Introduction to Big Data

The vocabulary first

This course is designed for people who want to understand why the big data era came about and how its problems are framed. It introduces the terminology and core concepts that underpin big data applications and systems, giving you the language needed to follow more technical discussions.

Who it is for

Newcomers to data science, along with professionals considering how big data could fit into their business or career, are the intended audience. No deep technical background is implied by the description, which emphasises concepts over implementation.

What you will come away with

• A working understanding of the big data landscape and its terminology.
• An introduction to Apache Hadoop and the file systems behind it.
• Familiarity with scalability and how data science and analysis relate to big data.

Treat it as a map of the field before you choose which tools to go deeper on.