Arevelatoryexplorationofthehottesttrendintechnologyandthedramaticimpactitwillhaveontheeconomy,science,andsocietyatlarge.
Whichpaintcolorismostlikelytotellyouthatausedcarisingoodshape?HowcanofficialsidentifythemostdangerousNewYorkCitymanholesbeforetheyexplode?AndhowdidGooglesearchespredictthespreadoftheH1N1fluoutbreak?
Thekeytoansweringthesequestions,andmanymore,isbigdata.“Bigdata”referstoourburgeoningabilitytocrunchvastcollectionsofinformation,analyzeitinstantly,anddrawsometimesprofoundlysurprisingconclusionsfromit.Thisemergingsciencecantranslatemyriadphenomena—fromthepriceofairlineticketstothetextofmillionsofbooks—intosearchableform,andusesourincreasingcomputingpowertounearthepiphaniesthatwenevercouldhaveseenbefore.ArevolutiononparwiththeInternetorperhapseventheprintingpress,bigdatawillchangethewaywethinkaboutbusiness,health,politics,education,andinnovationintheyearstocome.Italsoposesfreshthreats,fromtheinevitableendofprivacyasweknowittotheprospectofbeingpenalizedforthingswehaven’tevendoneyet,basedonbigdata’sabilitytopredictourfuturebehavior.
Inthisbrilliantlyclear,oftensurprisingwork,twoleadingexpertsexplainwhatbigdatais,howitwillchangeourlives,andwhatwecandotoprotectourselvesfromitshazards.BigDataisthefirstbigbookaboutthenextbigthing.