When people think of data, most people will think of numbers and figures on a screen. A jumbled format of numbers and letters that does not make sense when you look at it.
Although this is true, that a big part of data is numbers and letters in a sequence (It is known as Data Science). However, data can be used in some extraordinary ways, and makes up a big part of everything you and I take for granted.
Data is used in many ways. Some of which we may not think as data. For example, phone numbers are forms of data, it is a sequence of unique numbers that is linked to you. Even social media platforms are data, all your accounts also have a unique code behind it that makes it personal to you. Google and the Wi-Fi also are included as data and must use data all the time. There are so many more ways data is used. This is just a very small list of some things we all use every day that data has a huge impact on.
Recently we have written a few blogs where data has made a huge impact. Google trends, a site that records and stores all search history of Google, was used in a trial. Swarm Technology is used every year to predict the winners of the Oscars. Finally, AI Technology was used to write a 3 page chapter of Harry Potter. None of these could have happened without the use of data.
What is Data?
Data can be interpreted in a few different ways. It can be very technical by it being “the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, which may be stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.” (Oxford Dictionary) Or it can be seen as “facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.” (Oxford Dictionary). Either of these definitions shows how data is a collection of information that gets collected and recorded to be used. This is best known as Data Science.
Data Science is mainly used when it comes to computers/devices. It is another name for all the code that going on behind the scenes. However, it can also be known as when you have collected information and using it to support a point. When I think about Data Science it reminds me of being at school and doing bar graphs. I had to find out what everyone’s favourite colour was and record the information and come up with a conclusion. This was me collecting data.
Why do we need Data?
Probably the most important reasons data is so important to us is because it allows us to keep track of everything going on. It enables us to discover any problems and how to fix them. It also is a great way for us to capture life in a particular time to show to future generations.
We learn so much from old data handed down through the generations. Every piece of data helps us to improve and expand. It is past data that has been recorded that allows us to upgrade all our devices. If we look at the census, it is the previous year’s censuses that allows us to crunch the numbers to be able to adapt and make room for our expanding population. Without the ability to crunch the numbers of previous data recorded it would have a major impact on society. It helps us to be able to predict and prepare for future issues, which we are able to either avoid or adapt to.
Is Data just numbers?
So, although a lot of data is made up of numbers and letters in a jumbled format on a screen. Data can also be a huge part in our expanding world. It helps us today, but it will also benefit those after us in the future generations to come.
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