“BIG DATA”, UNA TENDENCIA EN ASCENSO

How Big Data Will Change Your Everyday Life

By Paul Mampilly, editor, Professional Speculator

Imagine walking into a restaurant and the waiter already knows what you're going to order. Walking into a Starbucks and your pumpkin-spice latte is waiting for you already. Shopping for a new pair of pants online and the website shows you only the items in your size with the colors and styles you like.
The world I'm describing is custom-made for you. And it isn't science fiction. It's an emerging trend called "Big Data," which allows for the storage of incredible amounts of data on computers... like what songs you're listening to, what stores you shop in, and more.
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.
Here's how it works: Information scientists create programs and algorithms to crawl through data around the clock with the intention of figuring out your preferences. Over time – and with more data – these programs and algorithms learn more about you and what you like. One day soon, you'll be able to automate your decisions... including what to eat and drink, what clothes to wear, and what you'll do on the weekend.
We can see early signs of Big Data already. When you browse the Internet, you see ads tailored to things you have searched for or purchased. Imagine that type of experience in the world around us... Soon, your decisions will be made for you. That's the future I envision. And if I'm right, it means certain companies will be making billions of dollars off it.
Companies investing heavily in Big Data include well-known blue-chip companies like IBM, which has a product called Watson. Watson is a computer that uses Big Data to answer questions. IBM has already signed deals to integrate Watson with consumer-products icon Apple's new smart watch.
One industry set to benefit greatly from the growth of Big Data is health care. In 2013, the U.S. spent $2.9 trillion on health care... nearly $10,000 per person. Research suggests that as much as one-third of that spending is wasteful and, worse, potentially harmful to patients. Sure enough, IBM is collaborating with health care giant Johnson & Johnson's knee- and hip-implant division. And IBM is working with Medtronic to connect heart devices, diabetes pumps, and other medical devices.
You could buy shares of IBM to gain exposure to this long-term megatrend. But I prefer the idea of speculating through smaller companies like Splunk, Tableau Software, Infoblox, and Neustar, who are working to create cutting-edge applications using Big Data.