Data mining for g
a sustainable future’. I attended, hoping to see how analytics and data mining could be used for good. But somehow the point was missed. Speakers focused on trivial issues, or talked in generalities. How was it that the subject that I held so dear to my heart could be misunderstood by two such signifi cant players?
I
So imagine this is a virtual summit. What can data mining do to benefi t wider society? What is being done now? And, importantly, what could you do? With data mining the opportunities are as wide as your imagination (and the data) We should start by reminding ourselves what
we are talking about. Data mining is about using data to predict or understand. We use mathematical approaches to delve into the relationships hidden in the data, and this allows us to take decisions and actions that impact the world.
So when it comes to using data mining positively for society we need to ask two simple questions: is there data, and can I phrase a good question? Getting actionable answers is part of what makes a good question, even though those actions may sometimes remain in the hands of politicians. There are many examples of data mining being used for the wider good:
• New drugs are tested and evaluated; • Traffi c is analysed to understand and minimise jams;
• Patterns are used to prevent crime and terrorist attacks;
• The impact of different treatments is evaluated to improve medicine;
• Floods and natural disasters are modelled to predict impact and reduce harm.
But what else could be done? Could we try and understand the drivers for energy
38 December 2012 | Volume 22 – Issue 4
Duncan Ross, director, data science, Teradata.
n September 2010 IBM, a company with vast expertise, and the Prince’s Trust, an organisation I have a great deal of time for, pulled together a summit aimed at promoting sustainability. One day of the summit focused on ‘analytics for
Getting actionable answers is part of what makes a good question, even though those actions may sometimes remain in the hands of politicians
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