The Human Face of Big Data

Can we please be optimistic for once? We are flooded daily by doomscenarios and conspiracy theories. Most of it over the top and in essence left wing propaganda. Good news never reaches front pages. I loved the film; glad i lost the conversation...

Yes, this program has been appropriately named as it shows the potentials and the threats of collecting massive amounts of data. Different people can relate to different potentials and threats depending on the viewer's situation.

This presentation should be made rather than not having a presentation at all.

The presentation of the program, however, is very annoying. First, there is the background music that is a repetitive jingle that competes with the people that are talking. Then there is the soundbite format; instead of one person going to complete thought, there are approximately five people each with their little soundbite thoughts on each isolated segment.

We are treated to graphics that are more for entertainment than for understanding the concepts that are being placed forward. The graphics are also rendered quickly enough so that you don't see any kind of chart you can relate to.

We are shown people in various environments doing obscure things that have nothing related to the subject are being talked about over the pictures. This is not always the fact as some pictures show people using devices that take their pulse and whatnot; however, this is not explained in the presentation and can only be derived from people who only or devices.

That being said there are some good points when they speculate on privacy versus utility and data collection.

I'm about to purchase the book to see what was not placed in the video presentation due to time and space considerations. Hopefully, it will be a better presentation without a lot of soundbites.

The recent PBS special "The Human Face of Big Data" takes a look at recent developments in online information gathering, particularly as it affects individuals. The program, sponsored by technology companies such as Cisco, takes an overly optimistic view of these technological developments, at times willfully ignoring their down sides.

The film looks at information gathering in a number of areas, ranging from better understanding of DNA and the genome to the monitoring of internet searches. Overall, it puts a positive spin on these developments, with much of the commentary coming from industry representatives. For example, the founder of 23andme holds forth on how easy it will be to test people's DNA in the near future, never bothering to consider that the society she's describing is basically Gattaca.

The Human Face of Big Data does have a point, in that much of the technology described can be very beneficial if used with circumspection and caution. However, this circumspection requires that we squarely confront the potential dangers posed by these developments, not paper them over with corporate public relations.

Towards the end, the film does briefly consider "the dark side" of this technology, but not in much detail. This cautionary note is overwhelmed by the plaudits that have come before it. The film works best as a start to a conversation over very complex issue.