Big data and technology readiness levels

There has been a lot of recent discussion in the media concerning the concept of big data. Few if any of the applications of big data have addressed engineering management needs and concerns. In this short opinion piece we describe a particular application of big data to understanding technology readiness. We first introduce the topic of big data and technology readiness, and then describe the need for automated and distributed approaches to identify promising new technologies. Such a vision may be possible, but it may be a ways out. In the meanwhile we identify four tips to guide best practice while we await a fully functional system.