To the observant onlooker, data is everywhere. From spending habits to hospital visits, humans are walking treasure troves of information. As technology has exponentially improved in the last 20 years, so has the collection of data. In 2010, a mere two zettabytes of data were created, captured, copied, or consumed. In 2020, estimates put that number at 79 zettabytes.
Data collection goes hand-in-hand with the revolution of the Information Age — since the 1970s, unprecedented digital access to the details of everyday life has transformed the way we understand the world. Rather than relying on gut instincts and trial-and-error processes, experts can gather robust data and make more informed conclusions.
