The Next Big Thing is Big Data

The iconic Hadoop logo from the infamous yellow elephant.
http://www.sas.com/content/dam/SAS/sv_se/image/logo2/hadoop_elephant.png

Welcome back everyone! I hope you're ready for a small change in pace to talk about a potentially big area of technology coming out. Big Data analysis is the new emerging area of technology that is reshaping the way technology will function on a large, potentially global, scale. While we have had big data for a while, the real "big data revolution is that we can now do something with the data." (King & Shaw, 1). Big data's current primary use is seen in the commercial industry such as in the use of advertisements. But big data's applications range far and wide, from assisting in police crime prediction, air quality and health associations, and even in genomic analysis of crop breeding (Shaw, 2). Without big data powering much of the world, large companies like Walmart, Amazon, Google, and Apple would have a significantly harder time adjusting to the ever changing desires of its customers and help ensure that everyone's needs are taken care of. Honestly, Tim McGuire and the rest of his team at Ivey Business Journal couldn't have said it any better, "Much of modern economic activity simply could not take place without them." (McGuire et al., 1). The problem with this is that unlike many other companies that can use data that already exists, Big Data today relies on another 

A small example of how to Hadoop map-reduces big data.
http://www.glennklockwood.com/di/mapreduce-workflow.png

element that changes the algorithm completely, time. "In addition to the sheer scale of Big Data, the real-time and high-frequency nature of the data are also important." (McGuire et al., 3). Because data is constantly flowing and changing, from media to business statistics and even with communication, time has become an important element when it comes to analyzing Big Data. While Big Data is still a budding new technology, its application in the real world will spark many significant changes such as the potential for stores to be more efficient at getting you to those new pair of shoes everyone else is buying. So tell me, do you think Big Data will be a huge hit in the market? Or do you think it is just another trend that will fade? I want to know what you think! Thanks and see you next time!

Works Cited

McGuire, T., Manyika, J., Manyika, J., & Chui, M. (2012, July 1). Ivey Business Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2015, from http://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/why-big-data-is-the-new-competitive-advantage/

Shaw, J. (2014, March 1). Why "Big Data" Is a Big Deal. Retrieved May 12, 2015, from http://harvardmagazine.com/2014/03/why-big-data-is-a-big-deal

Wagner, D. (2014, October 2). The importance of big data analytics in business. Retrieved May 12, 2015, from http://www.techradar.com/us/news/world-of-tech/the-importance-of-big-data-analytics-in-business-1267606