Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm
This contribution explores the fine line between overestimated expectations and underrepresented momentums of uncertainty that correlate with the prevalence of big data. Big data promises a multitude of innovative options to enhance decision-making by employing algorithmic power to gather worthy inf...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Information |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/6/4/836 |
| _version_ | 1818517652347289600 |
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| author | Stefan Strauß |
| author_facet | Stefan Strauß |
| author_sort | Stefan Strauß |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This contribution explores the fine line between overestimated expectations and underrepresented momentums of uncertainty that correlate with the prevalence of big data. Big data promises a multitude of innovative options to enhance decision-making by employing algorithmic power to gather worthy information out of large unstructured data sets. Datafication—the exploitation of raw data in many different contexts—can be seen as an attempt to tackle complexity and reduce uncertainty. Accordingly promising are the prospects for innovative applications to gain new insights and valuable knowledge in a variety of domains ranging from business strategy, security to health and medical research, etc. However, big data also entails an increase in complexity that, together with growing automation, may trigger not merely uncertain but also unintended societal events. As a new source of networking power, big data has inherent risks to create new asymmetries and transform possibilities to probabilities that can inter alia affect the autonomy of the individual. To reduce these risks, challenges ahead include improving data quality and interpretation supported by new modalities to allow for scrutiny and verifiability of big data analytics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:59:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a52c6dae8e5a4dc09da2f16f903bea99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-2489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:59:08Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Information |
| spelling | doaj.art-a52c6dae8e5a4dc09da2f16f903bea992022-12-22T01:26:22ZengMDPI AGInformation2078-24892015-12-016483684710.3390/info6040836info6040836Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data EnthusiasmStefan Strauß0Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Strohgasse 45/5, Vienna A-1030, AustriaThis contribution explores the fine line between overestimated expectations and underrepresented momentums of uncertainty that correlate with the prevalence of big data. Big data promises a multitude of innovative options to enhance decision-making by employing algorithmic power to gather worthy information out of large unstructured data sets. Datafication—the exploitation of raw data in many different contexts—can be seen as an attempt to tackle complexity and reduce uncertainty. Accordingly promising are the prospects for innovative applications to gain new insights and valuable knowledge in a variety of domains ranging from business strategy, security to health and medical research, etc. However, big data also entails an increase in complexity that, together with growing automation, may trigger not merely uncertain but also unintended societal events. As a new source of networking power, big data has inherent risks to create new asymmetries and transform possibilities to probabilities that can inter alia affect the autonomy of the individual. To reduce these risks, challenges ahead include improving data quality and interpretation supported by new modalities to allow for scrutiny and verifiability of big data analytics.http://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/6/4/836technology assessmentuncertaintypredictabilityinterpretationautonomypower asymmetriesdata pragmatism |
| spellingShingle | Stefan Strauß Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm Information technology assessment uncertainty predictability interpretation autonomy power asymmetries data pragmatism |
| title | Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm |
| title_full | Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm |
| title_fullStr | Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm |
| title_short | Datafication and the Seductive Power of Uncertainty—A Critical Exploration of Big Data Enthusiasm |
| title_sort | datafication and the seductive power of uncertainty a critical exploration of big data enthusiasm |
| topic | technology assessment uncertainty predictability interpretation autonomy power asymmetries data pragmatism |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/6/4/836 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stefanstrauß dataficationandtheseductivepowerofuncertaintyacriticalexplorationofbigdataenthusiasm |