When Big Data becomes Big Brother

You are being watched. Does that make you feel safe or make you feel exposed? The answer to that question determines whether people applaud or decry New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest initiative. Not everyone is ready to surrender their privacy to Big Data even for a system supposedly designed for their own good. 

Read more: When big data becomes big brother: New York City's system for crime prevention - FierceBigData http://www.fiercebigdata.com/story/when-big-data-becomes-big-brother-new-york-citys-system-crime-prevention/2012-08-30#ixzz25iNx32rh
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What's in a name?

Should data scientists be called "data artists?" That is what someone contend, as I discuss in 

What is a 'data scientist'?

Ultimately, working with Big Data effectively calls for using both the creative and methodical parts of the brain. In that way, it is, indeed, a science as Einstein  described it: “The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skills. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle requires creative imagination and marks real advances in science.”

Can algorithms render humans obsolete?

Apparently not altogether. Read my post on the limits of algorithms for people who still clamor for the human touch:  The ascendancy of the algorithm and human resistance - FierceBigData http://www.fiercebigdata.com/story/ascendancy-algorithm-and-human-resistance/2012-09-06#ixzz25iKRGHh8 

Dissing and defending the dashboard

Are BI dashboards truly pathetic? Dissing and defending the dashboard  offers two points of view.

No more survey response for Office Max

I won't be responding to any more survey requests from Office Max. I explain why in my latest post at level343.com: Survey Says: Triple Fail for Office Max Marketing

What to Ask Yourself About Your Content Marketing

My guest post for Level343.com explains what to expect from content marketing and the questions to go through to be sure it is as effective as possible. "Engagement is what we’re all after, particularly when we publish online and hope to get likes, pluses, comments, and shares. When planning what to include in a piece intended to serve as content marketing consider: who, how, what, which, where, when, and why."  Read more at 
 http://level343.com/article_archive/2012/08/30/key-questions-for-content-marketing/

Sensors you swallow

The cliché advice from doctors who don’t want to be bothered after hours by their patients has long been, “Take two pills and call me in the morning.” But soon it might be: "Take a pill, and we’ll call you." Read more at "Take 2 Pills & They'll Call You"