A Phenomenological Understanding of Digital Processes of Subjectification: The Example of Lifelogging

By lifelogging, we understand a specific, very recent phenomenon of digital technology, which falls within the range of practices of the quantified self. It is a complex form of self-management through self-monitoring and self-tracking practices, which combines the use of wearable computers for measuring psycho-physical performances through specific apps for the processing, selecting and describing of the data collected, possibly in combination with video recordings. Given that lifelogging is becoming increasingly widespread in technologically advanced societies and that practices related to it are becoming part of most people’s everyday lives, it is more important than ever to gain an understanding of the phenomenon. In this paper, I am interested in particular in exploring the issue of the transformations in the perception, comprehension, and construction of self, and hence in subjectification practices, deriving from the new digital technologies, and especially lifelogging.