With the rapid emergence of digital devices, an unstoppable, invisible force is changing human lives in ways from the microscopic to the gargantuan: Big Data, a word that was barely used a few years ago but now governs the day for many of us from the moment we awaken to the extinguishing of the final late-evening light bulb. This massive gathering and analyzing of data in real time is allowing us to not only address some of humanity biggest challenges but is also helping create a new kind of planetary nervous system. Yet as Edward Snowden and the release of the Prism documents have shown, the accessibility of all these data comes at a steep price. The Human Face of Big Data captures the promise and peril of this extraordinary knowledge revolution. 　　译文(2): 随着数字设备的迅速出现，一股不可阻挡的、看不见的力量正在以某种方式改变着人类的生活，从微观到巨大: 大数据，这个词几年前几乎没有被使用过，但是现在却主宰着我们许多人的一天，从我们醒来的那一刻到最后一个晚上熄灭的灯泡。这种大规模的实时数据收集和分析不仅使我们能够应对人类面临的一些最大挑战，而且还有助于创造一种新的行星神经系统。然而，正如爱德华?斯诺登(Edward Snowden)和“棱镜”(Prism)文件的公布所显示的那样，获取所有这些数据的代价是高昂的。大数据的人性面貌抓住了这场非凡的知识革命的希望和危险。