Digital Geology
The hardware and software infrastructure underpinning our digital world. Understanding deep layers to rethink foundations.
Introduction
The digital world rests upon layers of infrastructure that most users never see. Like geological strata, these layers—from silicon chips to software protocols—shape what is possible and what remains unthinkable.
The Layers of Infrastructure
Physical Layer
At the foundation lies hardware: data centers consuming vast energy, undersea cables spanning oceans, satellites orbiting overhead. This material base is often forgotten in discussions of the “virtual” world.
Protocol Layer
Above the physical sits the protocol layer: TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS. These standards enable communication but also embed assumptions about identity, ownership, and control.
Platform Layer
At the surface, platforms mediate our interactions. They translate protocols into interfaces, extracting value at every transaction.
Toward an Emancipatory Architecture
Rethinking digital infrastructure requires understanding these layers and their interdependencies. Only then can we design systems that serve human flourishing rather than extraction.