Beer, D. (2009). Power through the algorithm? Participatory web cultures and the technological unconscious. New Media & Society 11(6), 985-1002.
This article explores Web 2.0 and the influx of mundane personal information into the web and available to organizations. He argues that the information used by software algorithms can shape cultural and auditory experiences. Through the use of algorithms, information provided to the user is mediated by already gathered information about user preferences. For example advertisments within one’s email application may be tailored to the users specific interests, as interpreted from information gathered. Beers argues that Web 2.0 provides an opening up of vast amounts of mundane information and questions how this information will be gathered and used to shape the environment of the user.
This reading provides a foundation to explore our device, but in a different manner. Our device rather than illustrating how information can shape experience, it uses our cultural and environmental experience to generate information to alter ones online presence.
