DATA MINING Generally, data mining is the process of analyzing data from different perspectives and summarizing it into useful information. Data mining software is one of a number of tools for analyzing data. It allows users to analyze data from many different dimensions or angels, categorize it, and summarize the relationships identified. Technically, data mining is the process of finding patterns among dozens of fields in large databases that are similar to one another.

Data is any facts, numbers, or text that can be processed by a computer so in general it makes it easier for a company or business to see what the majority of customers want at a time. It’s almost like a survey that we don’t realize we are taking. I think it really can benefit consumers because we can walk into a place of business and see what we want on the shelves because it is in demand. Even better, the things we don’t want to purchase are not there because there is no demand for it.

It gives us the choice to be heard and have a say in making decisions on things that impact us most. Information can be converted into knowledge about historical patterns and future trends. For example, summary information on retail supermarket sales can be analyzed in light of promotional efforts to provide knowledge of consumer buying behavior. Thus, a manufacturer or retailer could determine which items are most susceptible to promotional efforts.

I don’t think data mining will lead to any kind of mind control in the future as long as people are careful with their information but it is a possibility. The government is capable of anything, so it may go back to the days where we only carry cash instead of our checkbooks, credit cards, and debit cards to prevent our information from being identified. I know first-hand because my information on my debit card has been taken just from getting gas at a gas pump using my debit card. So, I know it is possible to get a person’s name, bank account information, ect. through data mining and then learn all there is to know about an individual. If a person off the street can do it, I’m sure there is a possibility that computers, technology, and even the government can find out everything about us and use the information for mind control.

The National Security Agency and the FBI tap directly into central servers extracting audio and video chats, photographs, e-mails, documents, and connection logs that enable analysts to track all kinds of information needed to protect us against threats and terrorism. The question is if it will one day turn into data mining that invades our personal lives and freedom as we know it. Will America no longer be free? I guess the possibility could easily become real if you think about it. The government could use data mining to access our phone lines, conversations, texts, and even facebook accounts. My overall conclusion is that data mining is a benefit to us all and has more pro’s than con’s. The vast information that comes from data mining is something that helps us all regardless of us realizing it or not. Life has turned into where almost everything is technology based and in this ever changing fast paced world couldn’t keep up if we didn’t have it. If we choose not to abuse it, we could all enjoy the pleasure of the information that it provides us.

SAFER DRIVING THROUGH DATA MINING

In Alexandria Virginia, on September 26, 2011, a patent was filmed by Robert Denaro from Long Grove Illinois for data mining in a digital map database allowing problem road areas to be identified and warnings provided to vehicle operators. This new system will give drivers warnings about difficult, hazardous, and high accident areas on the road network gained from data mining prior incidents.

The information given in this article was very interesting and I think technology is very close to being a reality. I also would like to have been told how to get the technology. Will it be through certain car manufactures only? Just high end cars or high end models of vehicles? Or will it be made available to everyone through devices bought and installed into any make and model of vehicle? Will it be as simple as downloading an application on your smartphone? I would also like to have an estimated cost of the device or service. I know some of that would be forthcoming but an estimated cost and availability would be nice.

This is a really resourceful article with great information. It lacked some information but that may not have been available yet. It is being made clear that through technology that driver safety is something that should continue to improve for future generations.

YOUR DATA HELPS MAKE JOURNEYS BETTER Global Positioning System (GPS) is what makes it possible for our phones and other navigational systems to tell us where we are on Earth and how to get where we are going. There are thirty GPS satellites spinning around Earth and your device needs a direct line-of sight connection to at least four to get a 3D location fix. Without any help from cellular or Wi-Fi networks, this process takes about 30 seconds as your device must learn the satellites’ positions, find the correct four, and measure the time it takes to receive signals from them. The lengths of the four time intervals help determine your location on the globe. Your device GPS receiver normally scrolls the frequencies of all the satellites when searching for a connection with four of them. But, when your device has already learned it’s rough location from available cellular and Wi-Fi networks, it can quickly find the satellites that it has the best chance of connecting with. If the device that is being used has Wi-Fi, it can also detect more precise Wi-Fi towers to give a more accurate location the same way it pings off the orbiting satellites. If your device is a cellular phone, it pings off cellular towers in the same fashion.

Your cellular provider helps you geo-locate yourself by providing the GPS satellites’ location to your phone. Your provider constantly checks the orbital data using its own GPS receiver, and then stores that data in a GPS server near the receiver. That data is updated and shared across the network, making it easy for connected devices to get a location fix in far less time than it would take if they were relying on
GPS satellites alone. All this information is data mined and distributed to make a faster and safer traveling experience. Through data mining your location destination is only a cell phone or other type of device away. HOW DOES GPS DATA MINING WORK SCIENTIFICALLY?

-GPS satellites broadcast radio signals providing their locations, status, and precise time {T1} from on-board atomic clocks.
-The GPS radio signals travel through space at the speed of light {C}, that’s more than 299,792 kilometers per second which is about 186,321 miles per second.
-A GPS device receives the signals, noting their exact time of arrival {T2} and uses these to calculate its distance from each satellite in view.
-Once a GPS device knows its distance from at least four satellites, it can use geometry to determine its location on Earth in three dimensions.

To calculate its distance from a satellite, a GPS device applies this formula to the satellites signal:
Distance=rate x time
Where rate is {C} and time {T} is how long the signal had to travel through space.
The signals travel time in the difference between the time broadcast by the satellite {T1}
And the time the signal is received {T2}.

(National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, 2013)