This volume brings together 10 chapters that explore forms of digital body quantification and self-tracking in relation to health and the ontological, ethical, political, and aesthetic issues involved. Researchers working in philosophy, sociology, history, psychology, and digital culture in Europe address philosophical perspectives, including the imaginary of the body underpinning the self-tracking ideology, the relationship between self-tracking practices and subjectivity, and what kind of self is being produced through engagement with tracking activities; historical and empirical perspectives, including the history of health tracking and body quantification in the UK, body quantification and self-tracking from the user's perspective, and the monitoring of menstrual cycles using smartphone applications; the relationship between quantification and mental health, particularly anxiety and depression; and issues of embodiment, perception, artificial intelligence, and smart technologies. Distributed in North America by Turpin Distribution. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
The use of digital tracking technologies is a widespread phenomenon. Millions of people around the world now track, document, and analyse their physical activities, vital functions, and daily habits through wearable devices, apps, and platforms. The aim is to assess and improve health, productivity, and wellbeing. The current Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the uptake of tracking technologies.
At the heart of this trend lies the quantification of the body, deemed as a key element in medical practice and personal self-care. While often couched in positive promotional terms that highlight its value to users' mental, emotional, and physical health, it is also raising a host of issues and concerns that are at once ontological, ethical, political, social, legal, economic, and aesthetic.
The Quantification of Bodies in Health aims to deepen understanding of this growing phenomenon and of the role of self-tracking practices in everyday life. It brings together established and emerging authors working at the intersection of philosophy, sociology, history, psychology, and digital culture, while bridging between philosophical and empirical approaches.
A timely topic of extreme relevance and significance, The Quantification of Bodies in Health constitutes a useful and unique companion for anyone interested in the study of body quantification and self-tracking practices.
The Quantification of Bodies in Health aims to deepen understanding of the quantification of the body and of the role of self-tracking practices in everyday life. It brings together authors working at the intersection of philosophy, sociology, history, psychology, and digital culture.
The use of digital tracking technologies is a widespread phenomenon. Millions of people around the world now track, document, and analyse their physical activities, vital functions, and daily habits through wearable devices, apps, and platforms. The aim is to assess and improve health, productivity, and wellbeing. The current Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the uptake of tracking technologies. At the heart of this trend lies the quantification of the body, deemed as a key element in medical practice and personal self-care. While often couched in positive promotional terms that highlight its value to users' mental, emotional, and physical health, it is also raising a host of issues and concerns that are at once ontological, ethical, political, social, legal, economic, and aesthetic. The Quantification of Bodies in Health aims to deepen understanding of this growing phenomenon and of the role of self-tracking practices in everyday life. It brings together established and emerging authors working at the intersection of philosophy, sociology, history, psychology, and digital culture, while bridging between philosophical and empirical approaches. A timely topic of extreme relevance and significance, The Quantification of Bodies in Health constitutes a useful and unique companion for anyone interested in the study of body quantification and self-tracking practices.
