Big Data & Ubiquitous Analytics

ABSTRACT: Data is growing at an alarming rate. This growth is spurred by an increasingly diverse array of sources, such as embedded sensors, video cameras, social media sites, the quantified-self and the internet-of-things. This is transforming our reliance on data for making decisions, or data analytics, from being predominantly carried out by a single individual and in limited settings (such as on traditional PCs) to taking place while on-the-go and in the field of action. Data analytics is transitioning from being reserved for domain specialists to becoming necessary for the general end-user. For example, an athlete may consult their network of body-worn sensors to gauge their training performance, a shopper may need to quickly consult web sites of competing products as well as their personal finances before making a purchase, or a victim during an emergency may need to rely on web blogs accessible through their mobile devices to find the closest shelter. Common among all these scenarios is the growing need for advanced tools that will enable users to interact with vast and diverse amounts of data for sense-making, while on-the-go.