From Stone to Silicon: The Evolution of Human-Data Interaction

Long before the modern age of computers, data has always been leveraged by our ancestors to improve their chances of survival by using their observations and experiences to make better decisions. From the Homo habilis and Homo erectus learning to strike stones at specific angles to produce sharper edges, to Homo sapiens in the Neolithic Revolution being able to track seasons by observing the stars, the phases of the moon, and the behaviour of organisms in order to optimally plant crops, humans have made data their basis of reasoning or calculation to improve their quality of life. The rise of agriculture through the Neolithic Revolution allowed for complex societies to develop. Ancient regions like Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), also known as the “cradle of civilisation”, have played a significant role in the development of agriculture, writing, and cities. Around 3200 BCE, Mesopotamians developed one of the earliest writing systems known as cuneiform. This allowed information, such as laws, contracts, administrative records, and literature to be recorded, which consequently influenced the development of literacy, allowing individuals to learn, share, and pass down information through written texts Mesopotamiams were also skilled astronomers who tracked celestial movements and developed early forms of mathematical notations. They utilised this to record observations of stars, planets and lunar phases for agricultural planning and religious practices. Through the foundations laid out by early complex societies like Mesopotamia, flourishing major civilisations started to emerge. Ancient Greece started thriving around 800 BCE to 400 BCE, which scholars regard as the “cradle of Western civilization” because of its contributions to modern day democracy, language and education. Scientific and mathematical contributions have also been made by Greek thinkers, which are the underlying foundations of modern day technology like networks and computers. Euclid’s book, “Elements”, laid the principles of geometry and Pythagoras greatly contributed to mathematical theories – these are all used in the development of algorithms and protocols used in technology that we use today to store digital information and communicate. Foundation of modern data principles were developed and applied during the Industrial Revolution from the 18th to 19th Century. For example, demographic data were collected and analysed through censuses as a result of urbanisation to understand social trends, which have laid the groundwork for demographic studies and data-driven policy making. Visual representations of data were then pioneered by William Playfair, allowing data to be more accessible and understandable to a wider audience. This period has also spurred advancements in scientific inquiry by rigorous approaches to data collection and analysis to develop scientific disciplines, such as medicine through clinical trials. In the 20th Century, the Digital Age was born. This created an economy centred on information technology, causing a rapid shift from traditional industries established during the Industrial Revolution. During this period,computers were invented, alongside storage devices made from magnetic disks and then silicon. The Digital Age changed society as we know it today through its rapid progress in science and technology as we transitioned into the 21st Century, heavily impacting us in various ways such as globalisation. I mean, imagine Isaac Newton being able to access all available information at the palm of his hand – instantly and conveniently. Although this dramatically improved our quality of life by enabling us to make more informed decisions (e.g. using the weather app), it seems as though we are suffering more as a consequence of living in a constantly interconnected world with record-high levels of loneliness. When does being too connected become a bad thing? As we progress into the 21st Century, countless scientific and technological breakthroughs have been made such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and the Internet of Things. The leap of being able to do things our ancestors wouldn’t even dare think was possible such as piloting a self-driving car is impressive, but at what cost? This has also introduced multiple challenges to a society that relies more on data-driven decision making. From misinformation, privacy issues, algorithmic bias, to the digital divide, despite having come a long way, we still have more to improve and work on. However, I am very excited to see how far we can go through the seemingly exponential improvements enabled by data and technology.