Too Big to Ignore

Preface

Errors using inadequate data are much less than those using no data at all.

—Charles Babbage

It’s about 7:30 a.m. on October 26, 2011, and I’m driving on The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. No, I’m not about to play craps or see Celine Dion. (While very talented, she’s just not my particular brand of vodka.) I’m going for a more professional reason. Starting sometime in mid-2011, I started hearing more and more about something called Big Data. On that October morning, I was invited to IBM’s Information on Demand (IOD) conference. It was high time that I learned more about this new phenomenon, and there’s only so much you can do in front of a computer.

Beyond my insatiable quest for knowledge on all matters technology, truth be told, I went to IOD for a bunch of other reasons. First, it was convenient: The Strip is a mere fifteen minutes from my home. Second, the price was right: I was able to snake my way in for free. It turns out that, since I write for a few high-profile sites, some people think of me as a member of the media. (Funny how I never would have expected that ten years ago, but far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth.) Third, it was a good networking opportunity and my fourth book, The Age of the Platform, had just been published. I am familiar enough with the book business to know that authors have to get out there if they want to generate a buzz and move copies. These were all valid reasons to hop in my car, but for me there was an extra treat. ...