Era of Data

May 21, 2015

Author: Kr Pawan

 

The current era can truly be called the data age, whatever we see and perceive in today’s world is in one way or other related to data making it a stakeholder in the so called data age of today. Whatever we do including our daily routine work can tracked and can be optimized through further value addition providing with interesting if not important information from second to second basis. As mankind is making headway into the digital world, data has become even more important plotting our future course of action. All in all we can say that we are now living in a world where everything is achievable by the means of proper information that is available thorough data.

I have sorted out some examples that will give you an idea with regard to the manifestation of the data age which I am talking about. Recently, I came across Watson technology that has been developed by IBM; Watson has been built on similar learning lines portrayed by the power of cognition. Their framework is designed to have same perception what we use like observe, interpret, evaluate and decide. This technology has given an edge in most of the sectors to make life easier. Like in health industries, this helps doctors to take better decision by scanning through large volume of available datasets. Second example is Google earth, which provides satellite imaginary, maps, terrain and 3D building gives feather to the user to navigate anywhere on earth. Large numbers of mobile apps have been developed by using Google and have made life easier for people providing them with essential information like schools, hospital, restaurants, house, police stations and transportation etc.

Today data has given platform to smart users to start his own innovative firms, basic daily life information to common people and researcher to make smart technologies. Now Governments of various countries are taking active participation to provide data (information) to public freely and extending it in collaboration with data companies and research firms. Term open data was coined and gained popularity with the launch of open-data government initiatives like Data.gov, Data.gov.uk and Data.gov.in etc.

Open-government data has its significance in giving a direction to identify sequence and pattern of governance. It provides information to public and helps government to strengthen transparency, educating public and increasing job opportunities. In this regards, data.gov.in is trending very fast with 15121 resources, 497 visualization and 46 apps. Currently 1.3 millions downloads have been done by 51348 registered users. It indicates the popularity and steps towards bounding public with the government to establish good governance.