Researchers aim to translate every physical space and behavior into searchable information

Evidence

According to Paradiso and his coauthor, Gershon Dublon, the next great technological challenge is “context aggregation,” which means the ability to assemble rapidly expanding sensor information into new “applications.” The idea is that every physical space and every trace of behavior within that space-bees buzzing, your smile, the temperature fluctuations in my closet, their breakfast conversation, the swoosh of the trees-will be “informated” (translated into information). Spaces can be aggregated into a seamless flow of searchable information, sights, and sounds in much the same way that Google once aggregated web pages for indexing and searching: “This shift will create a seamless nervous system that covers the planet-and one of the main challenges for the computing community now is how to merge the rapidly evolving ‘omniscient’ electronic sensoria onto human perception.” — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 650

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines ‘context aggregation’ and ‘informated’ — core conceptual terms for understanding the new apparatus of extraction.
• XREF: Connects to the earlier definition of ‘information’ as the key raw material of surveillance capitalism; also parallels the web-indexing logic of Google described in earlier chapters. — connects to: Refashioning humans as data-open inforgs makes them continuously available for external modulation. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 479; Data are a physical raw material requiring sensing, storage, and cleaning infrastructure. — Nick Srnicek, Platform Capitalism, 43; Physical space is being redesigned as browse-able environments of sensor data — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 647 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Behavioral surplus extraction extends from virtual spaces into physical life #expands (0.90) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 623
• Sidewalk Labs applied Google’s behavioral surplus model to physical urban space #exemplifies (0.85) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 720
• Everyday consumer objects are being redesigned as behavioral data sources #exemplifies (0.82) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 748
• Google’s mapping games served as test beds for expanding surveillance capitalism into physical space #exemplifies (0.82) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 472
• Google aims to weave sensing capability directly into everyday materials #expands (0.80) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 769