Five Areas Data Analysis is Already Changing Our Everyday Lives
Sensors, algorithms, business analysis, Internet of Things: We are surrounded by a variety of hidden data analysis solutions.
In almost every area where people are moving, huge amounts of data are produced every day, and more and more: this year alone, more than 9,000 exabytes of data are produced world-wide. According to current forecasts, this figure is expected to quadruple by 2020 to a volume of 44 zettabytes, or 44 trillion gigabytes (IDC).
With classic systems such huge quantities cannot be evaluated any longer. For comparison: A Zettabyte corresponds to the data volume of about 250 billion DVDs. The new technologies that help make this data usable are summarized under the term “smart data”. They are largely still in the children’s shoes. The following five examples of smart data applications show how they change our lives.
Smart energy meter
What are the biggest energy eaters in the household? And how can energy and water be saved most effectively?
Answers to these questions can be provided by so-called “smart meters”, which help consumers to keep an eye on their own energy consumption. This is because the digital water, gas and electricity meters show exactly how much is consumed and contribute to the fact that consumers can better assess the energy and water consumption in their own four walls.
For this purpose, the data is transmitted by radio, via the power line or via WLAN and then visualized on a display. Recent studies are optimistic: they assume an energy saving potential of about five to ten percent.
Connected Cars
Cars that communicate autonomously among themselves and with the infrastructure are made possible by the new technologies. The goal is to contribute to more safety and less traffic congestion on the roads.
An example of this is the automatic “Cooperative Forward Collision Warning” system. This automatically intervenes and stops the car when a rear-end collision threatens and the driver does not respond quickly enough. The brake assistant continually analyzes the position data of the preceding vehicles and therefore recognizes the impending impact at an early stage. A similar way of doing this is to provide smart trunking devices that enable app vendors to advertise traffic densities in real-time via a live tracking system.
Health check on the wrist
Small, smart and always on the go – Smartwatches are trendy because they can be used in many different ways: They measure the pulse, analyze steps, sleep and calorie consumption, but can also transmit messages or remind them of appointments via messenger apps.
The mobile analysis of the health data is particularly suitable for chronically ill people because the apps automatically monitor important health data such as heartbeat and blood glucose, and automatically alert when the wearer’s condition deteriorates. Some health insurance companies have recognized the potential and are now already funding the purchase of fitness and health tracker to improve the health of their customers.
Shoes with 3D print
Most of them dream of shoes that fit perfectly and are designed according to your own ideas. The trend towards customization has now been recognized by sports shoe manufacturers and is already experimenting with 3D printing technology in production.
So far, the customized sneaker is only available in a limited, relatively expensive version, and an average of three months elapsed before the shoe finally finds its way to the buyer’s foot, but some brands plan to expand their offer as early as next year. This could make the futuristic dream of the fitting shoe, which will be delivered the next day, soon become affordable for the masses.
Live tracking of transport flows
The times of eternal waiting is over: not infrequently they have been enduring for days, and in the end they were not there to accept the long awaited package. Today, however, everyone with the package number can track online where the shipment is currently and then track the status. This is made possible by automatic scanners at various points in the supply chain.
