Big data - a 21st century science Maginot Line? No-boundary thinking: shifting from the big data paradigm.

Huang X1, Jennings SF2, Bruce B3, Buchan A4, Cai L5, Chen P6, Cramer CL7, Guan W8, Hilgert UK9, Jiang H10, Li Z11, McClure G12, McMullen DF13, Nanduri B14, Perkins A15, Rekepalli B16, Salem S17, Specker J18, Walker K19, Wunsch D20, Xiong D21, Zhang S22, Zhang Y23, Zhao Z24, Moore JH25.

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Abstract

Whether your interests lie in scientific arenas, the corporate world, or in government, you have certainly heard the praises of big data: Big data will give you new insights, allow you to become more efficient, and/or will solve your problems. While big data has had some outstanding successes, many are now beginning to see that it is not the Silver Bullet that it has been touted to be. Here our main concern is the overall impact of big data; the current manifestation of big data is constructing a Maginot Line in science in the 21st century. Big data is not "lots of data" as a phenomena anymore; The big data paradigm is putting the spirit of the Maginot Line into lots of data. Big data overall is disconnecting researchers and science challenges. We propose No-Boundary Thinking (NBT), applying no-boundary thinking in problem defining to address science challenges.