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Where Does Data Come From

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30 views2 pages

Where Does Data Come From

Uploaded by

Chaca Traore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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WHERE DOES DATA COME FROM?

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It might seem like the term data science became trendy in the last decade. However, the history
of data is much longer than that. In fact, it has been around much longer than we think. Despite
being different from what we know now, data did exist. People have been using it for centuries,
working hard to innovate new ways to benefit from it. The first evidence of data collection was
found 19,000 BC. The first known concept of data dates back in the 1600s. Data evolved over
time to provide different services and solutions in the 1800s and 1900s. In modern days,
applications of data analysis and data science are created, and they play important roles in
different industries.
The first use of data goes back to 19,000 BC when our Palaeolithic ancestors used a baboon
tool called the Ishango bone to perform simple calculations. In the 1640s, John Graunt, a hat
maker, started collecting information regarding deaths in London. He noted down statistics such
as the number of deaths, the mortality rate among age groups, and the causes of death. In this
way, he revolutionized how we use medical data to this day. In fact, Graunt was the first person
to use data analysis to understand and solve a problem.
One day back in the 1880s, the German-American statistician Herman Hollerith saw a train
conductor punching train tickets for passengers. That’s how the idea of using punch cards in
writing and processing data was born. Hollerith started working on the design of the tabulation
machine that uses punch cards, based on a previous model invented by the silk weaver Joseph
Jacquard in the 1800s. Hollerith helped the American government complete the US census
within the same year – after it took them nearly a decade of trial and error.
In 1928, the German engineer Fritz Pfleumer patented a magnetic tape that he used to replace
wire recording for storing data. The idea of storing information on magnetic tapes actually
inspired the invention of floppy disks and hard-disk drives later on.
The computer scientist Edgar Codd was the first one to introduce the idea of a relational
database management system, which we know today as a “data table”. With the rise of the
internet consequently comes the rise of big data. Thanks to Sir Tim Berners Lee, hypertext and
hyperlinks made it easy to share information and connect resources.
With every innovation in technology, data science, machine learning, or AI comes a new way
of creating and spreading information. Data has changed the way we look at the world and
continues to shape it in different ways. Nowadays, industries like finance, astronomy, and many
more, benefit from employing analytical techniques to improve their operations.
The word “data” derives from the Latin word “datum” (singular), which means the “thing
given”. Data is all around us! It’s the information that we gather and use to make decisions.
This information can come from many sources, including people, machines, and technology.
Technically speaking, data is any information that has been translated into different forms to be
processed, analyzed, managed, and transferred. The word itself is an enormous umbrella term
for many concepts and scientific branches, such as statistics and mathematics. There are
different data types according to their classification; information can be numerical and textual,
or even in audio, video, and image form. The scope is big and continues to evolve as our
environment changes around us.
Our interactions with technology generate data. Every time we use a device, we create data. For
example, when we browse the internet, our actions are recorded by our web browser. This data
can include things like the websites we visit, how long we spend on each site, and what we click
on.
Every time we post, like, or comment, we generate data. Social media platforms use this data
to show us targeted ads and suggest content we might like. IoT (Internet of Things) devices are
all around us, from smart thermostats to fitness trackers. These devices collect data about our
environment and activities. For example, a fitness tracker might collect data on our heart rate,
steps taken, and calories burned. Sensors are also used in many industries to collect data. For
example, farmers might use sensors to monitor soil moisture levels and crop health. This data
can help them make decisions about when to water their crops and what fertilizers to use.
Finally, bots are becoming more and more common. A bot is a program that can perform
automated tasks. For example, a chatbot might be used by a company to answer customer
questions. Each time a customer interacts with the bot, data is generated. This data can be used
to improve the bot’s performance and provide better customer service.
To sum it up, data comes from many sources, including our own behaviors and interactions with
technology, as well as IoT sensors, devices, and bots. Understanding where data comes from is
an important part of improving decisions in business and in life. Data helps draw insights that
can be used by companies in almost every industry, from commerce to healthcare and
transportation.

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