According to Google’s Eric Schmidt: "Every two days we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003". As Sir Francis Bacon observed back in the 16th Century ‘Knowledge is Power’, those who can capture, analyze and act upon the ever-increasing flow of data will be those that hold the power. In the 21st Century no one can ignore the Data Dimension, the title of our latest Future Sign.

From venture capitalists through to contemporary artists, there is a growing fascination with data. For many the ever-growing ability to create and visualize data is quickly changing the way they view the world and themselves, with innumerous implications on behavior, relationships and how people live their lives. Imagine the implications of having an immortal data shadow that can potentially be accessed in order simply to reminisce, or potentially cure a hereditary disease or behavioral trait? With a data trail generated by everywhere we go, everything we do, spend, communicate and search, the reality of our lives will potentially be laid out.

The harnessing of data will undoubtedly enrich all our lives, however it also raises many issues. Can algorithms really predict our behavior or will they result in us living in a filter bubble (as suggested by Eli Parser)? Will we ever again be able to have data privacy? And what happens when data is manipulated without our knowledge?

Our exploration of these issues and how they will affect us, brands and culture. For the full presentation check out:

http://www.slideshare.net/Counsel/counsel-data-dimension-fin...