Editorial

摘要

There can be few readers who have failed to notice that the issue of Big Data is a hot topic. Datasets are becoming so large that standard database software tools are entirely inadequate to capture, store, manage and analyse their content. Projects such as the Square Kilometre Array (which will be the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope) and the 100,000 genome project (part of the UK's attempt to lead the world in unlocking the power of DNA data) are just two examples of the type of project that will ensure this becomes an ever-more important issue. The government has identified eight technologies where it feels that with the right investment the UK can lead the world, and first in the list in David Willetts' pamphlet published by Policy Exchange [1] is 'The Big Data Revolution and Energy-Efficient Computing'.