Steve Lohr

I've been raving about this book to co-workers, friends, and acquaintances since the second chapter! I am living this book - I remember learning of concerns about "artificial intelligence" and now I benefit from the accumulation of "big data," as we all do. I took a class many years ago in my undergrad studies about the future of computers and their potential to revolutionize healthcare. This book is like the mirror image of that class - or like the accompanying bookend. The author of this book describes the history of big data, its current state, and its potential future. The philosophies of quants, corporate executives, and privacy protection advocates are discussed in a very approachable manner and so I now have a much better understanding of the benefits and the dark sides of data-driven decisions - this book has enlightened me.… (mais)

√ Big Data: The New Power Brokers of Society?

DATA-ISM is an extensive look at what the author views as a coming societal/business revolution due to "big data." "Big Data technology is ushering in a revolution in measurement the promises to be the basis for the next wave of efficiency and innovation. " The author believes that big data will lead to a huge step forward in computing: "The Big Data era is the next evolutionary upheaval in the landscape of computing."

The author explains that the term "data-ism"came from his colleague David Brooks, at the New York Times. Much of the focus of this book is on the top players in the game of big data. Scientists, and other researchers. One of these researchers is studying how to use the data in hospitals. With so many people sick and in intensive care, the amount of data coming from the instruments is astonishing. But is there a way that researchers and doctors can use that medicine to develop better treatment for these patients?

With all this new data, the authors suggest that decisions will not be made so much on intuition, or even experience, but instead, "Decisions of all kind should be increasingly made based on data and analysis rather than experience and intuition."

One very interesting thing I learned from this book was a website called acxiom. In this site you input your name and some other information, and it will tell you what information it has gathered on you. (Actually, you should use, https://www.aboutthedata.com/)

All in all, DATA-ISM is a fascinating look at the possibilities--both good and bad--of using this new barrage of information. There are extensive and notes to support the author's commentary.
… (mais)