The word “revolution” has become commonplace among big data proponents for characterizing changes brought about by new analytics tools and the associated technologies. Some have argued that big data analytics herald the “end of theory” or of uncertainty about the future or of traditional sample-based testing methods. While almost invariably overblown, such proclamations are nevertheless right that big data is revolutionary. But what kind of revolution is it?
So begins a brilliant post by M. Anthony Mills for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Mills reflects on the history of the data sciences, and how our conception of knowledge has changed over time. We may not be able to predict all the ramifications of Big Data, but we know that it will greatly improve our ability to predict events. Agile minds are needed, to think differently, and realize the full potential of the data available to us. Those of you with agile minds should enjoy reading Mills’ blog.
