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The Digital Panopticon
"Data is not just the new oil, but also the new gunpowder."
Kris is a regular Chinese citizen and a firm believer in Chinese supremacy. When Orion - an American Internet giant makes a Machiavellian entry into China, Kris augurs the event will go on to alter the country's socio-political landscape.
He is proven right when Orion, armed with sophisticated technology, awakens a restrained society from its slumber, stirring a revolution powered by nothing but data.
What is the larger purpose behind this tsunami of events? Will Kris be able to ride the waves or will he be tossed around helpless in the sea of change, falling prey to Information Age's omnipotent, omniscient Frankenstein?
Kris is a regular Chinese citizen and a firm believer in Chinese supremacy. When Orion - an American Internet giant makes a Machiavellian entry into China, Kris augurs the event will go on to alter the country's socio-political landscape.
He is proven right when Orion, armed with sophisticated technology, awakens a restrained society from its slumber, stirring a revolution powered by nothing but data.
What is the larger purpose behind this tsunami of events? Will Kris be able to ride the waves or will he be tossed around helpless in the sea of change, falling prey to Information Age's omnipotent, omniscient Frankenstein?
284 pages, Paperback
Published March 21, 2016
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Aditi Bhagat
1 book3 followersBorn in New Delhi, an alumnus of IIT Roorkee and after having been an Architect, Investment Banker and Product Manager, Aditi is currently a student at the Indian School of Business.
Aditi has been writing since her school days and has co-authored multiple research publications. She has spoken at International Conferences and found appreciation for her socially relevant essays.
Thoroughly concerned over the vulnerabilities and intrusions of the digital space into private lives, she has spent more than two years researching the domain of Internet connectivity and surveillance in preparation for The Digital Panopticon, which is her attempt at sensitizing the readers to these vulnerabilities through the power of fiction.
Aditi has been writing since her school days and has co-authored multiple research publications. She has spoken at International Conferences and found appreciation for her socially relevant essays.
Thoroughly concerned over the vulnerabilities and intrusions of the digital space into private lives, she has spent more than two years researching the domain of Internet connectivity and surveillance in preparation for The Digital Panopticon, which is her attempt at sensitizing the readers to these vulnerabilities through the power of fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 17, 2016
Of today's world dominated by the information technologies, rapidly evolving and silently revolutionising the power corridors, 'The Digital Panopticon' takes a critical look at its social and political ramifications through a gripping story set in contemporary China. Is the internet really democratic or are some few hands controlling our information? What all do your smart devices know about you and why should you care? These are some questions that this novel really makes you think about. It allows readers to take a step back and re-assess where we may be heading as a civilization in our excitement of consuming new and emerging technologies with their rosy promises.
Debutant novelist Aditi Bhagat's writing style is mature, catchy and easy to read, and despite the content being technical and complex, one is hooked on to the book right until the last line.
Debutant novelist Aditi Bhagat's writing style is mature, catchy and easy to read, and despite the content being technical and complex, one is hooked on to the book right until the last line.
April 13, 2016
Only time after Dan Brown that I finished a book in one go. What an amazing drama!!! This is one of the most well-researched books I have seen, and it also is extremely relevant in today's times. The best part is while you are reading the fast paced book, you get to learn so many things true in real life - about surveillance, issues of privacy and security of data.
Only pitfall - the book gets a little slow in the middle but once you reach the data-powered rebellion bringing attempted at bringing down the country's government, you just can't stop.
It's a must read!
Only pitfall - the book gets a little slow in the middle but once you reach the data-powered rebellion bringing attempted at bringing down the country's government, you just can't stop.
It's a must read!
June 15, 2016
The whole kind of environment that the author has set is really commendable.
There is nothing more important to us than the security of your data and keeping your information completely confidential. In today’s world, privacy is more important than ever.
The story is set in China . The main character of the book is Kris Zhang.Everything was connected and the story never deviated. There were twists & turns, it made my head spin !
The characters are moderately developed, enough so that the reader can connect to them.The side characters also get enough screen time.
The cover of the book made it down otherwise the story was interesting
I dislike-
Technical words.
Some of the story I felt was dull and boring .
Language could have been simple for the readers to connect and understand properly.
A fantastic debut, I had made up my mind halfway through that I'll be adding it in my 'Favourites' shelf. All the technology enthusiast should read this book. I will rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
There is nothing more important to us than the security of your data and keeping your information completely confidential. In today’s world, privacy is more important than ever.
The story is set in China . The main character of the book is Kris Zhang.Everything was connected and the story never deviated. There were twists & turns, it made my head spin !
The characters are moderately developed, enough so that the reader can connect to them.The side characters also get enough screen time.
The cover of the book made it down otherwise the story was interesting
I dislike-
Technical words.
Some of the story I felt was dull and boring .
Language could have been simple for the readers to connect and understand properly.
A fantastic debut, I had made up my mind halfway through that I'll be adding it in my 'Favourites' shelf. All the technology enthusiast should read this book. I will rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
June 14, 2016
The Digital Panopticon is a book that starts with the premise of data being an extremely important part of our lives. This seemingly vague idea about how we will or are being affected by data soon turns into a believable, almost tangible idea as one goes through the book. The book is a roller-coaster of emotions as the protagonist goes through the journey of believing in a certain system and turning around to question everything he has believed in.The author has used the protagonist brilliantly to portray emotions and give a vivid picture of the entire ecosystem in place from the perspective of person who sees a paradigm shift in the way he looks at the entire system.
The book has managed to bring forward a very pertinent issue through a lens into China, but also brings to light a scenario everybody as global citizens should worry about in the not so distant future. Its a book that'll definitely make you think!
The book has managed to bring forward a very pertinent issue through a lens into China, but also brings to light a scenario everybody as global citizens should worry about in the not so distant future. Its a book that'll definitely make you think!
April 2, 2017
They say the third world war will be fought over the internet and this debut novel by Aditi beautifully captures this premonition. Set a few years ahead into the future in China, the book is a fiction interspersed with facts about the atrocities committed by the Chinese government on its people and how things change when a search engine giant, Orion (fictitious name), fights its way into the Chinese market. The book takes you to a new world of digital appliances which make life simpler for people but it comes with a price - "infringement of privacy". Good storytelling and strong characters help you sail through the book and is also an indication of a great author in the making.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews