Modern technology has transformed the very essence of what we mean by data. Whereas previously, data was traditionally thought of as text and numbers confined to spreadsheets or relational databases, today, it is an organic and evolving asset in its own right, being created and consumed on a mass scale by anyone that owns a smartphone, TV, or bank account. In this chapter, we will explore the new ecosystem of cutting-edge tools, technologies, and frameworks that allow us to store, process, and analyze massive volumes of data in order to deliver actionable insights and solve real-world problems. By the end of this chapter, you will have gained a high-level understanding of the following cutting-edge technology classes:
- Distributed systems
- NoSQL databases
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning frameworks
- Cloud computing platforms
- Big data platforms and reference architecture
