Informatics Professor Bonnie Nardi has published a new book on the computerization of the economy titled Heteromation, and Other Stories of Computing and Capitalism. Co-written with Hamid R. Ekbia, a professor of informatics, cognitive science and international studies at Indiana University Bloomington, together they investigate the often “hidden” participation of digital technology users that yield economic value for companies via an essentially free labor force in computer-mediated networks. Nardi and Ekbia have coined this practice as “heteromation.”  In their book, they consider different types of heteromated labor of capital accumulation, such as “communicative labor, seen in user-generated content on social media; cognitive labor, including microwork and self-service; creative labor, from gaming environments to literary productions; emotional labor, often hidden within paid jobs; and organizing labor, made up of collaborative oups such as citizen scientists.”

The hardcover and e-book versions of Heteromation are available for purchase from MIT Press.