As part of the CMS.631 Spring 2016 class, I decided to log all of the “data-generating” actions/activities that I did throughout the day (data-generating being defined as an activity that generates data that is being actively collected at that moment). Here is a log of what happened from the moment that I woke up until right now when I am about to go to sleep:
Format: Activity ; data sent ; entity that logs that data.
- Turned my iPhone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature off ; Data about my phone settings; Apple iPhone log.
- Sent a few texts with my iPhone ; Text-based message files ; Apple software and phone service provider.
- Signed into apps like GMail, Notability, Google Maps, etc ; User information like location and app-specific action data ; Application provider.
- Presented a ticket for a beer/wine tasting event ; User information such as name and ticket ID ; Tasting event manager who is verifying that only paying customers enter.
- Used my credit card to pay for lunch at a restaurant in Chinatown ; Personal financial information such as credit card # ; credit card payments processing company + restaurant.
- Used my credit card to add value to my T card ; Personal financial information such as credit card # ; MBTA.
- Used my T card to tap into Park Street metro stop ; Personal location + basic info ; MBTA.
- Used my MIT ID to get into MIT buildings ; Personal location + basic info ; MIT.
- Took a picture with my phone ; Picture file + associated meta-data ; iPhone log.
- Sent emails to various people ; Content-specific information ; Google.
- Sent a few texts with my iPhone ; Text-based message files ; Apple software and phone service provider.
- Modified a Facebook Event ; Content-specific information ; FaceBook.
- Communicated with parents via FaceTime ; Meta-information about video stream ; Apple/iPhone log.
- Used my credit card to pay for dinner at a restaurant in Kenmore Square ; Personal financial information such as credit card # ; credit card payments processing company + restaurant.
- Sent emails to various people ; Content-specific information ; Google.
- Sent a few texts with my iPhone ; Text-based message files ; Apple software and phone service provider.
- Modified a Facebook Event ; Content-specific information ; FaceBook.
It is very interesting to see on even just a somewhat superficial level how much data is created during normal day-to-day operations due to the technology-based and data-rich communication and interaction systems that we have today. It is also a bit scary, and brings to clear light the necessity for ethical use of the data and the importance of data privacy and protocols.