Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
disaster response. Whereness is likely to be essential to help manage the logistics
of a more uncertain world.
5.1.3
Increased Automation
When disasters occur there is often a chaotic response due to information overload
and staff who are not trained in complex software systems such as GIS. The
author discusses this topic in [3] and suggests that more information automation is
needed. GIS, for example, needs to “disappear” with simple instructions issued by
the machines to help solve problems quickly during disasters.
5.1.4
Human to Human Technology and the Digital Bubble
If Whereness is going to help automate the lower layers of Figure 5.1, what of the
uppermost layers? What can Whereness do regarding human emotions? The other
major role for technology is to help increase the human aspects by enabling rich
new social, artistic, and entertaining experiences.
A powerful idea for the future is a “digital bubble” of ambient intelligence
that follows people around and also interacts with the bubble belonging to other
people and physical artifacts. This idea is explored by the author and his
colleagues [4] using the metaphor of “virtual air.” For example, when two people
meet (and their personal profiles are set to allow an exchange of information
between the bubbles), “magic” can be made to happen. Other applications include
dating services for the unattached, fun and games as one enters a pub, or a service
to guide a group of people to somewhere mutually beneficial.
5.1.5
Big Brother
At the other extreme of the hierarchy is the most important of the needs, that of
security. If the threat from asymmetric warfare (which is perhaps a more accurate
term than terrorism) increases, the issue of more tagging and tracking the general
public will be raised more frequently. Depending on how bad the threat becomes,
particularly if the threat starts to involve smart weaponry or unconventional
attacks, the democratic process will need to decide on the trade-offs between
privacy and security.
5.2
Health and Well-being
5.2.1
Calorie Counting
Obesity is one of the major challenges for Western society. Although some people
are living longer we are now seeing a reversal of this trend for others. To promote
