Science fiction writer David Brin calls it "a tsunami of lights" — a
future where tiny cameras are everywhere, lighting up everything we do,
and even predicting what we'll do next. Unlike George Orwell's
novel "1984," where only Big Brother controlled the cameras, in 2015,
cheap, mobile technology has turned everyone into a watcher......
"We have systems that are capable of doing a lot of thinking based on
images," said Manuela Veloso, computer science professor at Carnegie
Mellon University. Programs could comb through vast databases at
lightning speed, or even work in real time using algorithms that are "on
the lookout for specific events … a person falling, people running."
Programs
can already track balls, pick out landmarks and recognize when two
machines collide, Veloso said. The next steps are training computers to
recognize more specific anomalies.
The U.S. Department of Defense
is developing video-monitoring technology called Mind's Eye to predict
crime before it happens, not unlike the 2002 movie "Minority Report,"
starring Tom Cruise.
China is using face-recognition technology to
identify dissidents as part of its Gold Shield Internet monitoring and
censorship program.
Creepy or inevitable?
Link is at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0411-cameras-everywhere-20150412-story.html#page=1
and check out http://www.theparashoot.com/ Is it a fashion accessory or a tool for stalking?
This technology is terrifying to me, so I would definitely put it under the category of creepy. I just went to the see the movie Fast 7 and in the movie they used an extremely similar or identical technology called God's Eye (eerily similar name to Mind's Eye). This technology collected data from every camera (traffic lights, personal cell phones, you name it) to quickly locate people of interest. I couldn't even imagine if this technology was placed in the wrong hands. On the other hand, I'm sure this could prove to be a very useful tool for national defense, including hunting criminals and maybe even stopping acts of terrorism.
ReplyDeleteI would go with creepy AND inevitable. To know that anyone could have a camera on you at pretty much any moment of the day is a thought that could be sure to send chills down your spine. I know that governments say that it's for the good of society, and that they can help prevent crimes, etc., but I can never shake the feeling that there's something more to it...
ReplyDeleteCreepy! I agree that there can be some benefits from surveillance, but this just seems over the top and unnecessary. Predicting crimes before they happen sounds like it would raise a lot of questions in holding people accountable for crimes they have not yet committed, as is the case in Minority Report. A line needs to be drawn between protecting people and invading their privacy.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree that this technology is extremely creepy, but I believe it's inevitable in our society. I agree with Kate that I think it's over the top and how to hold people accountable for crimes they had not committed yet because I feel that this could cause issues within our society. I believe we take technology too far and are now invading on individual's privacy which needs to be addressed within our society.
ReplyDeleteI am neutral on this issue. Personally, I think this kind of technology can have some obvious benefit, like that which Ryan Martin stated 'present opportunities to increase accountability and improve safety'. However, I also agree with Kate and Carter that, the line between protecting citizens and invading their privacy will become blurry. To be truthful, I think it is all a matter of perspective which hands are considered the 'wrong hands'. Because, it can be argued that if this type of technology the U.S. develops, that it is just as capable of wrongfully using the so-called Mindy's eye.
ReplyDeleteIn the appropriate areas cameras that could recognize physical events could be really helpful. Police and EMTs could respond to emergencies so much quicker than they do so now (excluding the creepy "mind's eye" project, for now). However, it's just so likely that this technology would be abused, just as the NSA's extensive surveillance program. The issue is it's nearly impossible to repress heavily demanded technology once it's developed, so as creepy as this is I also think it's somewhat likely. Not necessarily inevitable though, because there is still hope we as a nation can uphold some of our privacy in a quickly developing world.
ReplyDeleteFrom Hang:
ReplyDeleteThis article is really interesting. I agree with Aleks that it is both creepy and inevitable. I think that any development/evolution comes with some sort of a tradeoff. If the tool is in the right hand, then it's good for society. But if it is in the wrong hand, it definitely will be exploited. In this Internet world where everything can be found, connected, and spread out, I think that exploitation is inevitable.