Why comparing data to oil misses the true value of our information age
In short: Victoria Baines explores our long-standing fascination with data, arguing that it serves as a foundation for collective memory rather than just a commodity. This lecture examines how we use technology to visualize and interpret our world through the information we collect.
While often labeled the new oil, data is fundamentally different because it is infinitely reusable. Throughout history, humans have documented information through various methods, including maps, taxonomies, and databases, to build and sustain a shared understanding of reality. Our perception of the world is inextricably linked to the tools we employ to process this information.
Recorded on February 25, 2025, at Barnard's Inn Hall in London, this lecture is presented by Victoria Baines, the IT Livery Company Professor of Information Technology. Baines holds a doctorate from the University of Nottingham and has academic affiliations with institutions including Cambridge, Oxford, and Stanford, where she taught as a guest lecturer during 2019 and 2020.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Data: A Love Story for the Ages - Victoria Baines
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