A simple question.

Many different answers.

The purpose of the collection of essays, analyses, and random thoughts presented throughout this site is to explore the many, diverse, and intertwined dimensions of “data”.

And for the purposes of this site, “data” is simply defined as:

structured bit-patterns that encode information
within digital computing technology

Many will argue that the definition of “data” as structured bit-patterns is far too narrow a definition – and in general, natural language discourse they’d be right. But let’s be honest: to those of us in the IT field “data” always refers to structured bit-patterns. We don’t really care (except, perhaps, in a philosophical sense) about paper or speech or other objectively perceivable signs that convey information, now do we?