A decade of data
In 2015, at an event called Machine Eatable, Mimi Onuoha facilitates a discussion on the topic — “Data as Process: How does our attitude towards data change if we see it as the result of a relationship rather than an end in itself?” If I were to start collecting personal data, which relationships would I prioritize and optimize?
As we head into a new decade (2020–2030) in a couple of months, I think it is interesting to look at the next decade of my life through the lens of data. The idea of seeing data as a result of a relationship inherently brings a sense of humanness to the practice of data collection and visualization. It urges us to question “why”, and encourages us to prioritize what we value.
There are two ways I could approach this data exercise — first through the lens of optimization, second as an act of auto-ethnography. To respond to my “why” I going to start with some goals for the decade:
- Be resilient
- Be purposeful
- Be a lifelong learner
- Be of service to others
- Be a creator and connector
To better gauge the types of data I want to collect, some of these what/why/how/when/where questions might help…
- which activities and experiences bring me joy? what aspects of it make it more joyous?
- when do I feel most healthy physically and mentally? which behaviors and activities create this? how does it change over time?
- what are my learning goals? how am I progressing towards them? what learning conditions help me learn faster?
- what ideas about the world resonate with me? does it change over time?
- when do I feel more curious and creative? what gives me energy?
- which relationships are serving me? which relationships need more effort? how many times do I visit the people I care about?
As I go through the process of defining these parameters of my personal data collection, I’m forced to think about how much data I want to collect and how often? The time period of 10 years, assumes ‘change over time’. Tracking a decade’s worth of personal data could be done at a very granular level or as minimally as 10 data points.
2020 to 2030 =
- 347,155,200 seconds
- 5,785,920 minutes
- 96,432 hours
- 4018 days
- 574 weeks
- 144 months
- 10 years
These temporal levels could determine the constraints of how much, how often. It could also determine the thread of the story I want to tell over the course of this decade.
In a world that is increasingly data-driven, the technologies and systems I interact with collect an immense amount of data about me. They commodify my data to create homogenous profiles of who I am and then use that to change my behavior or experience. Some of my data might be used to enhance my experience and enable the discovery of new information. For example, music apps that give recommendations of music I might like based on what I listen to. However, there are many other ways my data is used that is not visible to me. To counteract this lack of control of my data in the digital world, I am hoping the practice of generating, collecting and visualizing my own data will lead to more self-awareness, as well as help reclaim control and autonomy over my being in the world.
