Big data in China

Chapter 29 A New Era for Everyone: Seizing the Big Data Opportunity (1)
Your mobile phone number entered the digital age one step earlier than you
Today, the development of technology allows us to communicate in real time without leaving home, express ideas through mobile phones, WeChat, Facebook or video calls, and understand the world.This is the benefit of civilization brought about by the rapid progress of communication technology, which has brought the world into the information age, shortened the distance in time and space, changed our lives, and greatly promoted the rapid development of the economy.

In the era of digitalization, every thing is generating data, and there are no dead ends for data.Not everyone realized this in time, though.Many interviewees told me that they don’t know what big data is, and although their mobile phones have already “betrayed” their owners and entered this new world one step ahead, they still don’t know anything about it.

☆Mobile phone intelligence era - we are participating in big data every day

If you know exactly which websites and shopping habits smartphone users all over the world like to visit, and whether computer users all over the world use Baidu or Google to search and what to search for, you will also understand your own habits.Researching this is interesting work, and I've long observed that people are hijacked into their digital lives by their cell phone numbers, rather than voluntarily.The mobile Internet binds everyone, just like wires that convey information one after another between people's brains. We can find everyone on the planet with just a mobile phone number that has been activated. .

The important thing is that you can actually know what the owners of these numbers are doing.When you find people's different usage habits on Internet platforms, do you realize that this is the result of their own participation?These resources are contributed by ordinary people one after another, and their value is infinite.

When we discover this, we have the motivation to seek a place in the digital world or seize greater opportunities.

In the Chinese market alone, the popularity of mobile phones is terrifying - 13 billion people have almost reached the level of having one.It is conceivable that each number is an access point and a "workshop" that continuously generates data and provides information. As long as the human brain is thinking and using it, it will collect and send information.

So, owning a smartphone is just the beginning, data collection using the smartphone is the key.The mobile phone is always one step ahead of us. It is not only a small workshop in the era of big data, but also constantly evolving.Every week a new phone comes out, with more features, a more convenient platform, and more space to store information.

That's right, you're probably already thinking: "Why didn't I think of that when I bought my first cell phone? Why couldn't I be acutely aware of the changes it brought to the world?"

Just being a enjoyer of the achievements of civilization (including studying how to enjoy it more comfortably) does not bring us real achievements, and finding the key that can open the door of the main control room is a smart move.You should think about it this way: If I were the one with all this big data, how would I use it?
At this time, the real question comes, whether you have the ability to analyze and deal with the data life when it is overwhelming and unimaginable.No one can eat into a fat man at one go, but at least we need to prepare a plate that can hold these "foods" in advance.

☆Business Opportunities--Mobile phone usage habits "sell" you

Of course, behind the ecstasy of businessmen, big data is not so "friendly" to our consumers, it is more like a silent observer and recorder hidden in the dark.Especially for mobile phone users, it has become a free weapon for merchants.

People's behavior habits of using mobile phones are only one type of big data resources, and they are also the type of resources that are most closely related to us.As long as you are using a mobile phone, regardless of the size of the volume, the speed of the growth of the amount of information, the intersection of data, etc., we are contributing to the development and growth of the big data era all the time.

The data generated by the mobile phone is not only stored here, but will also be uploaded by various software, including mobile phone assistants, security software, search engines and various "clouds" to a space that we cannot see, and provided to those businesses that need it (or individuals), which are then used in various analyses.

To some extent, a mobile phone is an information spy lurking in our lives, it spy on you, and then "betray" you.It doesn't matter which system you are using, Apple, BlackBerry or what, as long as you connect to the Internet, you start the journey of uploading information.The point is not the phone itself, but the value of the data generated by the phone.The future is in the hands of those who actively adapt to the era of big data.From this perspective, we are all ushering in a new era and standing on the same starting line.The difference is that some people started sprinting immediately, while others were still wandering around in place.

Transparent society, transparent opportunity

A complete "transparent society" - just like the future shown in the American drama "Suspect Tracker", means that our personal privacy is infinitely magnified, and everyone will obtain some kind of "freedom of information" with preconditions.The latter means more opportunities and faster information updates.

