Data: A Love Story for the Ages

Explore the rich history and significance of data in this 50-minute lecture by Victoria Baines, IT Livery Company Professor of Information Technology at Gresham College. Journey through centuries of data usage, from early applications to modern technologies, examining how data shapes knowledge, power structures, and collective memory. Discover the evolution of data visualization through maps, databases, taxonomies, and infographics, while considering critical issues like data gaps, census control, and ethical implications of AI. The comprehensive presentation covers the relationship between data and society, personal information in the digital age, and the enduring human connection to information. Delivered by a distinguished academic with affiliations to Cambridge, Oxford, and Stanford, this thought-provoking talk challenges the notion that "data is the new oil" by demonstrating its infinitely reusable nature throughout human history.