Why Big Data for the future and a lot of money

not the nineties already and not even now beginning zero when IT could choose any profession and succeed. The market is saturated with specialists and to begin with a self-defeating catching no reason. After sitting for a couple of nights on the internet, and having carefully considered all the emerging IT-trends, I decided to focus on big data. This is a fairly young technology, which is considered to be very promising and relevant in the future, and most importantly - it only starts to really gather momentum. With the thought, "Yes, that is it!" I went to understand what it is all about.

What is big data

The term "big data" heard it all, but the correct meaning in it investing only a few. In fact, the concept of big data combines not only the volume of information, but also its processing technology, as well as methods of intelligence, for which all and afoot.

The important point here is that the information is not just a lot: its volume constantly and rapidly growing, with data is often unstructured and heterogeneous. These include texts, images, the different statistics: the testimony of wearable gadgets and surveillance cameras to record user activities on social networks. By and large account data can be generally anything.

From a completely senseless at first glance, the flow of information can not only get useful information, but also to predict the future based on these events or changes in behavior. This is what is considered the trump card of large data, by which they can be applied in all areas of our lives.

As examples we can recall the Google study, which tried in 2009 on the history of our users' searches to predict the spread of an influenza pandemic, as well as Microsoft, which in 2013 was able to identify the side effects of drugs before the relevant medical instances.

Who and why do we need big data

Medicine and science come to mind when it comes to the use of big data, but to get to some Research Project man on the street is simply unrealistic, therefore, to look for a more massive and commercially viable sphere. Fortunately, in business and marketing, the need for large data is not at all less. They are directly connected with profit, and their analysis are paid very good money.

The possibility of using big data to forecast events or behavior - is the holy grail of marketing.

Without knowing it, consumers will generate a lot of information that is literate, processing and analysis becomes a powerful tool of influence. Business owners can thus save on advertising, addressing only its target audience, the media will be able to offer users are interested in their content, and stores increase sales, prompting buyers attendant goods.

While this is only a few came. The paradox lies in the fact that the amount of data already accumulated, and constantly growing, but experts who would be able to analyze them and extract valuable information from the chaotic mass, very, very few. This plays into our hands, because of large data analysis can be learned.

How to become a specialist in large data

If you do not free six years to study at university (and we do not have them), then only one way: intensive courses. Google SERP on request «big data training Moscow" has led me to the website of the educational project New Professions Lab, where now there is a fifth set for the course "on large data specialist».

I do not like the theory and always look forward to the practical lessons, so I was attracted by a non-standard training scheme, the focus is shifted to the side of practice. Agree, much nicer to solve the real problems of life, not boring examples from textbooks.

What to learn

For the three months teachers with experience in larger companies, on real-life examples teach us to solve the most common problem of big data world. Education is divided into two stages: working with data and work with recommender systems.

In the first module, event tracking algorithms analyzed in detail, and people's behavior on the Internet. It turns out that they can be used to monitor the characteristics of about 2000, among which, in addition to the banal sex and age, there are personal interests, marital status, and more.

The second module is dedicated to recommendation systems are an important part of big data. We do not notice, but they are all around us. Social networks offer friends, online shopping recommend related products, and music services - new artists. A real benefit for the people, which by the looks like magic, in fact, the result of hard work and machine learning.

total course program a description of all the lessons a little intimidating its volume: still have to learn very, very much. However, given the fact that the theory is accompanied by a variety of practical exercises, it's not so scary.

In just three months we will have to make 12 labs, each of which is based on the real problems of life.

From simple to complex instructors teach everything you might need in the work, and with the help of homework to check how well internalized material.

Immediately you need to tune in to some serious work. Will engage in three times a week for three hours. Plus you have to find time to do laboratory work and repetition of material. Intensive is designed as oflayn-, and on-line classes, so is available not only for Muscovites.

For me it is important that it is not any there two-week course with the assignment of a useless certificate. Intensive program is designed in such a way as to give graduates the primary experience solutions diverse tasks and provide the knowledge that will help cope with the emerging challenges and develop skills.

How to start and what you need to be able to

The next course starts on October 5, but can be written now. Remaining until the start time can be used to pull up your skills, because students need some experience in IT.

Necessarily need to know Python or other high-level programming language, be able to work with SQL and navigate in Linux. Statistics are also very welcome and understanding of probability theory. For those who will only refresh that knowledge, before the main course will be held on intensives Python, Linux, and mathematical statistics.

If you, like me, are not very strong in all of this, to sit down for a learning better now, because after the start of free time, most likely, will not, and without knowledge of the basics to learn not out. This was in the New Professions Lab fair warning right away.

---

Perhaps the big data at first glance may seem complicated, but the process of learning - time consuming, but worth it. This is a great chance to become a sought-after expert in the lucrative and as yet unoccupied market. Needless to say, that sin not to use them?

Well, while I refresh the memory Python knowledge, studying statistics, and look forward to the autumn.

Apply to participate in the Intensive