For science, big data is the microscope of the 21st century — Tech News and Analysis
In his mind, the new way of using massive processing power to filter through petabytes of data is an entirely new type of computing which will lead to new advances in astronomy and physics, much like the microscope’s creation in 17th century led to advances in biology and chemistry. When thought of in that light, the creation of 100 gigabit per second research network at Johns Hopkins becomes not just a fast network, but an essential tool for research and discovery, an essential component of the 21st-century microscope.
Big data will require/demand sense-making tools and practices.