Technical Review of a System for Visualization of Big Data for SMEs

The 2012 White Paper on Information and Communications in Japan issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan advocates use of big data under its "Special Theme: ICT-induced and accelerated Disaster Recovery and Japan's Re-birth." However, the analysis in the Japan Users Association of Information Systems' white paper on its 2014 IT trend survey for companies reports that less than 10% of companies utilize big data, and it would appear that progress in its use is centered on large firms. Under such conditions, use of big data is becoming a challenge for the purpose of ensuring the survival and success of SMEs as well. As a result, R&D and technological support for SMEs are becoming pressing issues. However, at present there has been almost no academic research concerning policies and future directions for use of big data at SMEs. Accordingly, this study conducted a technical review of a system for visualization of big data for SMEs. Specifically, we extracted data contained in the corporate securities reports published in EDINET and visualized them using the network data visualization software Cytoscape, as an example of a system for visualization of big data. In the process of doing so, we reviewed the necessary conditions of a system for visualization of big data at SMEs, primarily from a technical perspective, and elucidated a number of distinctive characteristics of such a system.