The 1998 film Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman, the main character is an up and coming lawyer who because of the accidental possession of a video capturing the murder of a high powered politician, finds himself thrown into a maze of surveillance tricks and traps. He rises out of the situation, a hero, because of his own wit and the help of a tech-savy ex-NSA agent. The film warns about the dangers of surveillance technology, and how quickly and secretly it can invade our homes.
Fifteen years or so later, Big Data is one of the top up-and-coming markets.
Information systems have become cornerstones of every industry; most importantly financial markets and consumer research. The value of the data that can be derived from various social media, consumer research, and financial markets analytics is astounding. It is a new currency that has laid the foundation for various new businesses.
Just as Bill Gross, PIMCO Investments, has defined the current and future financial markets as having a “new normal”, we as individuals and consumers need to understand that we now live in a “new normal” world as well. Our participation in the world and in these various systems, allows companies and analysts to define what true value is, and then deliver it to the consumer. On the contrary, in the current fast-paced world, we as individuals must take the time to decide for ourselves what we consider to be most valuable. Then, we must act on it with 1) our dollar, 2) our participation, and 3) our right to vote. Only by the true execution of this mutual relationship, will we find ourselves in a world of constant business growth and human fulfillment.
In conclusion, we must move forward understanding that the mass of communication technology developed and to-be-developed is a blessing in disguise. It is a chance for each individual to have a greater participation in society, and to receive whatever it is that they are ultimately due.
