More than ever, society is using technology. Technology is constantly evolving and changing to meet the fast-paced lives of Americans.
Technology is used throughout almost every industry. Mostly, technology is significant throughout the oil, medical, manufacturing, steel, and marketing industries.
Unquestionably, technology is a tool, if used properly, that makes everyone’s life easier. As technology changes, the emergence of something called Big Data has appeared.
Big Data refers to data sets whose size is beyond the ability of typical database software tools to capture, store, manage and analyze. In the real word, companies use Big Data from digital sources to represent a source for ongoing discovery and analysis.
Big Data is quickly becoming popular throughout Pittsburgh, as Google unveiled a brand new office in downtown Pittsburgh, which occupies the 100-year old former Nabisco factory.
Bethel Park teachers think this new technology craze is big. They are getting involved.
Mrs. Simpson, Curriculum Facilitator of Family and Consumer Sciences, said: “Mr. Cristafano, Mrs. Smoller and I are working with Pittsburgh DataWorks. Founded in 2013, it is a non-profit organization formed in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Pittsburgh and leading local and global firms to establish Pittsburgh as a leader in the field of big data. Their mission is to promote and provide access to big data education, projects, talent, and technologies and to help establish Pittsburgh as a leader in big data.”
Bethel Park is really at the forefront of this new technology. As of now, no other school districts in the South Hills area are involved with the Pittsburgh DataWorks’ Big Data research project.
“Shaler, the Ellis School, and Moon are involved right now in piloting the program,” Mrs. Simpson said.
Getting students from Bethel Park involved is key. Mrs. Simpson, Mr. Cristofano, and Mrs. Smoller are all on the education steering committee at Pittsburgh DataWorks.
Pittsburgh DataWorks is on track to develop presentations for high school students. In the end, they are aiming to offer a high school level Big Data competition that will result in scholarships and possible internships at tech companies like IBM or Google.
“At some point this spring, they hope to speak at Bethel Park and encourage students to participate in the competition,” Mrs. Simpson said. “A field trip to Google will more than likely be included. Projects will be completed by student teams sometime in May.”
Not only has Big Data made a huge impact in the technology world, but it has positively impacted the economy locally. Big Data is trickling down throughout all ancillary industries.
Mrs. Simpson said: “Big Data certainly involves people interested in technology. However, it also involves people employed in marketing, management, health care and others. Just to give you an example, Google has launched ‘Google Labs.’ One of the things they are researching with big data are the flu trends. They found that the activity of certain search terms are good indicators of actual flu activity. With marketing, companies are better identifying their customers and can create marketing plans for certain types of people. Manufacturers can do a better job of developing products for consumers.”
The introduction of the Big Data project will get students excited about this new technology development. Not only will students complete a research project, but a potential scholarship berth is at stake.
Remember, getting involved is key.
