The human face of Big Data

A dozen years ago, computer legend Gordon Bell decided to try an experiment to go paperless so he could work virtually - a novel idea at the time. First, he set out to digitise his books and papers. That gave way to digital documentation of his photographs and memorabilia. Today, it involves conversations, keystrokes - even real-time records of his heartbeat and cholesterol. A SenseCam that Bell wears around his neck snaps photos every few minutes. To date, he has logged 200 gigabytes of data. Bell believes that collecting and analysing our behaviors over a lifetime will lead to a greater understanding of what harms or enhances us.

Read more from Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt's book:  Human Face of Big Data

Pulse of the planet by Esther Dyson

Data Driven by Jonathan Harris