. Businesses are having an easier job giving you exactly what you want. You can easily find answers to questions (be it a trivia question or locating a particular type of restaurant in a new city).

A tiny stall in a third world country has access to more information than the US presidents of just two decades ago.

Sports have been affected dramatically, thanks to Big Data. People don't really have to guess who their most valuable baseball player is. Big Data analysis can now show (a graph of) the "speed, location, trajectory and movement of every single pitch he has thrown in the major leagues." If this isn't amazing, I don't know what is.

Our lives are powered by Big Data in many ways we don't even bother to think of again.

But there are concerns as well. Read about the concerns here...