Datafication & Technology

Datafication, Phantasmagoria of the 21st Century

Tag: Systems

Datafied. A Critical Exploration of the Production of Knowledge in the Age of Datafication

9 September 2022 / / 0 Comments

This is the abstract of my PhD submitted in August 2022

As qualitative aspects of life become increasingly subjected to the extractive processes of datafication, this theoretical research offers an in-depth analysis on how these technologies skew the relationship between tacit and datafied ways of knowing. Given the role tacit knowledge plays in the design process, this research seeks to illuminate how technologies of datafication are impacting designerly ways of knowing and what design can do to recalibrate this imbalance. In particular, this thesis is predicated on 4 interrelated objectives: (1) To understand how the shift toward the technologies of datafication has created an overreliance on datafied (i.e., explicit) knowledge (2) To comprehend how tacit knowledge (i.e. designerly ways of knowing) is impacted by this increased reliance, (3) To critically explore technologies of datafication through the lens of Walter Benjamin’s work on the phantasmagoria of modernity and (4) To discover what design can do to safeguard, protect and revive the production of tacit knowledge in a world increasingly dominated by datafication.

To bring greater awareness into what counts as valid knowledge today, this research begins by first identifying the principles that define tacit knowledge and datafied ways of knowing. By differentiating these two processes of knowledge creation, this thesis offers a foundation for understanding how datafication not only augments how we know things, but also actively directs and dominates what we know. This research goes on to also examine how this unchecked faith in datafication has led to a kind of 21st century phantasmagoria, reinforcing the wholesale belief that technology can be used to solve some of the most perplexing problems we face today. As a result, more tacit processes of knowledge creation are increasingly being overlooked and side-lined. To conclude this discussion, insights into how the discipline of design is uniquely situated to create a more regenerative relationship with technology, one that supports and honours the unique contributions of designerly ways of knowing, are offered.

Fundamental principles framing Grounded Theory are used as a methodological guide for structing this theoretical research. Given the unprecedented and rapid rate technology is being integrated into modern life, this methodological framework provided the flexibility needed to accommodate the evolving contours of this study while also providing the necessary systematic rigour to sustain the integrity of this PhD.

Keywords: datafication, tacit knowledge, phantasmagoria, regeneration, ecology of knowledge

Regulation & Regeneration

12 May 2022 / / 0 Comments

In the context of an economic environment deficient in self-regulation (also called wisdom), is there a space for outer regulation in Regenerative spaces?

This question was triggered by Musk purchase of Twitter. Since in regenerative communities, we are using metaphors from nature, the take-over of a global platform that carries a massive chunk of the global public debate, which algorithms are opaque and is known to influence the result of elections by a self-professed libertarian billionaire who has clearly indicated that he wants to restore “free speech” (whatever that means) on the platform and who is known to use it for self-serving purposes is a bit like a human-produced toxic algae bloom spreading on live water habitats and killing all life. Never enough seems to qualify the initiative appropriately.

So, in this context, I was wondering about regulation. Living systems, when left to their own device, self-regulate. This is what I would see as “inner regulation”, or in human terms, “wisdom”. I don’t think it would be overly pessimistic to think that inner regulation is found in (very) limited quantity right now in our social and economic environments.

So what about outer regulation? There are many ways outer regulation functions, from the traditional prescriptive approaches to softer ones that involve sway and incentives. Design as a discipline employs the latter ones all the time. I was thinking it is an important discussion to be had in the context of a community focused on Regenerative Economics because many projects start with the best of intentions and fall prey to unintended consequences.

And I am also interested to hear from those of us who have direct experience in designing regulation frameworks in the complex systems that are online communities who share the same purpose. Do we combine incentives for inner regulation with outer regulation, and if so, how? Do we leave it to the invisible hand? I would love to hear different voices chime on this topic.

Algorithmic Sociality

9 October 2021 / / 0 Comments

I had a discussion about cells membranes and boundaries with a friend. The discussion arose from a quote by Fritjof Capra in his course The Systems View Of Life: “Boundaries in the biological realm are not boundaries of separation but boundaries of identity”. My friend’s questions was ‘What is the function of a membrane in social dynamics?’

This discussion about social membranes creating social identity reminds me about the phenomenon of “filter bubbles” created by the algorithms of social media platforms (for those unfamiliar with the concept, Eli Pariser’s TED talk is a good entry point. Basically, by editing what information we get access to (through search or in our newsfeed), online algorithms create a membrane around us that narrowly define our identity, and this is reinforced by constantly feeding us more of the same.


A few years ago in 2017, I did an explorative and investigative study on Facebook to interrogate the algorithmic black box. I created two fake profiles, Samsara Marks (female) and Bertrand Wooster (male). Samsara’s profile was richly fleshed out (highly educated professional with feminist interests), but gave FB only minimal info about Bertrand: his age (late 40s), a (random) Hong Kong mobile number, his residency (Hong Kong), his country of citizenship (UK) (and of course FB had pieces of digital info even though I created the profile behind the university’s firewall from a random computer at uni).


With this limited info, FB suggested 150 friends for Bertrand at the first login (interestingly most of them outside of Hong Kong). I accepted all FB suggestions (and subsequent suggestions as well). I am not going to bore you with details, but to make a long story short, Bertrand found himself transported to the bowels of FB: explicit sexual content, prostitution and what I suspected could be pedophile networks, and “how to” videos on how to make weapons to shoot down missiles (I am not making this up) amongst others. Friendless but highly accomplished Samsara on the other hand keeps receiving ads for kitchen appliances and dresses.


My purpose for posting this is to bring attention to the active role of social platforms in shaping sociability and creating social membranes around us. One of the conclusions of the experience was that, once the algorithms has established the membrane, it takes conscious efforts, extreme determination and a very consistent strategy to change what the membrane lets in and out.

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