---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: L. Stephen Coles, M.D., Ph.D. <scoles@grg.org> Date: Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 4:07 PM Subject: [GRG] Open Source Sensing Needs Your Ideas and Help To: Gerontology Research Group <grg@lists.ucla.edu> Cc: Chris Peterson <foresight@foresight.org> To Members and Friends of the Los Angeles Gerontology Research Group: B B B B B B B B This just in from Chris Peterson, VP of the Foresight Institute... -- Steve Coles Dear Foresight members and friends, B B B We've launched a new project here at Foresight b the Open Source Sensing Initiative: http://opensourcesensing.org The sensors are coming and they'll be greatb& B B B B B B B B As you know, nanotechnology is enabling ever-smaller, ever-cheaper sensors b ultimately able to detect and report on basically everything that happens, down to the molecular level. This can be a huge benefit to medicine, the environment, and security. Imagine being able to locate and tax pollution, instead of having to tax income, for instance.B Consider being able to easily tell if bioweapons are present. B B B B B B B B But therebs a potential downside b such sensors would be very useful in the control of civilian populations.B Think of your least favorite governments: wouldn't they appreciate such a tool for detailed monitoring of the actions of a population? B B B B B B B B Some of us have become resigned to a new age of total surveillance, seeing it as inevitable.B Others feel that privacy is an important tool in the protection of civil liberties, and are willing to sacrifice other benefits to maintain that privacy. We can have the benefits without the downsides, IF webre smart about it B B B B B B B B But as the graphic on the Open Source Sensing home page suggests, we may not need to give up either security or privacy/civil liberties. Consider the lesson of electronic voting: we have learned that the software and data handling need to be open, but the raw data b who voted for whom b need not be public, as long as we understand and trust the voting process itself.B It need not be public, and it should not be public.B Itbs the process, not the raw data, which should be open. B B B B B B B B This same principle can apply to sensing when privacy is impacted: letbs make the process open, not the raw data.B All we need is the desired answer (b Is bioweapon X here?b), not total knowledge of all events (b John just attended an unapproved political meetingb or b Susie's been smoking something naughtyb). We need clever systems design: how to get it? B B B B B B B B How can we make this happen?B Foresight membership overlaps heavily with the software profession, especially the open source community.B These groups grapple daily with the tradeoffs between security and privacy, and have come up with useful tools and processes for teams to use in working through the technical implementation of these values. B B B B B B B B The Open Source Sensing Initiative proposes to apply the tools of open source software to this new domain, to advance the immense practical benefits for the environment, health, and safety, without crossing the line into unnecessary total disclosure of every aspect of individualsb lives. Your role and Foresightbs role B B B B B B B B If webre successful, open source sensing will grow far beyond any one organization, just as open source software has.B At this early stage, to get it off to a strong start, Foresight is playing the coordinating role. Itbs a huge project, but itbs the right way to go as we move into the Sensor Age.B You can help: see the website at http://opensourcesensing.org, check out the slides and video linked to on the home page, let us know of your interest, and consider donating. B B B B B B B B Because although this is an open source-style project, and we hope for lots of volunteer help, we are dealing here with physical systems rather than software, and costs will be much higher than for software projects. Like all open source projects, this is b bottom-upb b it depends on help from a wide variety of people.B We hope to get your assistance: your ideas, skills, and donations. Best wishes, Chris Peterson VP, Foresight Institute Coordinator, Open Source Sensing Initiative PS:B Please, before you move on to your next task, take a few minutes now to check out opensourcesensing.org, visit the blog, and hit the b Make a Donationb button. If youbre considering a major donation, phone +1 (650) 289 0860 ext 255 or E-mail <peterson@foresight.org >. L. Stephen Coles, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder Los Angeles Gerontology Research Group URL: http://www.grg.org E-mail: scoles@grg.org E-mail: scoles@ucla.edu _______________________________________________ GRG mailing list GRG@lists.ucla.edu http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grg -- - Bryan http://heybryan.org/ 1 512 203 0507 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Open Manufacturing" group. 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