Contents

Cover

Praise

Wiley & SAS Business Series

Title Page

Copyright

Other Books by Phil Simon

Epigraph

List of Tables and Figures

Acknowledgments

Preface

NOTES

Introduction: This Ain’t Your Father’s Data

BETTER CAR INSURANCE THROUGH DATA

POTHOLES AND GENERAL ROAD HAZARDS

RECRUITING AND RETENTION

HOW BIG IS BIG? THE SIZE OF BIG DATA

Why Now? Explaining the Big Data Revolution

CENTRAL THESIS OF BOOK

PLAN OF ATTACK

WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 1: Data 101 and the Data Deluge

THE BEGINNINGS: STRUCTURED DATA

STRUCTURE THIS! WEB 2.0 AND THE ARRIVAL OF BIG DATA

THE COMPOSITION OF DATA: THEN AND NOW

THE CURRENT STATE OF THE DATA UNION

THE ENTERPRISE AND THE BRAVE NEW BIG DATA WORLD

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 2: Demystifying Big Data

CHARACTERISTICS OF BIG DATA

THE ANTI-DEFINITION: WHAT BIG DATA IS NOT

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 3: The Elements of Persuasion: Big Data Techniques

THE BIG OVERVIEW

STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES AND METHODS

DATA VISUALIZATION

AUTOMATION

SEMANTICS

BIG DATA AND THE GANG OF FOUR

PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS

LIMITATIONS OF BIG DATA

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 4: Big Data Solutions

PROJECTS, APPLICATIONS, AND PLATFORMS

OTHER DATA STORAGE SOLUTIONS

WEBSITES, START-UPS, AND WEB SERVICES

HARDWARE CONSIDERATIONS

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 5: Case Studies: The Big Rewards of Big Data

QUANTCAST: A SMALL BIG DATA COMPANY

EXPLORYS: THE HUMAN CASE FOR BIG DATA

NASA: HOW CONTESTS, GAMIFICATION, AND OPEN INNOVATION ENABLE BIG DATA

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 6: Taking the Big Plunge

BEFORE STARTING

STARTING THE JOURNEY

AVOIDING THE BIG PITFALLS

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 7: Big Data: Big Issues and Big Problems

PRIVACY: BIG DATA = BIG BROTHER?

BIG SECURITY CONCERNS

BIG, PRAGMATIC ISSUES

SUMMARY

NOTES

Chapter 8: Looking Forward: The Future of Big Data

PREDICTING PREGNANCY

BIG DATA IS HERE TO STAY

BIG DATA WILL EVOLVE

PROJECTS AND MOVEMENTS

BIG DATA WILL ONLY GET BIGGER…AND SMARTER

THE INTERNET OF THINGS: THE MOVE FROM ACTIVE TO PASSIVE DATA GENERATION

BIG DATA: NO LONGER A BIG LUXURY

STASIS IS NOT AN OPTION

SUMMARY

NOTES

Final Thoughts

SPREADING THE BIG DATA GOSPEL

NOTES

Selected Bibliography

About the Author

Index