Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-16 Thread Janet Hawtin
Here is an education student data proposal.
Apologies if this has already been linked.
Building a Student Data Infrastructure: Privacy, Transparency and the Gates
Foundation-Funded inBloom
http://hackeducation.com/2013/02/10/inbloom-student-data-privacy-security-transparency/


On 16 January 2014 13:05, step...@melbpc.org.au wrote:

 Jim writes,

  Fine the car, not the driver?
 
  Perhaps, not as stupid as it sounds...
 
  - Jim


 Yes. In the Philippines, some major intersections have red-light cameras
 that record, and recognize, the number plates of red-light transgressors.

 Then when the annual registration fees are paid, these can include fines
 if the car has broken the law. Everyone knows this, and it seems to work.


  On 16 January 2014 09:43, Bernard Robertson-Dunn b...@iimetro.com.au
 wrote:
 
   On 16/01/2014 2:19 AM, step...@melbpc.org.au wrote:
  
Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when
 its
drivers are speeding, and where they are, while they’re doing it.
   
Farley was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its
 customers,
   and
illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order
 to
avoid raising privacy concerns: We know everyone who breaks the law,
 we
know when you’re doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what
   you’re
doing. By the way, we don’t supply that data to anyone, he told
   attendees.
  
   To be pedantic (and correct), Ford knows what the car is doing, they
   don't know who is driving. It's the same with phone tracking. If there
   are two people in the car - who is driving and who is on the phone?
 Even
   it both phones are being used that does not prove (it only suggests)
   both people are on the phone.
  
   --
  
   Regards
   brd
  
   Bernard Robertson-Dunn
   Sydney Australia
   email: b...@iimetro.com.au
   web:   www.drbrd.com
   web:   www.problemsfirst.com
   Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog
  
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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-16 Thread Janet Hawtin
On 17 January 2014 16:22, step...@melbpc.org.au wrote:

 Janet writes,

  http://hackeducation.com/2013/02/10/inbloom-student-data-privacy-
 security-transparency/



 So, as this link notes, the reasonably widely respected do-good Gates
 Foundation is now also involved in the creation/promotion of opensource
 education-data software infrastructures. https://www.inbloom.org


The only charity I know which collects (health) patents .. with minimised
tax.
I know I am a sceptic.  =)


 But, from personal experience, any such software for education could well
 be very useful. So time will tell if this is simply a grab for the entire
 education/school big data records of a generation of young people, or one
 useful, private  secure education record-keeping software infrastructure.


Education of students and their personal data reduced to statistics for
easy administration
sounds to me like a profit at the wrong end of the telescope and a loss at
the end of the student/family.


 Thus, I would suggest Aussie schools etc NOT jump on board quite just yet,
 as this link writer also 'suggests' regarding our children's edu-big-data.



 Haimson also cites concerns about privacy and security in the cloud, as
 schools move their data storage and servers from a local to a virtualized
 environment, pointing to inBloom’s privacy and security policies that state
 that the company “cannot guarantee the security of the information stored
 in inBloom or that the information will not be intercepted when it is being
 transmitted.” “I wonder if NY state and the other states involved realize
 that they may be vulnerable for multi-million dollar class action lawsuits
 if and when this highly sensitive data leaks out,” Haimson wrote in a
 recent blog post, “especially since Gates and inBloom appear to have
 disclaimed all responsibility for its safety.” ..


It is interesting where the liabilities fall.
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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread stephen
Jan and Janet write,

 This issue of Cutter's newsletter has a couple articles on this subject:
  http://www.cutter.com/research.html
  
 If big data is generated/collected on behalf money because that's who can
 afford it then the way that data will be phrased, framed, focused will
 suit those interests


True. Although business money will indeed be the main driver of big data
initiatives and data-analysis-tool development, business is not the only
driver of future big data collection and its investigation by any means. 

For example, big data analysis should be *incredibly* useful in terms of
human health. With the human genome discoveries, it's big data that will
enable the linking of specific genes with human health and longevity. If
certain human genes are found likely to cause/influence a specific human 
health concern, then preventative gene therapies might then be developed.

