James Drogan

As mentioned in Work in Process, I am working on a note on Data Management.  I recently came across three podcasts from IT Conversations (available through iTunes) that bear on this subject and to which I would like to draw your attention.

Keith Ackerman; Eric Christiansen - Sure, Data, Data Everywhere, But Is Any of It Any Good?

"In the current web-based data explosion, buyers and sellers of financial data are struggling to stay relevant and ahead of the competition. What data matters any more? What doesn't? How do you know? Where do you look? Keith Ackerman and Eric Christiansen answer these questions during this talk from the O'Reilly Money:Tech Conference."

Eric Rodenbeck - Data Visualization

"Stamen Design's data visualization projects bring a Tuftean sensibility to the realm of fast-moving realtime online information. In this conversation with host Jon Udell, founder Eric Rodenbeck talks about how his studio creates interactive experiences that enable people to ask, and answer, unforeseen questions."

PatientsLikeMe.com

"At PatientsLikeMe.com, people share data about their illnesses, the drugs they're taking, and the effects (and side effects) of their treatments. In this conversation, co-founder Jamie Heywood tells host Jon Udell that selling this data to drug companies is more than a good business. It aims to put patients into more direct contact with those companies, and help ensure that drug discovery and development meets their needs."

Some Suggestions

These podcasts are about a context (financial data, crime statistics, and patient information).  The value is in looking beyond the context, discovering the fundamental issues raised in these podcasts, and thinking about how these apply to the world you are part of.

This brings me to the notion that oft times solutions to problems in one subject area can be found in another subject area.  I encourage you to develop a healthy curiosity for that which may seem beyond your immediate grasp and therefore interest.

Podcasts (pick your favorite player; I use an iPhone) are great ways to use time (e.g., the morning commute) to keep up-to-date on current developments.