We've written about BIG data before and while some reckon it's sexy, you better roll up your sleeves because you'll invariably need to do a lot of 'janitorial' (a.k.a. shit) work first!
Ron Sandland recently wrote about the new phenomenon of 'big data' - weighing up the benefits and concerns. Terry Speed reflected on the same issue in a talk earlier this year inGothenburg, Sweeden noting that this is nothing new to statisticians. So what's all the fuss about? Here's another take on the 'big data' bandwagon.
Have you stopped to think about the actual value YOU derive from having a Linkedin account?
Company Director, Prof. David Fox has had a rethink about his Linkedin membership. Copied below is his 'resignation letter':
The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is always a time for quiet contemplation and a bit of house-cleaning. I'm not one for social media - I don't have a twitter account and you won't find me on Facebook but after unrelenting invitations, I did succumb to Linkedin some time ago. At first I thought it was mildly interesting to see what friends and colleagues (and even more obscure second and third-order contacts) were up to but increasingly I've found it all too voyeuristic and well, quite frankly, banal. I'd like to think my sincerity runs deeper than relying on Linkedin to remind me to congratulate 'X' on being in his or her job for n years. In fact, I neither expect to be congratulated for turning oxygen into carbon dioxide nor will I congratulate others for doing the same (except perhaps at the end of a distinguished career). What does interest me about my numerous professional contacts is what they actually DO. More recently, Linkedin has been 'pinging' me to get online and checkout 'Y's' new photo! Why? Has Y had a facelift, liposuction or gender reassignment? I don't really care! I'm sorry, but this is kiddy stuff.
So now that I have a moment to clear the desk in readiness for another exciting year, I've decided to cut myself adrift from Linkedin. While I'm sure there is value to be had by being part of this global network, for me, I haven't experienced it. What I do know is that the main beneficiaries of the massive amounts of personal information being harvested by social networking tools are the developers and their customers.
By next week I hope to have erased my Linkedin account. To all my valued colleagues and friends - you know my email address, so please use it to stay in touch!
