Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of big data?

The correct answer is uniformity. In the context of big data, the main characteristics are often referred to as the "three Vs": volume, variety, and velocity. These aspects capture the essential nature of big data in terms of its size, the different types of data being processed, and the speed at which data is generated and analyzed.

Volume refers to the vast amounts of data that organizations collect and store, which can be in petabytes or even exabytes. Variety highlights the diversity of data sources and formats, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, which can include text, images, audio, and more. Velocity pertains to the speed at which data is generated and must be processed to meet the demands of real-time analysis and insights.

Uniformity, however, does not align with the fundamental characteristics of big data. Big data is inherently irregular and complex, often comprising various formats and types that do not conform to a single standard. This variability is a defining feature that necessitates specialized techniques for storage, management, and analysis. Therefore, uniformity is not representative of the challenges and nature of big data, making it the correct choice for the question.