Being with Data: The Dashboarding of Everyday Life

Data are now at the heart of our global digital economy, transforming how we perceive the value of a professional athlete and the intelligence gathering activities of governments. Nathaniel Tkacz's book "The Datafied Society" explores how most people encounter and experience data, often in highly routinized ways, through formatted displays and for specific cognitive tasks. He argues that to understand our datafied societies, we need to turn our attention to data's formats and the powers of formatting.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

Data, once the exclusive domain of scientists and statisticians, has emerged as a pivotal force shaping our global digital economy. It has permeated various aspects of our lives, from valuing professional athletes to influencing government intelligence gathering activities. The potential of data is immense, as it is believed to have the power to sway elections, predict crime, optimize businesses, enhance health outcomes, and improve decision-making processes.

In his book, "The Datafied Society," Nathaniel Tkacz challenges the prevailing narrative surrounding data. He argues that data is often encountered and experienced in highly standardized ways, through formatted displays tailored for specific cognitive tasks. The format of data plays a significant role in determining its capabilities and applications. To understand the datafied societies we inhabit, Tkacz suggests that we need to focus on data formats and the powers they wield.

This book offers a comprehensive account of one such format: the dashboard. Tkacz traces the historical development of dashboards, from their early origins with horse-drawn carriages to their modern-day digital manifestations. Through analyses of car dashboards, early managerial dashboards, and the gradual integration of dashboards as computer display technology, Tkacz demonstrates how today's digital dashboards came to be and how their cultural history shapes our present.

What sets this book apart is its highly original and interdisciplinary approach. Tkacz draws on insights from various fields, including history, sociology, and computer science, to shed light on the complex relationship between data, technology, and society. He challenges readers to think critically about the ways in which data is collected, analyzed, and presented, and offers valuable insights into the ethical and societal implications of datafication.

"The Datafied Society" is a thought-provoking and transformative work that will reshape our understanding of data and its role in shaping our world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, society, and data, as well as for professionals seeking to navigate the complex landscape of the digital age.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 241 x 150 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509545315