5 Unexpected Ways Data Is Changing The Way You Live

You may not realize it, but Your life experiences are being more curated at increasing speeds.

Every day, your gadgets and club cards are collecting unprecedented amounts of data relating to your behavior, preferences and your needs. That data is being processed and informing the type of gadgets that are being invented. The Internet of Things will see an astronomical growth in data volumes; we will enter the world of zettabytes per year. This data is set to generate billions of pounds and is changing the way we live.

Here are just a few ways data is changing your life.

Insurance companies are identifying ways to generate streams of data that help them make better pricing decisions and encourage their policyholders to make smarter decisions.

Ons such provider isOscar, a US-based health insurer, which provides its clients with free wearable fitness tracker. This device allows Oscar to see which policyholders prefer the couch to the gym and enables them to provide monetary incentives to encourage customers to hit the treadmill.

Of course, you already know that your wearable device is tracking every part of your day, knowing your health, workout habits, food, sleep patterns, music tastes, weight – and your who your family and friends are. This will only progress with mHealth: mobile technology, such as smartphones, that make for a cheaper, more-efficient service.Push Doctor,for instance, says you can be diagnosed in five minutes by a GP over your phone.

It’s not just your habits that are being recorded. The NHS is at the forefront of genomics, looking to build a massive database of our DNA in order to give us precision meds. While the Global Oncology Big Data Alliance (GOBDA) leverages big data analytics to optimise clinical trials, building a registry of data and helping to enable advancement in the understanding of cancer treatment globally.

Imagine interacting with your favorite celebrity in your sitting room. It’s a fantasy people have had for decades – and the vision is moving closer to reality. Algorithms are translating data, such as viewing figures, into more-personalized entertainment experiences.  For instance, when gaming was the most-watched category on live-streaming service Justin.tv, a new company was launched: Twitch.TV.

Fox Entertainment already uses data generated crunched fromIBM supercomputer Watsonto make the optimal film trailer. While start-ups such as Screen use real-time big-data analysis to map the user experience of every customer. And companies like Stremio provide an online personal entertainment library synced on all devices, that will include Netflix, Spotify, and Apple, for example.

Sensors on wearable devices will collect data on your mood. What you watch will be tailored to your location, friends, preference and emotional state as the device records your heart rate. And, as you sit in your living room watching your favorite sport, you may even be drinking popcorn-flavored Coke. Yes, the soft-drinks company’s analytics means personalized flavors are in the pipeline.

Data mining from loyalty cards are changing the way we shop. Supermarkets, for instance, now know when we shop, how we will pay, and even how many calories we consume.  Research shows that many people now avoid the queues and take their Christmas shopping online.