POSTED BY DAN YOUNG

Collecting data is cheap. Companies, governments and organizations are collecting vast amounts of data with greater ease than has been previously available. The breadth and scope of this data is massive. However, having this much data does present a challenge.

Buried deep within this data are stories, stories of ourselves, our communities and our world. The challenge is how do we pull these stories out of the data. How can we bring these stories to life?

A rapidly developing trend within technology circles is the data visualization. This type of visualization allows users to see and understand the complex relations embedded within the data. Visualization software enables users to consume and interact with data in ways that have not been possible before.

Until recently, it was difficult for computers to process large amounts of data to generate engaging, real-time visual content. With better data center infrastructures, bandwidth and software, people now have the tools to see the hidden stories and interrelationships within their data.

Mobile is the next component to the visualization trend. As tablets and smart phones become more powerful and have stronger graphic capabilities, these devices become better equipped to process and display complex data.

Google did a study in 2011 relating to how people use mobile devices. What they found was that people are using their devices to search and review information and content. People are using this to make real-world decisions about what they’ll purchase, where they might go or how they may work. Adding in a visual component to this process only strengthens a user’s ability to make better decisions with the information at hand.

Data visualization has a dynamic component. Unlike simple lookups, data visualization can be dynamic. Users can examine data from variety of different perspectives without the need to have mastered complex statistical analytical tools.

PowerPivot is a tool developed by Microsoft that allows non-technical people to conduct extremely complex data analysis. This program demonstrates just how powerful democratizing access to data analysis will be.

When this type of data analysis is delivered on a mobile platform, users will have an unprecedented ability to conduct complex analysis in the field. The resulting decisions will be based on better information and better insight. Real-time metrics will drive real-time decisions.

Over the next few months and years, expect to see more apps built for mobile devices that will allow people to access and consume visual information based on complex data sets. This ability will empower people to understand their world better and to make better real-world decisions.