And it's big data collection  analysis that will allow such connections.

Or if people are suffering  dying from specific illnesses in some areas
but not others, or from some life circumstances but not others, then big
data is most likely to be the research-tool which can pin this fact down. 

This is also true for big data and food, and drug, safety. If some folks 
are found to suffer negative reactions to certain food additives, or, to 
new drugs and medicines, then, although they live in different countries
it will probably be big data analysis that discovers such medical issues.

Big data analysis has already been essential for climate change sciences. 

And big data analysis is already very useful for city/town planning uses.

The main issue imho appears to be, how granulated any big data regarding 
humans is allowed to remain. That is, big data with individual names, or 
phone numbers is very granulated. It allows an individual identification.

And perhaps, as Bernard notes, incorrect conclusions regarding such folk,
hence as Jan notes, unfair and incorrect, NSA no-fly list conditions. It
will lead to unfair personal  group discrimination in all sorts of ways. 

Big data is *not* inherently bad in and of itself. It all depends on how
secure and private those big data records are stored and handled, and if 
that big data is de-personalized. And finally how much respect generally
is shown for the individual human statistics/datum that is the big data.

Cheers,
Stephen

 



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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread Janet Hawtin
On 15 January 2014 18:43, step...@melbpc.org.au wrote:


 The main issue imho appears to be, how granulated any big data regarding
 humans is allowed to remain. That is, big data with individual names, or
 phone numbers is very granulated. It allows an individual identification.
 And perhaps, as Bernard notes, incorrect conclusions regarding such folk,
 hence as Jan notes, unfair and incorrect, NSA no-fly list conditions. It
 will lead to unfair personal  group discrimination in all sorts of ways.

 Big data is *not* inherently bad in and of itself. It all depends on how
 secure and private those big data records are stored and handled, and if
 that big data is de-personalized. And finally how much respect generally
 is shown for the individual human statistics/datum that is the big data.


It is an investment looking for a return.
It is a magical word covering all kinds of data collection.
Climate data and personal health data are not the same thing
but now there is a term which paints them the same colour.
It just looks like we are selecting for dependence on mass investment in
data harvesting.
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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread stephen
Janet writes,

 (Big data) is an investment looking for a return.
 It is a magical word covering all kinds of data collection.
 Climate data and personal health data are not the same thing
 but now there is a term which paints them the same colour.
 It just looks like we are selecting for dependence on mass
 investment in data harvesting.


Often big data started out as an almost nuisance by-product of modern 
consumer tech systems, Maybe it was saved by the service provider and
often not. For example, for many years your Internet Service Provider
has had Squid Logs that record every customer web destination. In the
past often logs were not saved. But seemingly all of a sudden, it was
realized that such tech-customer data, with appropriate analysis, had
predictive value and hence monetary value regarding customer  client 
behavior. Now businesses are wondering how to cash-in on big data and
governments are wondering what public legal protections are justified.

For eg, the car company Ford appears puzzled regarding their big data:

 http://www.businessinsider.com.au/ford-exec-gps-2014-1 Jan 9th 2014

Ford’s Global VP/Marketing  Sales, Jim Farley, said.. something about
data privacy today at CES, the big electronics trade show in Las Vegas.

Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when its 
drivers are speeding, and where they are, while they’re doing it.

Farley was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its customers, and 
illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order to 
avoid raising privacy concerns: We know everyone who breaks the law, we 
know when you’re doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what you’re 
doing. By the way, we don’t supply that data to anyone, he told attendees.

Rather, he said, he imagined a day when the data might be used anonymously 
and in aggregate to help others with traffic related problems. Suppose a 
stadium is holding an event; knowing how much traffic is making its way 
toward the arena might help the venue change its parking lot resources 
accordingly, he said. (End quote)


So, many people are still confused re such system by-products as big data.

We are now at the stage where we'll need to examine data issues with care.


