Archiving Beyond Documents: Health and Sports Data from Wearable Sensors in a Data-Intensive World

Abstract

Purpose: Wearables in the health and sports domains have spread significantly over the past period, and this article analyses several wearable devices and systems used in the treatment of diabetes and in tracking endurance sports. Method/approach: The theoretical framework this research uses is a Foucauldian analysis of datafied reality, alongside both discursive and materialist views of data. Results: The author examines data generated by users and wearables as material-discursive phenomena that rely on data imaginaries and enable specific users’ actions over data. After analysing threats to the continued use of data from wearables, the author emphasises the importance of preventing data loss. The author explores whether wearable data should be archived as data or as documents. Conclusion/findings: The author discusses the value of data, recommends using archival strategies to restore user control over their data, and proposes developing a data-driven archival apparatus.