Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Big data is changing the way we think about the world and the way the world thinks about us. The aim of this book is to provide the reader with an understanding of how big data affects our everyday lives and the effects it has on the world of big business. This Very Short Introduction explores the challenges involved in understanding what big data is and how it differs from our usual concept of data, via computer science, statistics, and the interface between them. In today's world, data is being collected at an ever-increasing rate. Problems arise when so much data is collected that its storage and analysis becomes a problem; this is big data. How can we store it? How can we analyze it to provide useful information? As the book shows, special techniques are required for analyzing big data, unlike the ones used when the data is small. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.