A presentation I gave on 18 Dec 2009 at NLB. Work in progress research on the future of data focusing on how it might affect public policy.

1. Future of Data
How can Singapore use data to give the economy a competitive edge?
National Library Board
“Policy Making 2010 – Emergent Technologies”
Friday, 18 December 2009

2. “Welcome to the Petabyte Age. Sensors everywhere. Infinite storage.
Clouds of processors. Our ability to capture, warehouse, and understand
massive amounts of data is changing science, medicine, business, and
technology. As our collection of facts and figures grows, so will the
opportunity to find answers to fundamental questions. Because in the era
of big data, more isn't just more. More is different.” Wired, 2008

3. Getting value out of data
Collect Store Analyze Present Optimize
The sensor goes Syncing your ipod
onto your running The sensor tracks with nikeplus.com Workout You can set goals
shoe. your run, then allows you to see information is with friends and
sends the data to all your workouts presented in a train together.
The receiver goes
your iPod. and analyse them. visually appealing
onto the base of
your ipod. way.

4. 3 Data Trends
1. Advancement in
Information Technologies
2. Rise of the Numerati
3. Democratisation of Data

5. Trend 1. Advancement in Information Technologies
Information is becoming increasingly digitized
In 2008, data from Web
sites, emails, RFID chips,
networks, YouTube videos,
industrial processors, and
other sources soared to 487
exabytes.
In 2012, there will be 5 times
as many bits created or
captured and added to the
Digital Universe as in 2008
As the Economy Contracts,
the Digital Universe Expands,
IDC (May 2009)
Source: MediaFuturist
http://gerdleonhard.typepad.com

6. Trend 1. Advancement in Information Technologies
The explosion of online networks and data collection
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Web 1.0 Web 2.0 Web 3.0
What can I find? What can I contribute? What do I need to know
here and now?
Twine Understands Your Interests
• Discover information that matters to you
• Collect and share bookmarks and other content
• Receive recommendations based on your interests

7. Trend 1. Advancement in Information Technologies
Faster and cheaper computers
Source: NYTimes

8. Trend 1. Advancement in Information Technologies
The use of new tools for analyzing unstructured
data and new approaches
Source: “Real Time Rome”, Senseable City Lab

9. Trend 2: The Rise of the Numerati
Who are the Numerati?
“A new math intelligentsia is devising ways to dissect our every move
and predict, with stunning accuracy, what we will do next. Their goal?
To manipulate our behavior – how we buy, how we vote, whom we
love – without our even realizing it. […] The Numerati shows how a
powerful new endeavor – the mathematical modeling of humanity –
will transform every aspect of our lives.”
‐ Stephen Baker ‐
I keep saying the sexy job in the next Statistics
ten years will be statisticians. People
Applied Mathematics
think I’m joking but who would’ve
guessed that computer engineers Quantitative Methods
would’ve been the sexy job of the Econometric Time Series
1990s Predictive Modelling
Hal Varian
Google Chief Economist

10. Trend 2: The Rise of the Numerati
Numerati jobs are the fastest growing and highest paying
Very Low Low High Very High
(<$21,220) ($21,220‐$30,560) ($30,600‐$46,300) (>$46,360)
Network systems and
Makeup artists, data communications
Veterinary theatrical and analysts (53.4%)
technologists and performance (39.8%) Computer software
technicians (41.0%) engineers, applications
Personal and home Substance abuse and
care aides (50.6%) (44.6%)
Medical assistants behavioral disorder
(35.4%) counselors (34.3%) Personal Financial
Home health aides
Advisors (41.0%)
(48.7%) Physical therapist
Gaming surveillance Veterinarians (35.0%)
officers and gaming assistants (32.4%)
Gaming and sports Financial analysts
investigators (33.6%)
book writers and Forensic science (33.8%)
runners (28.0%) technicians (30.7%) Dental hygienists
Social and human (30.1%)
service assistants Mental health
Manicurists and Computer systems
(33.6%) counselors (30.0%)
pedicurists (27.6%) analysts (29.0%)
Mental health and Database
Pharmacy technicians administrators (28.6%)
substance abuse social
(32.0%) workers (29.9%) Computer software
Marriage and family engineers, systems
Dental assistants therapists (29.8%) software (28.1%)
(29.2%)
Environmental science Physical therapists
and protection (27.1.1%)
technicians, including Physician assistants
health (28.0%) (27.0%)
Source: “Fastest Growing Occupations”, US Bureau of Labour Statistics 2007

11. Trend 3: The Democratization of Data
Democratizing data can create value
1. The U.S. military
developed and
implemented GPS as a
military navigation
system, but soon opened
it up to everybody else. 2. This lead to an
explosion of the private
GPS market (companies 3. This enables individual
like Garmin). drivers make smarter
driving decisions

12. Trend 3: The Democratization of Data
An Example: Stumble Safely
"Democratizing data makes it automatically available to those who need it (based on their
roles and responsibilities), when and where they need it, in forms they can use, and with
freedom to use as they choose ‐‐ while simultaneously protecting security and privacy.”
W. David Stephenson

13. Trend 3: The Democratization of Data
Singapore launches SG‐Space

14. 3 Ideas
1. Singapore the Numerati Nation
2. Singapore the Digital Designer
3. Singapore the Smart City

15. Idea 1:
Singapore the Numerati Nation
3 skills for Data
Geeks “The ability to take data—to be
able to understand it, to
1. Statistics (Studying) process it, to extract value from
2. Data Munging it, to visualize it, to
(Suffering) communicate it—that’s going to
be a hugely important skill in
3. Visualisation the next decades, not only at
(Storytelling) the professional level but even
at the educational level for
elementary school kids, for high
school kids, for college kids.
Because now we really do have
essentially free and ubiquitous
data. So the complimentary
scarce factor is the ability to
understand that data and
extract value from it.”
Hal Varian, McKinsey Quarterly
Jan 2009

16. Idea 1: Singapore the Numerati Nation

17. Idea 2: Singapore the Digital Designer

18. Idea 2: Singapore the Digital Designer
Source: http://wefeelfine.org

19. Idea 3: Singapore the Smart City
Source: http://senseable.mit.edu/trashtrack/index.php

20. Idea 3: Singapore the Smart City
Smart Meters: Pilot Project in Marine Parade
A 20% increase in the price of electricity reduces consumption by 1%
Providing feedback about electricity usage reduces consumption by 10%.

21. Thank you
futuresgroup.wordpress.com
Topics presented are on‐going research and do not
represent official policy statements or directions.