Thoughts on geo-temporal data aggregation and analysis

[MotRod]

*This is currently in thought draft form, it is as much a writing exercise as it is an effort to solidify these ideas in my own mind*

For a long time I have been obsessed with the idea of cataloguing and archiving all facets of a persons life.
I have intrinsically assumed significant potential from this considering the expected exponential increase in processing power, storage capacity and inter-connectivity.
It seems that with the upcoming release of the rumored changes to the Facebook platform, that potential is beginning to be realized.
I hope to illustrate my vision of this data aggregation, where it will come from as well as some thoughts on on its potential influence on social attitudes toward online privacy and a digital persona.

In summary, I believe the aggregation of a "critical mass" of individuals' historical geo-temporal data will foster creative and valuable interpretations of many aspects of social behavior. What I mean by that is, if we know where everybody is and where everybody was at any given point in time we can make interesting interpretations on the state of the social and physical world at any given time in history for as long as that history is recorded. Furthermore, if we cross reference this geo-temporal data with any other numbers of metrics, we can make even more interesting analyses of history.





This can include everything from social behavior and resource allocation to urban traffic optimization.

One example could be the estimation and recreation of a highly accurate depiction of the past.
Another example could be population migration patterns from suburb to city or city to suburb.
I believe the value of this data can only be enhanced by referencing it with other historic social data and presenting it in a way that illustrates the relationships in a clear and concise manner.

From what I gather both here : With 'real-time' apps, Facebook is always watching
and here : You'll freak when you see the new Facebook,
the facebook "Timeline" platform, will be a significant impetus to the wide spread adoption of these ideas.

What I THINK this will be and I could be wrong (for now, but it IS coming) is that with this new Facebook release, or any other eventual update to the major social platforms, providers like facebook, google, twitter etc.. will incorporate history much much more into their applications.
Look for example at some of the options Facebook has added time periods to employer and school histories. A very important aspect, as much can be inferred from these data points (more on this later).


***********
I think by slowly making this idea a feature exposition on users "online profiles", it is a move to start easing the idea into the privacy sensitive ego's of these platform's users, and eventually all of us.
***********


One thing I have thought for a long time is that perfect knowledge of our individuals' histories is coming weather we like it or not.
It's obvious right, technology is doing what it does, processing, storage and mobile are all following Moore's law. These applications are an eventuality.
Somewhere, in some system or likely many systems, your location, behavior, appearance... everything about you will be directly accessed or estimated and logged, easily.
Not could be, will be.
Data collection is everywhere, and all it is going to take is someone clever enough to literally connect the dots.
For a reference, see here : Tell-all telephone
or here : Got an iPhone or 3G iPad? Apple is recording your moves
(obligatory disclaimer, yes everyone knows all cellphone companies have your geo-loc, no need to point that out)
This process will not be hard. It's obviously not easy from an individual standpoint, (I can't do it, more on that later) but it's not hard for the development teams of the major social players to do it.

[MotRod]

*This is currently in thought draft form, it is as much a writing exercise as it is an effort to solidify these ideas in my own mind*

For a long time I have been obsessed with the idea of cataloguing and archiving all facets of a persons life.
I have intrinsically assumed significant potential from this considering the expected exponential increase in processing power, storage capacity and inter-connectivity.
It seems that with the upcoming release of the rumored changes to the Facebook platform, that potential is beginning to be realized.
I hope to illustrate my vision of this data aggregation, where it will come from as well as some thoughts on on its potential influence on social attitudes toward online privacy and a digital persona.

In summary, I believe the aggregation of a "critical mass" of individuals' historical geo-temporal data will foster creative and valuable interpretations of many aspects of social behavior. What I mean by that is, if we know where everybody is and where everybody was at any given point in time, we can make interesting interpretations on the state of the social and physical world at any given time in history for as long as that history is recorded. Furthermore, if we cross reference this geo-temporal data with any other number of metrics, we can make even more interesting analyses of history.





This can include everything from social behavior and resource allocation to urban traffic optimization.

One example could be the estimation and recreation of a highly accurate depiction of the past.
Another example could be population migration patterns from suburb to city or city to suburb.
I believe the value of this data can only be enhanced by referencing it with other historic social data and presenting it in a way that illustrates the relationships in a clear and concise manner.

From what I gather both here : With 'real-time' apps, Facebook is always watching
and here : You'll freak when you see the new Facebook,
the facebook "Timeline" platform, will be a significant impetus to the wide spread adoption of these ideas.

What I THINK this will be and I could be wrong (for now, but it IS coming) is that with this new Facebook release, or any other eventual update to the major social platforms, providers like facebook, google, twitter etc.. will incorporate history much much more into their applications.
Look for example at some of the options Facebook has added time periods to employer and school histories. A very important aspect, as much can be inferred from these data points (more on this later).


***********
I think by slowly making this idea a feature exposition on users "online profiles", it is a move to start easing the idea into the privacy sensitive ego's of these platform's users, and eventually all of us.
***********


One thing I have thought for a long time is that perfect knowledge of our individuals' histories is coming weather we like it or not.
It's obvious right, technology is doing what it does, processing, storage and mobile are all following Moore's law. These applications are an eventuality.
Somewhere, in some system or likely many systems, your location, behavior, appearance... everything about you will be directly accessed or estimated and logged, easily.
Not could be, will be.
Data collection is everywhere, and all it is going to take is someone clever enough to literally connect the dots.
For a reference, see here : Tell-all telephone
or here : Got an iPhone or 3G iPad? Apple is recording your moves
(obligatory disclaimer, yes everyone knows all cellphone companies have your geo-loc, no need to point that out)
This process will not be hard. It's obviously not easy from an individual standpoint, (I can't do it, more on that later) but it's not hard for the development teams of the major social players to do it.

[MotRod]

so I didn't do a BAD job of ironing out some details, but it could be organized a bit better.
I was hoping to massage this into the standard argument format the GRE study guide tells me to use but then I got tired and went to bed.