Summary: This is the sixth episode in the Algocracy and Transhumanism podcast. In this episode, I talk to Deborah Lupton about her book The Quantified Self (Polity Press 2016). Deborah is a Centenary Research Professor at the University of Canberra in Australia. She is a widely-published scholar. Her current research focuses on a variety of topics having to do with digital sociology and the impact of technology on human life. Our conversation is divided into three main topics: (i) what is the quantified self? (ii) how is the 'self' affected by self-tracking technologies? and (iii) what are the political and social consequences of self-tracking? You can listen to the episode below. You can download the mp3 here. You can also subscribe via Stitcher and iTunes (RSS feed). Show Notes0:00 - 0:30 - Introductiono:30 - 8:05 - What is the quantified? Is 'self-tracking' a better term?8:05 - 11:30 - Are we all self-trackers?11:30 - 14:25 - What kinds of data are being tracked?14:25 - 16:20 - Who is attracted to the quantified self movement?16:20 - 21:20 - What is the link between self-tracking and gamification?21:20 - 26:10 - Does self-tracking help to promote autonomy and self-control?26:10 - 28:30 - Does self-tracking contribute to a culture of narcissism?32:00 - 43:13 - The metaphysics of the self in the QS movement: reductionism, dualism and cyborgification43:13 - 46:40 - Do the benefits of self-tracking help to normalise mass surveillance?51:00 - 54:00 - The Quantified Self and the Neoliberal State54:00 - 57:30 - Self-tracking and the Risk Society57:30 - End - The involuntary imposition of self-tracking LinksDeborah's blog This Sociological LifeDeborah's book The Quantified SelfDeborah's twitter, academia.edu, ssrn and researchgate profilesDeborah's homepage at Canberra UniversityDeborah Lupton 'Self-Tracking Modes: Reflexive Self-Monitoring and Data Practices'Deborah Lupton 'You are your Data: Self-Tracking Practice and Concepts of Data'Deborah Lupton 'The Digital Cyborg Assemblage: Haraway's Cyborg Theory and the New Digital Health Technologies'John Danaher 'Does self-tracking promote autonomy? An Initial Argument'Strava - self-tracking app for athletesThe Unquantified Self - blogCitizen Science Citizen sensing
