Change Connections - Idea: Seeing the World with New Eyes

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Focus Point #10

Incremental Intelligence

People have a great deal of information about the world around them. But the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and coordinated aggregation of the information could transform it into actionable knowledge. Whether it’s political upheaval or changes in the soil, the collective ground-level information can inform immediate personal action and long-term decision-making — allowing people to find rapid help and response during a crisis situation or to better prepare for climate change. However, there are currently very few ways for people to share, collect, and make sense of this information.

The Big Question

How might people better share and gain real-time value from the incremental information around them?

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Idea

Seeing the World with New Eyes

by Jason Hreha

Use location-aware smartphones and devices (like the iPad) to overlay data and information onto the person’s view of their surroundings.

When you hold up your phone, or tablet computer, you see statistics about the surrounding area, a Google-Earth view of where you are, and other perception-altering media.

We have trouble gaining a sense of perspective in this world. While the world’s contemplative traditions have an answer (meditation, prayer etc.), this is not feasible for most modern individuals.

Perhaps, by changing their image of what they see using location-aware technology, we can give them a greater sense of perspective – and thus empathy.

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1 Comment

Kenneth Lo

I like the focus on empathy and perspective. Location-based services and Augmented Reality seem to be overwhelmingly commerce-driven. Which is why this social change discussion is inspiring. Here’s a nice item on other possibilities: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/why_geolocation_services_are_exciting_for_poets.php
So why not stir the imagination or foster contemplation? “13 ways of seeing what’s in front of you.” For me, using mobile technology to nudge awareness of nature and place — the ecological context and cultural history — can help grow (mobile) roots.

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