The Problem with Big Data is that You Can’t Change

Near the end of May 26, 2015, Paul Mampilly wrote an article titled, “How Big Data Will Change Your Everyday Life”, published in the Professional Speculator.  He noted that data can see the future.

“Over time, this huge amount of data can accurately predict behavior in things like what consumers are interested in buying. And when you can predict these things, you can anticipate their needs before they even know them.”

“Soon, your decisions will be made for you. “

Yes.  Ughh..  All sorts of great things, I imagine.  For static people.  What happens when I improve or grow?  Maybe my diet works and I want different clothes.  Maybe my recovery program worked and I want different friends.  Maybe my job changed and I live in a different city.  Maybe.. maybe.. maybe life happens and I am different than I was 10 years ago.  Here, Big Data fails.

I previously wrote on the topic of ID cards not documenting who you are but rather who you were.   Now, a Big Data trail will never let me be something new.  I will always be trapped in what I was.

I read an example of people required to register as sex offenders.  Okay.  Good idea.  Until they are 80 years old and need to live in a nursing home because they can’t care for themselves.  Rules keep perpetrators out.  So where do they live?  I’m not proposing an answer in this case, just pointing out that the problem didn’t exist before the perpetual easy-access criminal trail that never ages, never fades, never expires.

What are possible fixes for the conundrum of data trapping me to never change or improve?

  • Change History – never have been able to.
  • Big Data has no half-life – it lives forever.
  • Change Data – forget it.
  • Program algorithms to “forget”. Forget it; not when they’ve paid big bucks to “know”!

We Built Facebook To Exploit You Your Data

About Brian

Engineer. Aviator. Educator. Scientist.
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