Cheers,
Stephen
 


 





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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread Bernard Robertson-Dunn
On 16/01/2014 2:19 AM, step...@melbpc.org.au wrote:

 Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when its
 drivers are speeding, and where they are, while they’re doing it.

 Farley was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its customers, and
 illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order to
 avoid raising privacy concerns: We know everyone who breaks the law, we
 know when you’re doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what you’re
 doing. By the way, we don’t supply that data to anyone, he told attendees.

To be pedantic (and correct), Ford knows what the car is doing, they 
don't know who is driving. It's the same with phone tracking. If there 
are two people in the car - who is driving and who is on the phone? Even 
it both phones are being used that does not prove (it only suggests) 
both people are on the phone.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: b...@iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com
Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog

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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread Michael
On 16 January 2014 09:43, Bernard Robertson-Dunn b...@iimetro.com.au wrote:


 To be pedantic (and correct), Ford knows what the car is doing, they
 don't know who is driving. It's the same with phone tracking. If there
 are two people in the car - who is driving and who is on the phone? Even
 it both phones are being used that does not prove (it only suggests)
 both people are on the phone.

 --


Yes, but I can envisage a mechanism for identifying an individual based on
driving habits (like handwriting analysis, or gait recognition or keystroke
dynamics) that could link a driver across trips.
Matching that up to an individual human then becomes much easier.
Especially as most vehicles have a small set of regular drivers.
I suspect I could identify whether it was my mum or dad driving with better
than 95% accuracy if I had access to their acceleration and breaking data,
for example.

Regards,
Michael Skeggs
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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread Bernard Robertson-Dunn
On 16/01/2014 10:15 AM, Michael wrote:

 On 16 January 2014 09:43, Bernard Robertson-Dunn b...@iimetro.com.au 
 mailto:b...@iimetro.com.au wrote:


 To be pedantic (and correct), Ford knows what the car is doing, they
 don't know who is driving. It's the same with phone tracking. If there
 are two people in the car - who is driving and who is on the
 phone? Even
 it both phones are being used that does not prove (it only suggests)
 both people are on the phone.

 --


 Yes, but I can envisage a mechanism for identifying an individual 
 based on driving habits (like handwriting analysis, or gait 
 recognition or keystroke dynamics) that could link a driver across trips.
 Matching that up to an individual human then becomes much easier. 
 Especially as most vehicles have a small set of regular drivers.
 I suspect I could identify whether it was my mum or dad driving with 
 better than 95% accuracy if I had access to their acceleration and 
 breaking data, for example.

Agreed, but you are talking about a) the future and b) more than just 
data. It would need someone to build model(s) of an individual's 
behaviour. This is more than just data collection and gets back to where 
I started a few days ago - model building is an integral part of analysis.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: b...@iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com
Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog

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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-15 Thread stephen
Jim writes,

 Fine the car, not the driver?
 
 Perhaps, not as stupid as it sounds...
 
 - Jim


Yes. In the Philippines, some major intersections have red-light cameras
that record, and recognize, the number plates of red-light transgressors.  

Then when the annual registration fees are paid, these can include fines
if the car has broken the law. Everyone knows this, and it seems to work.

 
 On 16 January 2014 09:43, Bernard Robertson-Dunn b...@iimetro.com.au 
wrote:
 
  On 16/01/2014 2:19 AM, step...@melbpc.org.au wrote:
 
   Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when 
its
   drivers are speeding, and where they are, while they’re doing it.
  
   Farley was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its 
customers,
  and
   illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order 
to
   avoid raising privacy concerns: We know everyone who breaks the law, 
we
   know when you’re doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what
  you’re
   doing. By the way, we don’t supply that data to anyone, he told
  attendees.
 
  To be pedantic (and correct), Ford knows what the car is doing, they
  don't know who is driving. It's the same with phone tracking. If there
  are two people in the car - who is driving and who is on the phone? 
Even
  it both phones are being used that does not prove (it only suggests)
  both people are on the phone.
 
