Saturday, October 27, 2018

Building better cities, starting with privacy issues

https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/26/sidewalk-labs-ann-cavoukian-smart-city/

That wiggle room concerns Cavoukian. She believes all Quayside data should be de-identified at source to maintain citizen privacy. "The minute you say, 'well it's going to be their choice,' you can bet more and more data will be collected in personally identifiable form," she said. "Because that's the treasure trove. That's what everybody wants."

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If you know what each citizen does, such as what resources they utilize, and what routes they take, you could create a better functioning city. BUT, you could also be spying on your citizens. There's the rub.  How to collect data of a citizen's routine, but keep it private?

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

More on the need for libraries

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/sep/24/palaces-for-the-people-at-the-library-everyone-is-welcome?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

"Libraries are not the kinds of institutions that most social scientists, policymakers, and community leaders usually bring up when they discuss social capital and how to build it. But they offer something for everyone, regardless of whether they’re a citizen, a permanent resident, or even a convicted felon – and all of it for free. Doing research in New York City, I learned that libraries and their social infrastructure are essential not only for a neighborhood’s vitality but also for buffering all kinds of personal problems – including isolation and loneliness."

Libraries are often seen today as unnecessary since we have the Internet now. But some people don't.  Plus there are social benefits the library affords.  But I think we need to re-think the design of libraries to update their usefulness.