The Essence of Data Science

by Dwayne Phillips

After a few years, I think I understand the essence of Data Science. It isn’t that complicated.

I have been working in, around, above, below, to the side, and every which way but loose of Data Science for the past few years. Perhaps I have learned what Data Science is. There are many forms and formats and disagreements.

Here goes:

Person A: I work with computers. People give me things everyday. It takes me hours and hours to do things with what people give me.

Person B: Hmmm. Can I watch?

Person A: Sure, just don’t make much noise, I have to concentrate on these things.

Person B silently watches for a few days, goes away for a day, comes back.

Person A: Oh, did you go somewhere? I thought it was quiet.

Person B: Yes, I have some hardware and software, a.k.a., computing, that you might want to use. I think you can do those things you do in minutes instead of hours.

Person A: Hmmm. Well, what’s the harm, let’s try it.

A few minutes later.

Person A: I’m done. That only took minutes. I like that.

Person B: silence

Person A: You can go away now.

Person B just did Data Science. Person A is now using Data Science. Those people who give things to Person A are happier.

This isn’t very complex. Perhaps the things Person B did were very complex. They could have been artificially intelligent or a cool trick with Excel or ten lines of Python.

Doesn’t matter.

That was Data Science.