Figuring out how to handle data and draw actionable conclusions from massive data sets continues to be a huge challenge for many people. The explosion of personal data only promises to keep expanding with announcements about more robust health apps, the creation of new social media sites, and the growing interconnectedness of objects throughout our everyday lives.

The production of data is expanding at an astonishing pace. Experts now point to an estimated 4300% increase in annual data generation by 2020. Drivers include the switch from analog to digital technologies and the rapid increase in data generation by individuals and corporations alike.

Charting the trajectory of Big Data and how systems have developed to handle it is an interesting and informative exercise. An awesome timeline over at WinShuttle  makes discovering the humble origins of data management a bit more approachable.