Is BIG DATA giving new meaning to SKILL

Many people ask me "Is BIG DATA reality or just hype...."

Well..!! If you would have asked me this question 2 years back, I could not have answered, but today big data is all around us, and we just cannot ignore.

So far we have seen extensive usage of technology in soccer, but probably for the first time, analysts have revolutionized the viewing experience of the Cricket World Cup 2015. Though I watch cricket On and Off, but this time I am amazed to see the kind of analysis that is coming through. Data scientists have not left any piece of data - be it a video file, audio file, any blogs, comments in Facebook / twitter, magazine articles and much more. They are discovering patterns and are continuously showing 2 boxes representing STRONG and WEAK spots of batsman. "Bowl this guy 4 ft. above the ground off side and 80% probability he will be caught". Bowler uses this input, bowls on weak spot and... Bang on!!

It doesn't matter if he is a good bowler or not...Impressive - Isn't it !!

This makes me think that if I am a cricket coach, why will I spend my time and effort in teaching / coaching the advanced SKILLs of bowling, I will simply train my bowlers to target the weak spots and that's pretty much it. This means SKILL now has a new meaning and let's accept it. You may not be the best yorker, fastest bowler in the world or the best spinner; as long as you can analyze the data and in turn target the right spots, you got it !!

So I leave you with the thought, "Is BIG DATA really changing the way our kids will learn?" If you ask me..........Answer is YES - like it or not !!