Firms will provide an additional level of depth to the analysis of consumer behaviour.

FORBES: Big Miss On Consumer Sentiment But Barclays Raises Q3 GDP To 2.5%

Lagrangian analysis might allow the behaviour of spills to be predicted more easily.

ECONOMIST: Lagrangian coherent structures

If you leave your laptop unlocked and someone else starts typing, then using almost like a neuro-net analysis we can say that the behaviour of this individual is most like this person, therefore the trust level falls, therefore you're asked to log onto the network again.

BBC: Three questions for CTOs: Anthony Haywood, Idappcom

Dunnhumby, a data-analysis firm, uses algorithms to crunch data on customer behaviour for a number of clients.

ECONOMIST: Algorithms

"We have always seen a great deal of variability in UK extreme rainfall because our weather patterns are constantly changing, but this analysis suggests we are seeing a shift in our rainfall behaviour, " she said.

BBC: Extreme rainfall in UK 'increasing'

The demographic transition, according to this analysis, is a shift from r-type to K-type behaviour.

ECONOMIST: Why, as people get richer, do they have fewer children?