Welcome to the Age of Data

This chapter introduces the book by providing a background and overview of the origins and evolution of record keeping, and the introduction of industrial multimedia data. It briefly describes the transition from digitization of data toward full digitalization and digital transformation of industrial processes. It also briefly discussed the impact of new digitalization technologies on the future of industry. It attempts to answer the following questions: How did we reach the age of data? How did we go from stone tablets, paper scrolls, and the Epic of Gilgamesh, to silicone chips, the cloud, and the Internet of Things? How can we handle multimedia industrial data? And what are the main prospects and the key challenges of big data in building smart industries?