UNIT 2: Emerging Technologies
Overview:
Emerging technology refers to new or evolving technologies expected to have significant
social or economic effects in the near future (within the next 5-10 years). Examples include
Big Data, cloud computing, fog computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These
technologies are creating transformative impacts across industries, media, science, and
education.
2.1 Big Data Introduction:
Big Data refers to vast, complex data sets generated by various digital sources, which are
challenging to process using traditional tools. The exponential growth of data from sources
like the Internet, IoT devices, social media, and transactional systems leads to the need for
specialized data management tools and techniques.
Example: Google uses Big Data to personalize search results by analyzing users’ search
history, location, and trends.
2.1.1 Characteristics of Big Data: the 5Vs
1. Volume: Refers to the massive amounts of data generated daily from sources like social
media, sensors, and business systems.
- Example: Billions of posts on Facebook or Twitter in one day.
2. Variety: Different formats of data, including structured (databases), unstructured (social
media posts, videos), and semi-structured (emails).
- Example: Emails, PDFs, videos, social media posts.
3. Velocity: The speed at which new data is generated and processed in real time.
- Example: Stock trading platforms that process millions of transactions per second.
4. Value: The usefulness of the data in deriving meaningful insights.
- Example: Retailers analyzing shopping patterns to offer personalized deals.
5. Veracity: The reliability or trustworthiness of the data.
- Example: Ensuring data from different sources (e.g., surveys, transactions) is accurate for
decision-making.
2.1.2 Benefits of Big Data:
- Customer Acquisition and Retention: Data helps companies like Netflix and Spotify offer
personalized recommendations, improving customer loyalty. Example, Netflix uses Big Data
to offer personalized recommendations to users based on their viewing history and
preferences, increasing customer satisfaction and retention.
- Targeted Advertisements: Data allows advertisers to create personalized ads based on user
behavior, such as past purchases or browsing history.
- Product Development: Companies can update products or create new ones based on
insights from customer data.
- Improved Decision-Making: Data-driven decisions help organizations act faster and more
effectively.
-etc…
2.1.3 Applications of Big Data:
Healthcare: Improves patient care by analyzing medical records, wearable device
data, and telemedicine insights.
- Example: Remote health monitoring through smart devices.
Education: Tailors learning experiences by analyzing student data, improving both
in-person and online education.
- Example: Adaptive learning platforms that adjust content based on student performance.
Banking: Detects fraud by monitoring real-time transaction data, and assists in
compliance and auditing.
- Example: Tracking suspicious credit card activity.
Agriculture: Smart farming technologies help optimize planting schedules and
resource usage based on data analysis.
- Example: Using weather data to decide the best time to plant crops.
Retail: Analyzes customer data to offer personalized experiences, improving sales
and customer satisfaction.
- Example: Personalized product recommendations based on shopping history.
Transportation: Optimizes routes, controls traffic, and manages transportation
systems using Big Data.
- Example: Predicting traffic jams and suggesting alternate routes using real-time data.
2.1.4 Challenges of Big Data:
1. Managing Big Data Growth: The rapid increase in data requires effective storage and
management solutions.
- Example: Companies struggle to manage ever-growing customer data from social
media.
2. Lack of Data Professionals: There is a shortage of skilled data scientists and analysts
to manage Big Data.
- Example: Companies face challenges in hiring skilled professionals who can analyze
large data sets.
3. Securing Data: Ensuring data security while processing massive amounts of data is
crucial.
- Example: Data breaches from inadequate security measures in cloud storage.
4. Data Integration: Combining data from multiple sources (e.g., emails, social media,
financial transactions) and determining which data is most relevant.
- Example: Integrating data from customer surveys and social media interactions to
enhance marketing strategies.
