Alison Powell (London School of Economics)
Alex Taylor (Microsoft Research)

Explore and discuss the data environment around the Cambridge Railway Station, including the site of Microsoft Research's project on data and the residents of Tenison Road, through a process of rapid group ethnography. Arrive at 2.00pm sharp at the corner of Tenison Road and Station Road, in front of Microsoft Research, for a short introduction to the project. We will leave at 2:30pm for a 60 minute walk around the area, followed by discussion. We will reflect on the different conceptualizations of data that we discover on our walk and also on the disjunctions between conceptual and computational data.  This will highlight that, underpinning any considerations of the ethics of big data, are particular understandings of what data is in the first place. 

See http://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/26406 for event details and registration. 

 Readings:

Data and life on the street, Alex S Taylor, Siân Lindley, Tim Regan, David Sweeney, , Jul 2014

DOI: 10.1177/2053951714539278

The 'sentient' city and what it may portend, Nigel Thrift, Jun 2014

DOI: 10.1177/2053951714532241

Big Data from the bottom up, Nick Couldry, Alison Powell, Jul 2014

DOI: 10.1177/2053951714539277

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Ella McPherson.