Ideas change everything

The human insights missing from big data

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Tricia Wang |

TEDxCambridge

• September 2016

Why do so many companies make bad decisions, even with access to unprecedented amounts of data? With stories from Nokia to Netflix to the oracles of ancient Greece, Tricia Wang demystifies big data and identifies its pitfalls, suggesting that we focus instead on "thick data" -- precious, unquantifiable insights from actual people -- to make the right business decisions and thrive in the unknown.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Why do so many companies make bad decisions, even with access to unprecedented amounts of data? With stories from Nokia to Netflix to the oracles of ancient Greece, Tricia Wang demystifies big data and identifies its pitfalls, suggesting that we focus instead on "thick data" -- precious, unquantifiable insights from actual people -- to make the right business decisions and thrive in the unknown.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxCambridge, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Access emergent human insights about tech and youth culture from Mainland China though Magpie Kingdom's weekly digest.

Learn more about the social implications of big data from Data & Society.

Connect to other people who are integrating "thick data" with big data on the Ethnography Hangout Slack #datatalk channel.

About the speaker

Technology ethnographer

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With astronaut eyes and ethnographer curiosity, Tricia Wang helps corporations grow by discovering the unknown about their customers.

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxCambridge, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Access emergent human insights about tech and youth culture from Mainland China though Magpie Kingdom's weekly digest.

Learn more about the social implications of big data from Data & Society.

Connect to other people who are integrating "thick data" with big data on the Ethnography Hangout Slack #datatalk channel.