Where did Big Data come from? When did it start?
In my research I came across a great article in Forbes Magazine by Gil Press. He listed and described several stories of our journey to big data.
In 1944, a Wesleyan University Librarian named Fremont Rider calculated that university libraries in the United States were doubling in size every 16 years. Rider figured that at this rate, the Yale Library would have over 200 million volumes. This tells us that 70 years ago, people understood the concept of storing information and the limitations we have on storage space.
Later on in 1980, I.A. Tjomsland gave a live discussion entitled Where Do We Go from Here. Tjomsland was discussing the rise of mass storage systems and the future problems that lack of storage space could create. Tjomsland's famous quote is "the penalties for storing obsolete data are less apparent than are the penalties for discarding potentially useful data" (1980). We used to store information in fear of losing valuable data. Back then, Tjomsland wondered how long we could continue mindlessly saving data this way before we run out of data storage space.
We have yet to 'hit a brick wall.' Today we are still known to endlessly collect, save, and store data, but we are finally coming to a turning point. With strategic big data, we can now make use of all this stored data.
To continue reading on strategic big data, follow the links below.
In 1944, a Wesleyan University Librarian named Fremont Rider calculated that university libraries in the United States were doubling in size every 16 years. Rider figured that at this rate, the Yale Library would have over 200 million volumes. This tells us that 70 years ago, people understood the concept of storing information and the limitations we have on storage space.
Later on in 1980, I.A. Tjomsland gave a live discussion entitled Where Do We Go from Here. Tjomsland was discussing the rise of mass storage systems and the future problems that lack of storage space could create. Tjomsland's famous quote is "the penalties for storing obsolete data are less apparent than are the penalties for discarding potentially useful data" (1980). We used to store information in fear of losing valuable data. Back then, Tjomsland wondered how long we could continue mindlessly saving data this way before we run out of data storage space.
We have yet to 'hit a brick wall.' Today we are still known to endlessly collect, save, and store data, but we are finally coming to a turning point. With strategic big data, we can now make use of all this stored data.
To continue reading on strategic big data, follow the links below.
Work Cited: Press, Gil. May 9, 2013. A Very Short History of Big Data. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gilpress/2013/05/09/a-very-short-history-of-big-data/
Image Cited: http://www.historicwildeytheatre.com/History/History_Banner.jpg
Image Cited: http://www.historicwildeytheatre.com/History/History_Banner.jpg