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March 2019 Summary of Select Trends
Click on the source in (parenthesis) to visit the full article DATA SCIENCE The Best Big Data Projects Start Small. Much of the hype around big data carries an image of large companies using esoteric hardware and software to run incredibly complex analytics. But the reality is that many big data projects are actually quite small, use straightforward technology and achieve real world aims. Today, thanks to the cloud, it is more than possible to run smaller scale projects with minimal up-front investment. Local authorities are already showing interesting results in areas from early intervention and social care to traffic management and recycling and rubbish disposal. (Computer Business Review) LOCAL DATA RESOURCES Community leadership and staff are smart, dedicated, and sharply time constrained. Is there early information to detect shifts in the local demographic and business environment? How attractive is a community to businesses, talent, and families? Few communities have the time and budget to gather and package metrics that can make a bid difference in planning and in telling the community’s story to the many audiences that would value them. As a non-profit with a mission to provide affordable, high-quality research tools and education to local units of government, Cobalt can help. Prepare for your next budget by learning more about the affordable programs offered, including annual metrics, periodic surveys, and mobile data intelligence on visitor patterns. (Cobalt Community Research) DEMOGRAPHICS Millennials are the generation of people born in 1981-1996. So, last year, they were aged 22-37. Not the brat in college studying a worthless art history degree you’ve pictured anymore, huh? Quickly Millennials are taking over the population in the workplace, their share in the ballot box, and in how they spend their earnings. Have you wondered how they are doing compared to prior generations at the same life stage? (Pew Research Center) INFRASTRUCTURE When transportation tech startups Uber and Lyft first launched in cities in the US a few years ago, some cities were caught off-guard when they drove down their streets. Although there are still some cities that do not have Uber and Lyft, a portion of them intend to allow the services - but not without some protections. (Geek Wire) HEALTHCARE Some cities are raising taxes to cover mental health services for citizens. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was supposed to cover mental health services, but loopholes have since caused many to be under insured or uninsured. Denver is one such city. (Governing) Los Angeles County, the most populated county in California, has already raised taxes to fund mental health services for its residents by imposing a 1 percent tax on residents with over $1M in income starting in 2004. The program is already making a difference. One program that receives funding from this tax, Early Childhood Intervention, provides services to young children at risk of developing mental health problems due to traumatic experiences and family problems. And they have seen a 65 percent increase in clients due to additional funding from the tax increases. (California Health Report) ENVIRONMENT Local governments are beginning to respond to increasingly severe weather events in a more strategic way. And they are acting instead of waiting for the federal government to start addressing climate change. Increasingly, states and local governments are taken actions such as: Hardening the shoreline surrounding a Boston park, enacting policy to support public transportation in California, and passing legislation to make Seattle completely carbon-neutral by 2030. (Live Science) TECHNOLOGY Do social media platforms have a responsibility to censor dangerous or sensitive content? The Momo Challenge is back after less than a year of virtual silence. The alleged challenge involved kids texting a strange number on WhatsApp, and then receive instructions to harm themselves. But multiple outlets have reported that the challenge appears to be an urban legend that continues to bubble to the surface on social media and news platforms. In a landmark move, YouTube is demonetizing any content from any source - reputable news station, or otherwise - that includes Momo by not allowing ads. The social media platform said it would use this approach for ‘sensitive topics’, even when covered in news reports on a measured basis. (The Verge) Additionally, YouTube is cracking down on comments with videos of minors with older adults at risk of attracting predatory behavior. This comes a week after a study was released about a soft core pedophilia ring used the platform for communications. As a result, some big companies like Disney and McDonald’s pulled advertising from the platform. (TechCrunch) |
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For more information on how Cobalt can help you adapt and thrive in the changing demographic, economic and social environment, visit the Cobalt website or reach out to us by email. Let us know if you need anything at all for benchmarking or research data; we are here for you.
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].