Summary
This paper attempts to paint a futurist vision for data analysts and in doing so discusses some of the tools and techniques likely to be used. A major premise of this vision is that mathematical statistics like classical mechanics is essentially a completed discipline. Moreover, that changes in the nature, modes of collection, and scale of data imply new tools and techniques are inevitable. Complexity of algorithms and data structures imply an increased focus on algorithmic efficiency and, to some extent, more automated procedures. Suggestions for advancement in theory are made with respect to data mining, visualization and quantization methods. Suggestions are also made on likely architectures for digital text and data libraries, for modes of accessing distributed databases, and for the implications on collaboration.