  --
 
  Regards
  brd
 
  Bernard Robertson-Dunn
  Sydney Australia
  email: b...@iimetro.com.au
  web:   www.drbrd.com
  web:   www.problemsfirst.com
  Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog
 
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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-14 Thread Bernard Robertson-Dunn
On 15/01/2014 12:27 PM, Janet Hawtin wrote:
 On 15 January 2014 07:37, Jan Whitaker jw...@janwhitaker.com wrote:

 This issue of Cutter's newsletter has a couple articles on this subject:
 http://www.cutter.com/research.html
 If big data is generated/collected on behalf money because that's who can
 afford it then the way that data will be phrased, framed, focused will suit
 those interests

 If newspapers hire big data journalists to mine big data for stories to me
 that seems like a risk they could be 'embedded' in those interests. Would
 they then be able to ask people face to face to confirm themes in data? How
 can you be objective about non objective data or data which
 critiques/defines citizens but can not see back up the telescope to
 entities which have capacity to define the information playing field.
 So some entities are opaque. How does that contrast shape things?

Big data is mined for two reasons

1. To find out what happened. This covers Janet's point but government's 
and others may also be interested in history/the past.

This is relatively benign.

However, bad conclusions can be drawn (see True Fact: The Lack of 
Pirates Is Causing Global Warming,
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2012/03/23/true-fact-the-lack-of-pirates-is-causing-global-warming/
 
)

As long as this information is not acted on, no harm is done.

Which leads to the second reason:
2. To predict outcomes and make decisions.

This is where my previous observations on models really comes into play. 
As with the pirate data it is easy to see correlations and coincidences, 
it is much harder to identify cause and effect. This requires an 
explanation, usually (always?) based upon verifiable models.

IMHO, apart from the privacy issues, this is one of the greatest dangers 
of analysing Big Data - people will see things in the data that just 
aren't there.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: b...@iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com
Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog

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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-14 Thread Bernard Robertson-Dunn
On 15/01/2014 2:13 PM, Jan Whitaker wrote:
 [waves at NSA because I used their TLA in this]

If the NSA did follow up all uses of NSA, they'd have to trawl through 
those many emails and SMS from people using NSA to mean No Strings Attached.

Or:
Notary Signing Agent
National Scrabble Association
National Student Association
National Steeplechase Association
National Sound Archive
Nikkei Stock Average
National Shipping Authority
National School of Administration (China)
etc.

There are 127 listed at http://www.acronymfinder.com/NSA.html

And then there's all those seNSAtional words which would give rise to 
many traNSActions.

The trouble with data is that you often don't know what they mean, what 
they used to mean, what they might mean and what they were intended to mean.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: b...@iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com
Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog

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Re: [LINK] Big Data - bad or otherwise

2014-01-14 Thread Frank O'Connor
Reminds me of the old science joke:

Q. What does DNA stand for?

A. The National Dyslexia Association.

Just my (somewhat warped) 2 cents worth
---
On 15 Jan 2014, at 3:08 pm, Bernard Robertson-Dunn b...@iimetro.com.au wrote:

 On 15/01/2014 2:13 PM, Jan Whitaker wrote:
 [waves at NSA because I used their TLA in this]
 
 If the NSA did follow up all uses of NSA, they'd have to trawl through 
 those many emails and SMS from people using NSA to mean No Strings Attached.
 
 Or:
 Notary Signing Agent
 National Scrabble Association
 National Student Association
 National Steeplechase Association
 National Sound Archive
 Nikkei Stock Average
 National Shipping Authority
 National School of Administration (China)
 etc.
 
 There are 127 listed at http://www.acronymfinder.com/NSA.html
 
 And then there's all those seNSAtional words which would give rise to 
 many traNSActions.
 
 The trouble with data is that you often don't know what they mean, what 
 they used to mean, what they might mean and what they were intended to mean.
 
 -- 
 
 Regards
 brd
 
 Bernard Robertson-Dunn
 Sydney Australia
 email: b...@iimetro.com.au
 web:   www.drbrd.com
 web:   www.problemsfirst.com
 Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog
 
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