A picture of me standing at a lectern, working on a laptop computer, on the stage of the FWD50 digital government conference

Hi! I’m Alistair. I write surprisingly useful books, run unexpectedly interesting events, & build things humans need for the future.

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Tag: Big Data

  • This trifecta drives the next decade of tech

    Big data, smart agents, and new interfaces are cool on their own. But together, they’re a virtuous cycle that shows what the next decade of tech looks like.

  • Our timeline, ourselves

    In ten years, we’ll run every aspect of our lives with a personal timeline. That’s a slippery slope into walled gardens and towards the singularity.

  • One list to rule them all

    Startupfest’s Pamela Perotti asked for my thoughts on this great Forbes piece by Lightspeed’s Barry Eggers about using Big Data to build top ten lists that actually matter. First: it’s an excellent post. You should read it. I’ll wait. Every enterprise decision-maker will soon be running their business according to the lists Barry envisions, as the […]

  • The role of big data in enterprise innovation

    I once joked that time is the primary key of the universe. I’ve since stopped thinking that’s a joke. As the world around us becomes increasingly data-driven (something we explored recently at O’Reilly Strata, a conference I help run) the way we make decisions changes at a fundamental level. Rather than framing a question, then […]

  • Some thoughts on Big Data from Strata

    A quick video looking at where Big Data, and the Strata conference, are headed.

  • Thin walls and traffic cameras

    A couple can overlook a brush of lipstick or a stray hair, but the hard proof of a speeding ticket that gives away an afternoon tryst can’t be ignored. An object lesson in the gray areas of Big Data.

  • Big data, big apple, big ethics

    New York is awash in Big Data next week, and the Ford Foundation is running a day on the upsides and drawbacks of Big Data too.

  • The selfish economics of Big Data

    Big Data’s ability to make increasingly accurate predictions will change the economics of industries based on amortizing risk across a population.

  • Three big data conversations

    I’m in Prague this week for WebExpo. Being largely detached from the constant interruptions of a North American timezone has given me a chance to think about big data from a somewhat more detached perspective. I’ve got three things I want to spend some time writing about in the coming weeks, and probably touching on at Strata […]

  • Followup on Big Data and Civil Rights

    Big Data and Civil Rights struck a nerve. Here are some follow-up thoughts.