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aaron.computer?

This site is an experimental schema of my (Aaron) various data and activity streams (Instagram, Twitter, Last.fm, Foursquare/Swarm, and Goodreads) displayed in various means and ways via platform application programming interfaces (APIs). Some of these major platforms (like Amazon's "Goodreads") will often suddenly depreciate, destroy, and/or divest from their public APIs (often for nefarious, unknown, or monetary reasons) which means our access to these data is precious and fleeting! This site, the UX, and purpose is an ongoing project and experiment (forever entombed within the safety of beta mode) so items may appear broken, buggy, or strange at times.

While the data on this site may be (mostly) autonomous in it's ability to materialize here, it is important to note that my active (and, more eerily, oftentimes passive) cooperation is also necessary to manifest the data. I must actively "check-in" with my phone on the Swarm app, I have to actively post photos to my public Instagram, etc.

Very processed and distressed photo of a NSA data collection nicknamed Bumblehive in the Utah desert

Photo of the Utah Data Center (UDC) in the Utah desert. The data center is able to process "all forms of communication, including the complete contents of private emails, cell phone calls, and Internet searches, as well as all types of personal data trails—parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other digital 'pocket litter'."6, 7 via Wikipedia

One of the goals of this project is to make myself aware of what I'm sharing publicly and, often by default, with corporations, governments, and other entities — personal information that will likely exist in the public record long after I'm gone.

6, 7Bamford, James (15 March 2012). "The NSA Is Building the Country's Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say)". Wired.

3D white wireframe of an old 90s computer spinning infinitely in the void

3D white wireframe book spinning infinitely in the void

3D white wireframe headphones spinning infinitely in the void

3D white wireframe topographic mountain spinning infinitely in the void

“It is just when people are all engaged in snooping on themselves and one another that they become anesthetized to the whole process..."

“... The more the data banks record about each one of us, the less we exist."

― Marshall McLuhan