Jan and Janet write, > This issue of Cutter's newsletter has a couple articles on this subject: > > http://www.cutter.com/research.html > > If big data is generated/collected on behalf money because that's who can > afford it then the way that data will be phrased, framed, focused will > suit those interests
True. Although business money will indeed be the main driver of big data initiatives and data-analysis-tool development, business is not the only driver of future big data collection and its investigation by any means. For example, big data analysis should be *incredibly* useful in terms of human health. With the human genome discoveries, it's big data that will enable the linking of specific genes with human health and longevity. If certain human genes are found likely to cause/influence a specific human health concern, then preventative gene therapies might then be developed. And it's big data collection & analysis that will allow such connections. Or if people are suffering & dying from specific illnesses in some areas but not others, or from some life circumstances but not others, then big data is most likely to be the research-tool which can pin this fact down. This is also true for big data and food, and drug, safety. If some folks are found to suffer negative reactions to certain food additives, or, to new drugs and medicines, then, although they live in different countries it will probably be big data analysis that discovers such medical issues. Big data analysis has already been essential for climate change sciences. And big data analysis is already very useful for city/town planning uses. The main issue imho appears to be, how granulated any big data regarding humans is allowed to remain. That is, big data with individual names, or phone numbers is very granulated. It allows an individual identification. And perhaps, as Bernard notes, incorrect conclusions regarding such folk, hence as Jan notes, unfair and incorrect, NSA no-fly list conditions. It will lead to unfair personal & group discrimination in all sorts of ways. Big data is *not* inherently bad in and of itself. It all depends on how secure and private those big data records are stored and handled, and if that big data is de-personalized. And finally how much respect generally is shown for the individual human statistics/datum that is the big data. Cheers, Stephen Message sent using MelbPC WebMail Server _______________________________________________ Link mailing list Link@mailman.anu.edu.au http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
