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Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Note on the Text
- Introduction
- 1 Which Disciplines Are Concerned with the Intersections of Science, Technology, and Society? What Are Some of Their Core Contributions?
- 2 Do Science and Technology Shape Society or Does Society Shape Science and Technology?
- 3 Where Do Scientific and Technological Innovation Come From? Can Innovation Be Deliberately Promoted, or Do We Just Have to Wait for the Light Bulbs to Go Off?
- 4 When and How Do New Technologies Spread through Society? Why Do Some Die on the Vine?
- 5 What Can We Learn by Comparing the Combination of Science, Technology, and Society in Different Parts of the World and at Different Times in History?
- 6 Can a Technology Be Inherently Good or Bad for Society, or Is That a Matter of What We Do with It?
- 7 How Can One Be a Savvy Consumer of Increasingly Complex Scientific Research?
- 8 Do Children Develop Differently in a Digitally Saturated World? Is Digital Technology Helping Children Thrive – or Stunting Them?
- 9 What Is “Big Data” and Why Does It Make Such a Big Difference?
- 10 Do Algorithms Make Wise and Fair Decisions?
- 11 Are New Technologies Beneficial to Liberal Democracy and Good Governance – or Wreaking Havoc on Them?
- 12 Does Technological Progress Make People Happier?
- 13 What Has the Relationship between Sex, Gender, Science, and Technology Been – and What Might It Be?
- 14 What Are Digital Divides and Why Do They Matter?
- 15 How Do Science and Technology Impact International Development, and How Might They Lead to a More Sustainable Global Community?
- 16 Will AI Be Conscious?
- 17 Will the AI Robot Economy Be a Golden Age or a Dystopian Era?
- 18 Will AI Create Great Art?
- Select Bibliography
- Index
9 - What Is “Big Data” and Why Does It Make Such a Big Difference?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: aN Invalid Date NaN
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Note on the Text
- Introduction
- 1 Which Disciplines Are Concerned with the Intersections of Science, Technology, and Society? What Are Some of Their Core Contributions?
- 2 Do Science and Technology Shape Society or Does Society Shape Science and Technology?
- 3 Where Do Scientific and Technological Innovation Come From? Can Innovation Be Deliberately Promoted, or Do We Just Have to Wait for the Light Bulbs to Go Off?
- 4 When and How Do New Technologies Spread through Society? Why Do Some Die on the Vine?
- 5 What Can We Learn by Comparing the Combination of Science, Technology, and Society in Different Parts of the World and at Different Times in History?
- 6 Can a Technology Be Inherently Good or Bad for Society, or Is That a Matter of What We Do with It?
- 7 How Can One Be a Savvy Consumer of Increasingly Complex Scientific Research?
- 8 Do Children Develop Differently in a Digitally Saturated World? Is Digital Technology Helping Children Thrive – or Stunting Them?
- 9 What Is “Big Data” and Why Does It Make Such a Big Difference?
- 10 Do Algorithms Make Wise and Fair Decisions?
- 11 Are New Technologies Beneficial to Liberal Democracy and Good Governance – or Wreaking Havoc on Them?
- 12 Does Technological Progress Make People Happier?
- 13 What Has the Relationship between Sex, Gender, Science, and Technology Been – and What Might It Be?
- 14 What Are Digital Divides and Why Do They Matter?
- 15 How Do Science and Technology Impact International Development, and How Might They Lead to a More Sustainable Global Community?
- 16 Will AI Be Conscious?
- 17 Will the AI Robot Economy Be a Golden Age or a Dystopian Era?
- 18 Will AI Create Great Art?
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Since the 1990s, big data has rapidly grown, influencing business, government, and healthcare. Fueled by networked devices, social media, and affordable cloud storage, it features voluminous datasets with diverse types, rapid updates, and accuracy concerns. Applications span retail, manufacturing, transportation, finance, and education, yielding benefits like data-driven decisions, optimization, personalized marketing, scientific progress, and fraud detection. However, challenges arise from complexity, necessitating interdisciplinary collaboration, privacy issues, potential cyberattacks, and the need for robust data protections. Accurate interpretation is crucial, given the risk of costly misinterpretations. Moreover, significant resources for storage, processing, and analysis raise environmental concerns, while legal and ethical considerations add complexity. Overreliance on data may lead to missed opportunities, underscoring the importance of balancing insights with human judgment. In conclusion, big data offers immense potential but poses significant challenges. Navigating this landscape requires a nuanced understanding, fostering responsible data practices to unlock its potential for informed decision-making and advancements across diverse fields.
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- Understanding Technology and SocietySeminal Questions and Enduring Insights, pp. 113 - 119Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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