When Zuckerberg designed Facebook's products, he had established a relatively positive concept for himself: "Modern society is developing in the direction of extreme transparency." This concept has been established in his heart for a long time, and based on his understanding of this World observations and predictions.Therefore, in product design, Facebook's dynamic news, open API, social gatherings, etc., every major product upgrade follows his idea.

What follows is that it is difficult for users who use Facebook and Twitter to hide information related to themselves, and everyone becomes transparent together.You can discover all about me, and I can discover all about you, and do something unusual about it that you couldn't do before.But does it matter?Or, would this have dangerous consequences?Zuckerberg said: "I think for users, this represents an opportunity rather than a danger." He dismissed those who think that information transparency will cause social chaos and increase insecurity. ", should "lock them in a dark cage, and taste the taste of loneliness and information blockage".

☆We are all transparent people

Although privacy can be set, installing a door for it and hiding the key in your pocket means that you refuse to surf the Internet or use electronic devices; Be vigilant about protecting personal information.But no matter how hard you try, there will always be some privacy that will inevitably be leaked, such as your whispers to your girlfriends, which may one day become everyone's after-dinner conversation; your evaluation of an important customer, Half an hour later, it reached the ears of competitors.

How to deal with this situation?My usual approach is to try not to publish embarrassing private content as much as possible, and to disclose all personal homepages, so that I can take the lead in becoming a "transparent person".I took the initiative to let the world know me, instead I developed the habit of publishing beneficial information, thereby reducing the chance of exposure of harmful information, which is of great benefit to creating a positive, transparent and healthy image for myself.

A long-term transparent society can bring us three favorable outcomes:
1. There is no room for hypocrisy, and everyone is accelerating the evolution towards "consistency".

Because in the Internet age, the information you publish may be seen by anyone, and your activities in real life are likely to be photographed and posted on Facebook or Weibo, so go through a period of adaptation (or be subject to some kind of Lessons learned), people will gradually learn to take responsibility for themselves—whether online or in person, they will strive to be authentic, instead of duplicity and duplicity.

This is exactly the goal of big data. We should at least be sincere, because data will never lie, and it may expose your mask at any time.For example, Tang Jun's "Educational School" incident, if it weren't for the development of the Internet, Tang Jun would not have ended up in such a mess.It is also this extremely transparent society that makes it impossible to hide negative behaviors that could be easily concealed before.

2. The tolerance of society has increased, although it is a slow and asynchronous process.

As people work harder to protect their privacy, it means there will inevitably be more exposure to some of our darker pasts.At this time, people slowly discovered that the guy who used to think like a saint can make mistakes.When this phenomenon becomes more and more common, the tolerance of society will increase.This is a good result: People become more understanding and tolerant of each other because they find out more of each other's mistakes.After all, it is impossible to permanently deprive a person of social credibility and destroy his positive image just by exposing one absurdity.

3. Form and strengthen a gift-based economy and increase the cohesion between different social classes.

The gift-based economy is an upgraded version of the social welfare system, and it is also a direct product of highly transparent information.With the transparency and rapid dissemination of information, it is easy for people to pay attention to some special phenomena, such as poor groups.In this way, people in developed areas can share their achievements with those in underdeveloped areas—charity or peer-to-peer donations.It is also evident in small communities, where people post relevant news on community forums, take what they want, and become part of the socio-economic activity.This is exactly what the transparent society brings, which shortens the time and space between people.Compared with traditional society, everyone's influence is increasing, and the possibility of people getting rewards through sharing is also increasing.It can be said that the effect of the gift-based economy has appeared through social transparency, and more business opportunities have been derived.This is not arbitrary, but a fact that has been formed for a long time.

For example, some people become opinion leaders in the industry because they share their opinions on certain things, and some people become news figures on the Internet by sharing their inner feelings.This is determined by human curiosity.People are afraid of privacy leaks, but also want to peep into the privacy of others. This kind of contradictory psychology of human beings is exactly what smart people can take advantage of, and it represents endless opportunities.

