I teach construction technology, with a slight biast to data use via a course entitled IDD or integrated Digital Design, mostly;y is about the digital aspects of construction, but now and again I stray away and start looking at other aspects of data use.
So when I see an article in this Saturdays issue of the FT, a paper I buy rather to regularly, on the open page of the Life & Arts section by Yuval Noah Harari, I sit and take time to read the article carefully. Not only is it a long way from my normal sphere of knowledge, but it has no link to construction tech. Instead, it's all about the way data has played such an important and influential part in so much of the UK Governments decision making and law-making around the Coronavirus. Good or bad, this is an article I need to read, and I suspect several times. After all, look who the author is, Yuval Noah Harari, whose books include Sapiens, Homo Deus and 21 lessons for the 21st Century, the first two I have read, the last, well its now on order with Amazon.
In construction we use data to track materials areas, lengths, numbers of most things, and do the odd calculation, thermal response, energy use structural cals, the list is getting larger by the week, and the more I get involved, the more I can see its use, But the data being generated by coronavirus is in a league of its own, because governments are taking note of it and using it to generate law.
This is dangerous, not because the prime minister is probably not capable of understanding the data, but because he relies upon experts to guide him. The same applies to other heads of governments.
I can see why the UK government went the route they saw as correct and waited to see if the herd could self infect and gain protection, but as data came in from places like Italy that had gone that route not because of any decision but because of a lack of decision, it must have become clear, the virus we now battle has spread to far and killed to many to consider the herd method a viable route.
But that's not what Yuval warns against, its far more sinister, Control. The governments might take to much interest in experimenting and ask us to wear data collectors that would help to fight the virus, but also allow so much more, an extension of control that could be far more dangerous than any virus.
The temptation is, for some people, one that can't be ignored. Take a look at what supermarkets do with data, there is a very good reason why I receive coupons. Then there is Google, and the likes of Amazon. Google I tend to trust, but Amazon, well there's another story.
But back to the human data, to get through this Virus we need data:
So when I see an article in this Saturdays issue of the FT, a paper I buy rather to regularly, on the open page of the Life & Arts section by Yuval Noah Harari, I sit and take time to read the article carefully. Not only is it a long way from my normal sphere of knowledge, but it has no link to construction tech. Instead, it's all about the way data has played such an important and influential part in so much of the UK Governments decision making and law-making around the Coronavirus. Good or bad, this is an article I need to read, and I suspect several times. After all, look who the author is, Yuval Noah Harari, whose books include Sapiens, Homo Deus and 21 lessons for the 21st Century, the first two I have read, the last, well its now on order with Amazon.
In construction we use data to track materials areas, lengths, numbers of most things, and do the odd calculation, thermal response, energy use structural cals, the list is getting larger by the week, and the more I get involved, the more I can see its use, But the data being generated by coronavirus is in a league of its own, because governments are taking note of it and using it to generate law.
This is dangerous, not because the prime minister is probably not capable of understanding the data, but because he relies upon experts to guide him. The same applies to other heads of governments.
I can see why the UK government went the route they saw as correct and waited to see if the herd could self infect and gain protection, but as data came in from places like Italy that had gone that route not because of any decision but because of a lack of decision, it must have become clear, the virus we now battle has spread to far and killed to many to consider the herd method a viable route.
But that's not what Yuval warns against, its far more sinister, Control. The governments might take to much interest in experimenting and ask us to wear data collectors that would help to fight the virus, but also allow so much more, an extension of control that could be far more dangerous than any virus.
The temptation is, for some people, one that can't be ignored. Take a look at what supermarkets do with data, there is a very good reason why I receive coupons. Then there is Google, and the likes of Amazon. Google I tend to trust, but Amazon, well there's another story.
But back to the human data, to get through this Virus we need data:
- Who
- When
- Where
- Weather
- Temp
- My Temp, the ten of those around me
- Just about every social interaction
Its this last item some politicians might find just too irresistible knowing what we do, not the public data, my shopping habits, but what I think, what I might think and who I think about. my reaction to the news. How is this collected, my mobile phone is the obvious answer, but that's so obvious, and not full proof, I can switch it off, leave it at home, lend it to my partner, leave it in a draw.
The Coronavirus is the perfect excuse, lockdown is one thing checking to see if we are staying put another. Drone Technology is the perfect answer to this. The UK is one of the most video'd nations outside of China, but its not enough to check on strays wondering out and spreading contagion.
Drones are perfect for the job
