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Government Privacy Science Technology

New Sensors Will Scoop Up "Big Data" On Chicago 64

Graculus writes with news about a plan to install sensors to collect environmental data and count people in Chicago. Chicago plans to install sensors in light poles to observe air quality, light intensity, sound volume, heat, precipitation, and wind. The sensors will also count people by observing cell phone traffic. The curled metal fixtures set to go up on a handful of Michigan Avenue light poles later this summer may look like delicate pieces of sculpture, but researchers say they'll provide a big step forward in the way Chicago understands itself by observing the city's people and surroundings. Some experts caution that efforts like the one launching here to collect data from people and their surroundings pose concerns of a Big Brother intrusion into personal privacy. In particular, sensors collecting cell phone data make privacy proponents nervous. But computer scientist Charlie Catlett said the planners have taken precautions to design their sensors to observe mobile devices and count contact with the signal rather than record the digital address of every device.
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New Sensors Will Scoop Up "Big Data" On Chicago

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  • by ganjadude ( 952775 ) on Monday June 23, 2014 @11:23AM (#47298039) Homepage

    But computer scientist Charlie Catlett said the planners have taken precautions to design their sensors to observe mobile devices and count contact with the signal rather than record the digital address of every device.

    Right, because the software cant be adjusted at a later point to collect that data. And thats not including the fact that it may be a lie to begin with

  • by JohnnyConservative ( 1611795 ) on Monday June 23, 2014 @11:33AM (#47298117)
    This intrusion into your privacy should be rejected and stopped!!
  • by jeffmeden ( 135043 ) on Monday June 23, 2014 @02:37PM (#47299513) Homepage Journal

    I'm sure gather heat and wind information is the top priority of citizens who live in the murder capital of America [foxnews.com].

    In case there was any doubt: here is your ongoing proof that Fox is "fair and balanced" (/sarcasm). The headline reads: "FBI: Chicago officially America's murder capital" but did the FBI report contain anything suggesting the term "Murder Capital" was appropriate? Let's see... nope. OK, maybe the report particularly damns Chicago's poor attempts to reduce gun violence? Hmm, nope it doesn't say anything specific about Chicago at all. Where is the fine print at? Oh, ok, there it is! Chicago is, per capita, safer than almost all the other large cities in the US (NYC and LA as notable exceptions). So, in case you were wondering, the "Murder Capital" race is a toss up between Detroit (54 murders per 100k), and New Orleans (53 murders per 100k).

Top Ten Things Overheard At The ANSI C Draft Committee Meetings: (5) All right, who's the wiseguy who stuck this trigraph stuff in here?

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