NoSQL describes a “category of databases built on non-relational technology.” Some believe it is more accurate to define NoSQL more about how the data is stored and less about how to query the database. NoSQL Databases usually fall under four main categories: Document: Stores a business subject in one structure called a document instead of breaking […]
What Is a Knowledge Graph?
A knowledge graph, which can be considered a type of ontology, depicts “knowledge in terms of entities and their relationships,” according to GitHub. An example of a knowledge graph is shown below. Knowledge graphs developed from the need to do something with or act upon information based on context. For example, knowledge graphs help identify […]
What Is Data Visualization?
Data visualization describes the shape of information formed in a graph depicting a particular context. Data visualizations contain contextual information (the metadata) and the actual data, making the information more straightforward for people to process and analyze. According to DAMA-DMBoK2, data visualizations cover traditional BI tools like “tables, pie charts, line charts, area charts, bar […]
What Is Blockchain?
Blockchain is a distributed database and storage devices for the database are not all connected to a common processor. “A blockchain or distributed ledger,” as Gartner describes, “is a mechanism for adding trust in an untrusted environment.” Blockchain’s special capabilities in cryptography lead to this increased trust as a medium. Each transaction has a record. […]
Industry 4.0: Make Data-Driven Decisions Immediately
What if a cyber-physical world — fueled by data — shortened production and manufacturing decisions to the time it takes to adjust a thermostat’s temperature? This just begins to describe Industry 4.0. According to a recent McKinsey article, Industry 4.0 “expects to deliver between $1.2 and $3.7 trillion in value.” Meanwhile, according to Riasat Noor, […]
What Are Data Regulations?
Data regulations describe policies and laws ensuring that processed data is shared or governed appropriately, where the right data assets go to the right place at the right time. Data regulation falls under the umbrella of Data Governance. Advances in technology, such as cloud computing, allow individual’s or company’s data to be stored cheaply and […]
What Is Descriptive Analytics?
Descriptive analytics, or business intelligence, uses historical information to answer the question “What Happened?” Think of it as a rear-view mirror into business performance or a summary view of facts and figures in an understandable format to either inform or prepare data for further analysis. Observations, case studies, and surveys form the basis of descriptive analytics. Descriptive […]
What Is Data Virtualization?
Data virtualization is a special kind of data integration technology that provides access of data in real time, seamlessly all in one place. Think of it like a television guide which contains a listing of shows on a variety of channels, without having to be on that channel to see the content. In data virtualization, […]
What Is Data Mining?
Data Mining is an older (and now allied) subset of machine learning and artificial intelligence that deals with large data sets. It uses pattern recognition technologies with statistical and mathematical techniques to forecast business trends and find useful patterns. “Data mining is also known as Knowledge Discovery in Data (KDD).” A component of data mining, […]
The Future of Analytics: What is All the Hype About?
Expert’s ears immediately perk up upon attending a talk about how to get big insights from analytics. After all, analytics has become the new hot topic of the day. However, asked Nipa Basu, during her keynote presentation The Future of Analytics at the DATAVERSITY Enterprise Analytics Online Conference: “What is the difference between hype and […]