In this episode, we sit down with Aleksi Aaltonen to discuss his focus on data as semantic material and its implications for understanding technology in society. Delving into data ontology, we uncover its implications for the big data industry and how data simplification impacts its ability to capture reality. Aleksi introduces the concept of "data commodities," discussing their significance in today's landscape. Finally, we delve into data-induced harm in the information systems and our role as researchers to overcome it.

Aleksi Aaltonen is Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at Fox Business School, Temple University. He uses computational, quantitative, and qualitative methods to understand Information Systems phenomena, and his work offers multiple insights into understanding the world through data.

Resources: 

Aaltonen, A., Alaimo, C., & Kallinikos, J. (2021). The making of data commodities: Data analytics as an embedded process. Journal of Management Information Systems, 38(2), 401-429.

Aaltonen, A., & Penttinen, E. (2021). What makes data possible? A sociotechnical view on structured data innovations. Hawaii Conference of Information Systems Sciences (HICSS), 2021.