Language Shows Social Changes

The Latin origin of the term "data" comes from the plural of "datum," meaning "a single piece of information." The etymology of the word "information" suggests it comes from the Latin informatio (-nis), from the verb informare, meaning "to give form," "to discipline," "to instruct," or "to teach." In Greek, the corresponding words were "μορφη" (morfè) or "εiδοs" (éidos), meaning "idea," "concept," "form," or "image." Data can be considered as individual pieces of an idea, concept, form, or image, which give shape or teach something.



Human language allows us to name not only what exists but also what does not yet exist, enabling us to imagine and design the future. Through it, we can make choices, reject some things in favor of others, and think about what is yet to come.



A Vocabulary: Giving Tangibility to Data

  • Foster personal exploration and stimulate individual interpretation and creativity.
  • Combine analysis and emotion: balance the rational with the human.
  • Develop critical awareness: it is essential to understand data in order to be active participants in the digital world.





Creating a personal language




Techniques / Programms used

Mosaic

Photogrammetry

Unreal

Meta Human

Motion Capture

Creative Coding

Open Processing

Scanner
3d Scanner

Scotch e impressione a caldo

Video mapping 

Ai

Nomad Sculpt

Blender

Obsidian

Theory

RHuman-Technology Relationship:


Postman
(New York, March 8, 1931 – New York, October 5, 2003) was an American sociologist, elementary school teacher, media theorist, and critic of contemporary culture.

Bauman
(born November 19, 1925 in Poznań, Poland; died January 9, 2017 in Leeds, England) was a Polish-British sociologist and philosopher.
Floridi
(Rome, November 16, 1964) is an Italian-born British philosopher, full professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.





Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology

Postman analyzes how technology has become dominant in our society, describing the evolution of society in relation to technology.

Tool-oriented:
In "tool-oriented" cultures, tools are designed to solve specific problems—material or symbolic—without challenging the dominant ideology.

Technocracy:
[from the Second Industrial Revolution onwards]
In a technocracy, technical rationality prevails over other forms of knowledge, such as politics, ethics, or culture.

Technopoly:
[from the 20th century onwards]
A community or society in which technology plays a central role, shaping and determining not only the economy and politics but also culture, social relationships, and values. In a technopoly, technology is so deeply integrated into everyday life that it becomes the very foundation of social organization.

Its true emergence is marked by the advent of new communication tools such as the telegraph, telephone, and computer.

Its development is closely tied to the evolution of information: the invention of the printing press, first and foremost, which enabled the mass production of books and documents, not only made information more accessible but also initiated an incredible process of knowledge fragmentation.




























L'orologio meccanico è nato nei monasteri benedettini del XII e XIII secolo. Aveva lo scopo di regolare le routine monastiche, scandendo i sette momenti di preghiera della giornata attraverso il suono delle campane, in conformità con le ore canoniche. L'orologio era utile ai monaci per regolare la propria giornata in modo che la preghiera e il lavoro non venissero confusi.

    Liquid Modernity
    Characterized by rapid changes and instability in social relationships, work, and personal identities.

    • Uncertainty and Instability: The certainties of the past (stable jobs, family values, fixed social structures) have disappeared.
    • Fluid Identities: People are in search of new roles and meanings, but identity remains unstable and ever-changing.
    • Fragile Social Relationships: Relationships become more superficial and temporary, replacing long-term commitments.
    • Consumerism and Dissatisfaction: The pursuit of happiness through consumerism leads people to feel unfulfilled and constantly in search of new stimuli.
    • Erosion of Traditional Institutions: Traditional structures such as marriage, family, and community are weakened and replaced by more fluid forms of social organization.



    The Fourth Revolution
    Floridi explores the idea that we are in the midst of a "fourth revolution," where information and digital communication are transforming our perception of the world and of ourselves.

    Integrated Digital Environment:
    The infosphere is not limited to technological devices or the Internet but includes all forms of information and communication that interact with one another, both online and offline. It encompasses digital data as well as analog information, creating a reality in which we are constantly immersed and interconnected.






    Pervasiveness of Information:
    We live in a world where every aspect of our lives is mediated by information. Our identity, behavior, and daily experiences are shaped by continuous interaction with data from digital sources, sensors, social media, and more.



























    Inforg:
    People are no longer separate from the flow of information but exist in symbiosis with it. Floridi uses the term Inforg(information-integrated organism) to describe the modern human as a hybrid between individual and informational flow.
    Our identity and the way we think, communicate, and act are increasingly defined by access to information.

    Typification of Individuals:
    Individuals are categorized and understood through data patterns, shaping their roles and interactions in society.








    Fairytales of Motion by Alan Warburton | Tate Exchange
    Conclusions

    Critical Awareness: In a context where data permeates every aspect of our existence, it is essential to develop critical awareness in order to be active participants, not just passive spectators, in the digital transformation.
    This work promotes the development of such awareness.





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