Of course, it's up to you whether you do "good" or "bad" things.When you treat opportunities positively, what you gain from them will be understanding, recognition, trust and praise, and at the same time, your new understanding of digital life.Until one day, you realize that you have become an important part of it.

This is my view on the future society.You must first understand what a transparent society is before you can let go of the fear in your heart and see the existence of those golden opportunities.

That's why Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, said proudly: "My goal is not only to create a company, but to change people's lives and a social form." A transparent society, an information-sharing The platform, through various tools - Weibo, QQ, Baidu, Telecom, and forums, sculpts our behavior and changes the society, allowing every ordinary person to participate involuntarily and become an indispensable part of it. builders.

☆Transparent society: everything becomes simple and honest
Where are the disadvantages of social transparency?It seems difficult to find other concerns besides concerns about privacy.

In a discussion, I asked everyone: "If the future society is transparent and everything is transparent, will you feel worried?"

In their feedback, I don't seem to see that they can find a strong objection, because transparency itself is a positive word, and everyone subconsciously hopes to live in a transparent society to ensure their own authentic information. Timely access to rights.

In such an environment, society is being reconstructed and integrated as a whole, and human thinking is also evolving.The purpose of transparency is to pursue an honest culture, such as the free flow of information, everyone’s interests are on the table for discussion, equal opportunities and avoiding black box operations (information transparency makes black box operations more and more difficult).In this way, people can use all available information, the pertinence will be stronger, and the probability of success will be maximized.

☆Free flow of information: loyalty and efficiency

There is no loyalty without freedom, what a simple and profound truth.Freedom is first of all the freedom of information. Only when information can flow freely and ensure its authenticity and timeliness can the efficiency of each of us be improved.

Tap Scott expressed his understanding of corporate transparency in his book "The Naked Company" published in 2003, and he affirmed the positive role of transparency in enterprises.He believes that openness and honesty will help us reduce transaction costs, reduce intrigue, clean up office culture, and reduce political elements in management, thereby achieving the dual effects of enhancing employee loyalty and improving company efficiency.

Of course, if you are a business manager, I believe you have recognized the positive value of transparency and are taking corresponding actions to manage it correctly.

Ideas Affect Speed: Change Your Mind First
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "We have to change our minds, not others." Ideas will affect technological progress, but more importantly, they will affect our reaction speed.When others are running ahead, do you still have to stay behind and be a follower?As Ma Yun said: "Some things, if you don't do it, you will die."

For any change, its essence is a brainstorm, and big data is no exception. It starts with technological change, but will eventually lead to human change.

The big data revolution is revolutionizing ideas.Revolutionize our old concepts, revolutionize our old thoughts, and at the same time revolutionize our old habits.

☆Thinking change: to explore "what" instead of "why"

The evolution of developing one's own thinking is very important. The era of big data is almost overturning all our understanding of the world in the past, and it has also fundamentally changed the way we understand the world - from sampling to full data, from accuracy to complexity, from The relationship between correlation and causality is leading to a new revolution in human civilization - as well as the promotion of concepts and the leap forward of thinking.

From now on, if you want to recognize and seize your opportunities in the era of big data, you must learn to analyze phenomena without knowing the reasons behind them, because you only need to understand the interrelationships between phenomena and take advantage of them. The ultimate goal can be achieved by mining the causality through a variety of correlations.It is as if you have drawn a straight line directly between two points, crossing all curve obstacles.

At the same time, causality is still important, but it is no longer the direct cause of phenomena, but a kind of "result".We discovered causality when we searched for correlations, rather than learning about the world by searching for causal relationships as in the past.

The problem here is that causality has not become trivial, it has become less obvious, so we abandon the practice of doing more with less in the past, and instead dig out the essence through simple and understandable data.Simply exploring cause and effect will often lead to your misunderstanding of the world, so in order to guard against making such mistakes again, the new concept you need to establish is to learn to let the data speak.

(End of this chapter)