Visualizing Radio Access Network Performance: A PowerBI Dashboard for a Mobile Network Operator; Data Centers Under Fire: The Struggle For the Future of Cloud Computing

In my sociotechnical project, I examined the competing narratives surrounding data centers, focusing on how both critics and defenders work to advance their agendas. Critics often advocate for policy changes like stricter zoning laws to limit new construction, while defenders appeal to public sentiment by promoting the benefits of data centers to small businesses and framing their services as essential to American entrepreneurship. These examples highlight the distinct strategies each side uses to shape public opinion and influence policy. The advantages of cloud computing are substantial. Cloud technology allows businesses and individuals to avoid the high upfront costs of purchasing and maintaining hardware, instead offering a scalable, pay-as-you-go model. This model often proves to be more affordable and efficient, enabling innovation and accessibility at unprecedented levels. However, these benefits come with significant environmental trade-offs. Data centers, which power the cloud, consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, contributing to environmental degradation and resource strain. To analyze these dynamics, I used a loose framework of discourse analysis. This approach helped me uncover underlying biases in both stakeholder rhetoric and third-party reports, including those produced by consulting firms hired to support particular narratives. As climate change intensifies and cloud computing and AI continue to expand rapidly, navigating this tension and seeking a sustainable balance has become more critical than ever.