Networked Optimization is a series of three crowdsourced versions of popular self-help books. Each book contains the full text, which is however invisible, appearing as white text on a white background. The only text that remains readable is the so-called popular highlights – the passages that were underlined by many Kindle users – together with the amount of highlighters.
Full Description
Networked Optimization is a series of three crowdsourced versions of popular self-help books. Each book contains the full text, which is however invisible, appearing as white text on a white background. The only text that remains readable is the so-called popular highlights – the passages that were underlined by many Kindle users – together with the amount of highlighters. Each time a passage is underlined, it is automatically stored in Amazon's data centers.
Among the books with the most popular highlights, there is a striking number of self-help books. This points to a multi-layered, algorithmic optimization: from readers and authors to Amazon itself. Harvesting its customers micro-labour, the act of reading becomes a data-mining process.
The series consists of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, The 5 Love Languages, and How to Win Friends & Influence People.
Work metadata
- Year Created: 2013
- Submitted to ArtBase: Saturday Nov 23rd, 2013
- Original Url: http://silviolorusso.com/work/networked-optimization/
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Work Credits:
- Sebastian Schmieg, primary creator
- Silvio Lorusso, primary creator
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