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Data Smog
Surviving the Information Glut
ISBN: 0062515519
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
Author: David Shenk
In a world where it seems that everyone is surfing the Information
Superhighway, David Shenk is on dry ground, happy to be free from
the waves of information that can sink a careless surfer. Data
Smog: Surviving the Information Glut is an excellent book
that warns of the impact of so much technology on our lives. From
families, to race relations, to education, we cannot avoid information,
but we must learn to deal with it properly.
Mr. Shenk takes a refreshing look at the world we live in. We
are constantly bombarded by the notion that more information makes
use smarter, or at least more informed. In the book, we are told
that it is the exact opposite since "the medium that captures
almost everything conveys almost nothing." (Page 194)
The book doesn't just warn us about the effects of the Internet,
but also warns about all forms of mass media, ranging from television
news ("News bites continue not because they are valuable,
but because they are dramatic and entertaining... we would be
much better off ignoring the vast majority of them." Page
168) to mass marketing campaigns ("With elaborate consumer
profiles on record, consumers come to resemble predictable machines
themselves..." Page 151).
It would be easy to complain about all of the problems facing
us today (the book has its fair share of that), but he also takes
the initiative in presenting to the readers some alternatives.
The final section of the book, Part 4: A Return to Meaning,
encourages us to do thins like be our own filter, simplify, and
help improve government.
Most authors who write books about the information revolution
are faced with the unfortunate situation of having their books
become outdated very quickly. Data Smog, on the other
hand, seems more relevant today that it did when it was first
published in 1997 (the paperback version was revised for 1998).
As each day, week, month, and year go by, we are swamped by even
more information, which makes Data Smog a very useful
tool in combating this modern day epidemic.
Here are a few other interesting quotes:
Data smog gets in the way; it crows out quiet moments, and
obstructs much-needed contemplation. It spoils conversation,
literature, and even entertainment. It thwarts skepticism, rendering
us less sophisticated as consumers and citizens. It stresses
us out. (Page 31)
In the age where information has become our most valuable
commodity, I have become an information Midas. Like the King
who was granted his thoughtless wish that everything he touch
turn instantly into good, only to discover that he could no
longer eat or drink, I have found that, because of my electronic
access, nearly everything I touch turns into digital information,
to be downloaded and stored on the internal hard drive of my
laptop computer. (Page
47)
By reducing the amount of needless information, we will
also reduce the amount of vulgarity, as people feel less need
to be sensational to attract attention. (Page
192)
Data smog should be required reading for everyone who feels that
technology is the answer to everything. It should definitely be
read by those first getting on the Net, as a pre-emptive strike
against the inevitable information overload.
Data Smog can be purchased for a list price of $13.00 US or at
discounted prices at online retailers such as Amazon.com.
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