The amount of individual data bytes created is so enormous, it is fast out pacing the ability to capture, search, analyze or store it. Big Data is the general term used to describe the 2.5 quintillion bytes of data produced each day.

“Big Data is just datasets that have gotten so large and complex that people don’t have the tools or the ability to capture it, store it, search it, retrieve it, analyze it,” Weber said. “They just don’t have the proper equipment or technology to do that.”

“Doing studies and determining why people get re-admitted to hospitals, could save massive amounts of data,” Weber said. “You could save tons of money by not re-admitting people. … They have all that data. The question is, are they analyzing it and figuring out why people go back?”

Abridged, from an original article by Michael O’Connell@moconnellWFED, 17/05/2012