This week in EDCI 136, we explored some big topics—data ownership, cybersecurity, datafication, and an introduction to accessibility. The one most memorable discussion with Dr. Bonnie Stewart was enlightening in terms of the dangers accompanying datafication and the hidden price of living in a digital world.

Technology may easily be seen as a convenience but is also a control system. Every click, every touch, every “I agree” we press becomes part of a multi-layered data economy, one that will at times not work in our favour.

🔍 What is Datafication, and what does it mean to us?

Dr. Stewart characterized datafication as the transformation of human actions into data-everything from Google searches to eye movements on a webpage that can be captured and translated into a profitable business.

Here are the key facts about datafication:

đź’» Every digital interaction produces a traceable data footprint

đź’» AI algorithms use these patterns to predict and mold our decision-making process

đź’» Through data, the governments and the corporations allow the ad use to be controlled.

đź’ˇ Personal Insight: I used to think, “I have nothing to hide, so why should I care?” The deeper issue, however, is not privacy-but power. The data we produce belongs to companies, and they use it against us-targeting ads, biased hiring decisions, or even determining who gets financial aid.

Take-home point: Our data is a resource-every bit as precious as oil-and we’re giving it up for nothing.

🔓 Cybersecurity: The Deception of Security

Also this week, we heard from Wency Lum, Associate VP of UVic, regarding cybersecurity. The biggest highlight was that the biggest threat to security is not technology but people.

🛡️ Very Common Cybersecurity Mistakes:
❌ Use identical passwords for a number of accounts
❌ Open phishing mails
❌ Assume that public Wi-Fi is safe
❌ Use social media login (e.g., “Log in with Facebook”)

I have done that before and I suddenly realized after attending this talk that it is really dangerous. If one site’s hacked, all my accounts are vulnerable, which is really bad.

đź“ŚWhat I’m Doing Now:

âś…Using a password manager

âś…Enabling 2FA on all accounts

âś…Being more careful with what I share online


♿ Accessibility & Data: Who’s Being Left Behind?

Another crucial discussion this week was about digital accessibility. The talk with Charlie Watson from the UVic Centre for Accessible Learning highlighted how many digital tools exclude people with disabilities.

🔹 Key Challenges in Digital Accessibility:

🔸 Websites that don’t work with screen readers

🔸 PDFs that are not accessible for visually impaired users

🔸 AI tools that reinforce biases against disabled people

🔹 Personal Insight: I never thought about how frustrating it must be for someone with a disability to navigate the web. Something as simple as poor color contrast or missing alt-text on images can make content completely unusable for someone who is visually impaired.

đź“Ś What I Plan to Do:

âś… Use WAVE Web Accessibility Checker to test websites

âś… Make sure my documents are screen-reader friendly

✅ Be mindful of colour contrast & font choices in my work