Big Data Now: Current Perspectives from O'Reilly Radar

Foreword

This collection represents the full spectrum of data-related content we’ve published on O’Reilly Radar over the last year. Mike Loukides kicked things off in June 2010 with “What is data science?” and from there we’ve pursued the various threads and themes that naturally emerged. Now, roughly a year later, we can look back over all we’ve covered and identify a number of core data areas:

Chapter 1—The tools and technologies that drive data science are of course essential to this space, but the varied techniques being applied are also key to understanding the big data arena.

Chapter 2—The opportunities and ambiguities of the data space are evident in discussions around privacy, the implications of data-centric industries, and the debate about the phrase “data science” itself.

Chapter 3—A “data product” can emerge from virtually any domain, including everything from data startups to established enterprises to media/journalism to education and research.

Chapter 4—Take a closer look at the actions connected to data—the finding, organizing, and analyzing that provide organizations of all sizes with the information they need to compete.

To be clear: This is the story up to this point. In the weeks and months ahead we’ll certainly see important shifts in the data landscape. We’ll continue to chronicle this space through ongoing Radar coverage and our series of online and in-person Strata events. We hope you’ll join us.

—Mac Slocum

Managing Editor, O’Reilly Radar