Big data refers to huge data sets that are in exabytes of size. An exabyte is equal to a million terabytes. This large amount of data is used to better improve our everyday lives. From online shopping to TV streaming to preventing crime, big data has become an important role to help companies compile, analyze, and make use of this data. Here are some ways big data is used in our personal lives.
Online Shopping
Online retailers try to target consumers by looking at their browsing history, purchasing history, or search history. Amazon looks at the items you last purchased, and compares it to the big data of what other users have purchased. It then suggests other items that you’re likely to buy. Databases are keeping track of the items in their warehouses to prevent theft and to collect product data. A lot of these techniques were originally employed by Amazon and are being used among other retailers.
Music Streaming
Music streaming has become more personalized, allowing people to create their own radio stations and playlists. Music streaming services collect this information based on the type of music that the user listens to. They also collect the data from their libraries to curate playlists and radio stations for users. Spotify does this by offering a weekly playlist that’s personalized based on the user’s tastes.
TV Streaming
Netflix uses big data to determine what kind of television shows and movies to make next by following what users watch each month. Netflix has become one of the most addicting TV streaming platforms because you can binge-watch an entire season in one sitting. Netflix determines which actors, genres, directors, producers, and concepts are popular in the world of online streaming. They use this information to generate more television shows and films that they know will become popular. Netflix also provides you with a rating of whether users liked the program or not by looking into this big data.
Fighting Crime
Big Brother is watching. Big data can help when it comes to fighting crime. It helps police determine when the next crime scene is going to occur. They use “predictive policing” to analyze the areas with the highest crime rates. They hire additional IT staffing so they can find out where to station their police officers. This makes the public a little safer and helps them save money on wasted efforts. It helps police officers see where crime is most committed, but to prevent such crimes from happening in the first place.
Health Care
Big data has made some major breakthroughs the healthcare industry. The electronic healthcare management system allows hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare practitioners exchange and shares that information for better research, new treatments, and patient-based care. This information is used immediately when someone is admitted to the hospital. In the meantime, people use apps that track their heart rate, sleep patterns, distance walked, and other important health measures.
The only way to not have big data impact your personal life is to not use it. That would mean not to be on social media or not browse the internet at all. You could try to live your life anonymously on the internet, but it would be impossible.
Unless you decide to use a private browser, companies are going to find new ways to gather big data and to analyze it based on user’s tastes and browsing history. This technology is being improved every day and companies are going to find new ways to gather and collect new information about their users. It may sound creepy, but it’s actually to better our lives and how we use the internet.
