As technical weenies, we often tend to be dazzled by the capabilities and potential of sophisticated software and hardware. However, the utility and value of all this technology ultimately rests on the data it operates on. Data collection, particularly social data, is hard to automate, and most of it comes down to some computer illiterate in front of a keyboard entering in endless columns of figures. Some technical tools help in this thankless task, but in general, it's drudge work reserved for those who have little opportunity to do anything else and no choice about doing it. Our tools far exceed our materials.

The digital revolution may be exciting and fulfilling for those of us in a creative or responsible position, but for the average worker it is soul-killing, mind-numbing slavery that has effectively killed much of the pride of the worker in his work.