More big data with IoT
What is big data and what does it actually do?
‘Big data’ is now associated with so many different aspects that it is not always clear what the conversation is actually about. The context is therefore always decisive in this context. However, a meaningful discourse is only possible with a clear understanding of big data. If we only refer to the literal meaning, we are talking about a large, diffuse and complex amount of data. The negative connotation is based on the question of data protection and corporate or state-organisational control.
Big data is to be understood as a kind of method with which data can be processed. Regardless of the actual size of the data, this method can be applied to any amount of data.
Take a certain amount of text data as an example. In the context of big data, it is less about recording the specific content and more about recognising a certain pattern. For example, it is possible to identify whether there are topics that receive a particularly large amount of positive or negative feedback. This does not require each individual document to be checked and read – using big data, the texts are scanned for text patterns in order to determine, for example, which emotional mood predominates in the readers’ reactions.
Big data with IoT
However, regardless of the current volume of data or the boundary between big and small data, the orders of magnitude will increasingly shift massively. The reason for this? IoT (Internet of Things)! This Internet of Things enables the complete digital linking, interlinking and networking of everything and everyone: from Farmer Franz’s milking machine, to smart production and its individual factory parts and smart home parts such as refrigerators, floor sensors and moisture meters, through to the smart city with traffic lights, wastewater measurement systems, etc.
If you only look at the technical aspect of the above-mentioned discussion about data security and control, it quickly becomes clear that a lot of data is being generated. At the moment, it is not even possible to draw up suitable comparisons in order to understand the size of the data. This raises the question of storage options and computing power. Was it perhaps too early to call big data by its name? Because one thing is certain: the real era of big data is yet to come.
Power combination: Iot and Big Data
IoT makes a significant contribution to big data. Big data analytics such as predictive analytics, cloud computing, data mining, data lakes, etc. are needed to capitalise on the enormous volume, speed and variety of structured and unstructured data collected on a daily basis. The majority of companies rely on a combination of technologies in order to derive the best possible benefit from the IoT.