Data Smog
Encyclopedia
Data Smog is a 1997 book by journalist David Shenk
and published by Harper Collins. It deals with the author's idea of how the information technology
revolution would shape the world at large and how the incredible amount of data available on the Internet
would make it more difficult for the average individual to sift through and separate fact from fiction.
According to “Data Smog,” with the advance of technology
, we have been able to progress in terms of society, economy, and even health. Communication is instantaneous, knowledge is abundant, and as humans we try to keep up with this expansion of data that continues to accumulate from around the world.
However, it is this overwhelming amount of information that is defined as data smog; “this unexpected, unwelcome part of our atmosphere, an expression for the noxious muck and druck of the information age.
” The wealth of information that is so beneficial for us is harming some because of the sheer amount of it at such a fast rate, “The sheer volume of information which many of us are exposed to every day may actually impair our performance and add stress to our lives.” In fact, according to statistics provided by Shenk, “In 1971 the average American was targeted by at least 560 daily advertising
messages. Twenty years later, that number has risen six fold, to 3,000 messages per day.”
The figures alone are astounding if one thinks retrospective
ly on his or her day and realized the masses of ‘messages' he or she has been exposed to. “Just as fat has replaced starvation as this nation’s number one dietary concern, information overload
has replaced information scarcity as an important new emotional, social, and political problem.” As per David Lewis
, PhD in psychology, this attempt at consuming the majority of data, the result is what he calls “information fatigue syndrome.” This term refers to the data smog that we encounter daily that ultimately interferes with our sleep, concentration, and even affecting our immune systems.
Though according to clinical psychologist
Michelle Weil, PhD, “the problems stem from people’s overuse or misuse of technologies
and from technology’s ineffective presentation of information, researchers are finding.”
Ways in which to ‘beat the smog’:
In 2004, Shenk's original term "data smog" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary
David Shenk
David Shenk is an American writer, lecturer, and filmmaker. He is author of six books, including The Genius in All of Us , Data Smog , The Forgetting , and The Immortal Game , and has contributed to National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times, Gourmet, Harper's, Wired, The New Yorker, The New...
and published by Harper Collins. It deals with the author's idea of how the information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
revolution would shape the world at large and how the incredible amount of data available on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
would make it more difficult for the average individual to sift through and separate fact from fiction.
According to “Data Smog,” with the advance of technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, we have been able to progress in terms of society, economy, and even health. Communication is instantaneous, knowledge is abundant, and as humans we try to keep up with this expansion of data that continues to accumulate from around the world.
However, it is this overwhelming amount of information that is defined as data smog; “this unexpected, unwelcome part of our atmosphere, an expression for the noxious muck and druck of the information age.
Information Age
The Information Age, also commonly known as the Computer Age or Digital Age, is an idea that the current age will be characterized by the ability of individuals to transfer information freely, and to have instant access to knowledge that would have been difficult or impossible to find previously...
” The wealth of information that is so beneficial for us is harming some because of the sheer amount of it at such a fast rate, “The sheer volume of information which many of us are exposed to every day may actually impair our performance and add stress to our lives.” In fact, according to statistics provided by Shenk, “In 1971 the average American was targeted by at least 560 daily advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
messages. Twenty years later, that number has risen six fold, to 3,000 messages per day.”
The figures alone are astounding if one thinks retrospective
Retrospective
Retrospective generally means to take a look back at events that already have taken place. For example, the term is used in medicine, describing a look back at a patient's medical history or lifestyle.-Music:...
ly on his or her day and realized the masses of ‘messages' he or she has been exposed to. “Just as fat has replaced starvation as this nation’s number one dietary concern, information overload
Information overload
"Information overload" is a term popularized by Alvin Toffler in his bestselling 1970 book Future Shock. It refers to the difficulty a person can have understanding an issue and making decisions that can be caused by the presence of too much information...
has replaced information scarcity as an important new emotional, social, and political problem.” As per David Lewis
David Lewis (psychologist)
Dr David Lewis, a French-born neuropsychologist, is founder and Director at the independent research consultancy Mindlab International based at the University of Sussex. Additionally, he is a chartered Psychologist, a best selling author and International Lecturer...
, PhD in psychology, this attempt at consuming the majority of data, the result is what he calls “information fatigue syndrome.” This term refers to the data smog that we encounter daily that ultimately interferes with our sleep, concentration, and even affecting our immune systems.
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
Though according to clinical psychologist
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
Michelle Weil, PhD, “the problems stem from people’s overuse or misuse of technologies
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and from technology’s ineffective presentation of information, researchers are finding.”
Ways in which to ‘beat the smog’:
- Turn off the television for at least an hour or two every evening.
- Spend some time each week without your pager or cell phone.
- Resist advertising - never buy a product based on unsolicited email (spamE-mail spamEmail spam, also known as junk email or unsolicited bulk email , is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by email. Definitions of spam usually include the aspects that email is unsolicited and sent in bulk. One subset of UBE is UCE...
). - Go on periodic "data fasts." A weekend in the country away from the telephone can rejuvenate a smogged-in brain.
- Write clearly and succinctly. Verbose writing is wasteful and difficult to read.
- Skim newsletters and magazines and rip out a copy of an article or two that you really want to read and digest.
- Filter your email. Many email programs allow you to set "filtersE-mail filteringEmail filtering is the processing of email to organize it according to specified criteria. Most often this refers to the automatic processing of incoming messages, but the term also applies to the intervention of human intelligence in addition to anti-spam techniques, and to outgoing emails as well...
" which send unwanted email directly to the trash. It is worth taking the time to do this. - Do not forward chain lettersChain LettersChain Letters was a British television game show produced by Tyne Tees Television. The show was filmed at their City Road studios in Newcastle Upon Tyne and broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom between 7 September 1987 and 25 April 1997. Three contestants competed to win money by changing letters...
, urban legendsUrban legendAn urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
, urgent messages about email viruses, or claims that Bill GatesBill GatesWilliam Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
will send everyone thousands of dollars. These things clog up everybody's inbox with worthless stuff. - Organize your Web bookmarks or favorites. Keeping these in meaningful folders will go a long way toward helping you really find that site you are looking for.
In 2004, Shenk's original term "data smog" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary