Press "Enter" to skip to content

Citizen Data | Vida C. Williams | TEDxRVA


[Applause]

[Applause] so I’d like you to go on a small journey

so I’d like you to go on a small journey

so I’d like you to go on a small journey with me real quick before I get into the

with me real quick before I get into the

with me real quick before I get into the geeky part of the talk I would like for

geeky part of the talk I would like for

geeky part of the talk I would like for you to think about the conception of an

you to think about the conception of an

you to think about the conception of an infinite entity an infinite entity one

infinite entity an infinite entity one

infinite entity an infinite entity one that is always existing and so when we

that is always existing and so when we

that is always existing and so when we think about that we think of something

think about that we think of something

think about that we think of something that is very godlike however I would

that is very godlike however I would

that is very godlike however I would argue that 360 thousand of them are born

argue that 360 thousand of them are born

argue that 360 thousand of them are born everyday in the globe in the world

everyday in the globe in the world

everyday in the globe in the world another or of that there’s ten thousand

another or of that there’s ten thousand

another or of that there’s ten thousand that are born just in the United States

that are born just in the United States

that are born just in the United States and we get so excited every time they’re

and we get so excited every time they’re

and we get so excited every time they’re born as we get excited and everybody’s

born as we get excited and everybody’s

born as we get excited and everybody’s point right like we get so excited like

point right like we get so excited like

point right like we get so excited like hey this is gonna be in a minute

hey this is gonna be in a minute

hey this is gonna be in a minute being excited work good what I do know

being excited work good what I do know

being excited work good what I do know for sure however is that you probably

for sure however is that you probably

for sure however is that you probably aren’t what happens is you get this

aren’t what happens is you get this

aren’t what happens is you get this amazing birth certificate that has the

amazing birth certificate that has the

amazing birth certificate that has the number VA two six one seven five nine

number VA two six one seven five nine

number VA two six one seven five nine emblazoned on it and all you see are

emblazoned on it and all you see are

emblazoned on it and all you see are cute little baby feet but for me

cute little baby feet but for me

cute little baby feet but for me that’s the beginning of an entire being

that’s the beginning of an entire being

that’s the beginning of an entire being what you will be grudgingly do is figure

what you will be grudgingly do is figure

what you will be grudgingly do is figure out how to put their height and weight

out how to put their height and weight

out how to put their height and weight in and tell me where they live and and

in and tell me where they live and and

in and tell me where they live and and you’ll even try to figure out how in the

you’ll even try to figure out how in the

you’ll even try to figure out how in the world you’re going to get gold inflected

world you’re going to get gold inflected

world you’re going to get gold inflected hazel to fit into a check box that says

hazel to fit into a check box that says

hazel to fit into a check box that says brown

but it’s important we need to know how

but it’s important we need to know how many brown-eyed people are born everyday

many brown-eyed people are born everyday

many brown-eyed people are born everyday and that’s kind of where you leave it

and that’s kind of where you leave it

and that’s kind of where you leave it you don’t think about it again

you don’t think about it again

you don’t think about it again me on the other hand I get to watch all

me on the other hand I get to watch all

me on the other hand I get to watch all of the characteristics I get to see a

of the characteristics I get to see a

of the characteristics I get to see a blood type I get to see Heights and

blood type I get to see Heights and

blood type I get to see Heights and weights I get to understand how they’re

weights I get to understand how they’re

weights I get to understand how they’re living on a day to day business if

living on a day to day business if

living on a day to day business if there’s any anomalies if there’s a sixth

there’s any anomalies if there’s a sixth

there’s any anomalies if there’s a sixth finger I get all of that information

more importantly what I get to do is I

more importantly what I get to do is I get to watch this this infinite being

get to watch this this infinite being

get to watch this this infinite being grow I get to watch the other names

grow I get to watch the other names

grow I get to watch the other names they’re called by sometimes a social

they’re called by sometimes a social

they’re called by sometimes a social security number

security number

security number sometimes a state-issued I do

sometimes a state-issued I do

sometimes a state-issued I do occasionally is the child where fell

occasionally is the child where fell

occasionally is the child where fell case number and more often than I would

case number and more often than I would

case number and more often than I would like it’s the criminal record number but

like it’s the criminal record number but

like it’s the criminal record number but all of that is VA two six one seven five

all of that is VA two six one seven five

all of that is VA two six one seven five nine all of it

nine all of it

nine all of it VA two six one seven five nine that is

VA two six one seven five nine that is

VA two six one seven five nine that is the number that lets me know that you

the number that lets me know that you

the number that lets me know that you are still going now over the years I get

are still going now over the years I get

are still going now over the years I get to actually watch all of the

to actually watch all of the

to actually watch all of the characteristics kind of refine

characteristics kind of refine

characteristics kind of refine themselves I get to see GPAs the

themselves I get to see GPAs the

themselves I get to see GPAs the infinite the infamous student permanent

infinite the infamous student permanent

infinite the infamous student permanent record I get to see that like it’s

record I get to see that like it’s

record I get to see that like it’s awesome we get what college you’re gonna

awesome we get what college you’re gonna

awesome we get what college you’re gonna go to we get to understand how many

go to we get to understand how many

go to we get to understand how many calories you ate that day we get to

calories you ate that day we get to

calories you ate that day we get to understand if you liked the calories

understand if you liked the calories

understand if you liked the calories that you ate and more than that if you

that you ate and more than that if you

that you ate and more than that if you honestly took a picture of it and it

honestly took a picture of it and it

honestly took a picture of it and it looked good I might go get it right the

looked good I might go get it right the

looked good I might go get it right the risk to this is that you don’t know that

risk to this is that you don’t know that

risk to this is that you don’t know that you exist like that the risk to this is

you exist like that the risk to this is

you exist like that the risk to this is it’s you think you’re just real life you

it’s you think you’re just real life you

it’s you think you’re just real life you don’t understand we don’t understand

don’t understand we don’t understand

don’t understand we don’t understand that we actually

that we actually

that we actually in the data universe as a complete

in the data universe as a complete

in the data universe as a complete embodiment of life with all of the

embodiment of life with all of the

embodiment of life with all of the attributes of the living what’s more

attributes of the living what’s more

attributes of the living what’s more scary is that our life is terminated

scary is that our life is terminated

scary is that our life is terminated with the death record for me that just

with the death record for me that just

with the death record for me that just simply means that we get a snapshot of

simply means that we get a snapshot of

simply means that we get a snapshot of you in a moment in time but you’re

you in a moment in time but you’re

you in a moment in time but you’re always relevant what happened in 1973

always relevant what happened in 1973

always relevant what happened in 1973 was the end of Vietnam but I know every

was the end of Vietnam but I know every

was the end of Vietnam but I know every person that perished that year I also

person that perished that year I also

person that perished that year I also know every person that was born that

know every person that was born that

know every person that was born that year so it’s an infinite being with

year so it’s an infinite being with

year so it’s an infinite being with infinite implications for our future so

infinite implications for our future so

infinite implications for our future so now the geeky part of the talk I’ve

now the geeky part of the talk I’ve

now the geeky part of the talk I’ve spent 20 years watching people live

spent 20 years watching people live

spent 20 years watching people live breathe growth in data I am that person

breathe growth in data I am that person

breathe growth in data I am that person that watches all of that stuff but this

that watches all of that stuff but this

that watches all of that stuff but this discussion is not about surveillance it

discussion is not about surveillance it

discussion is not about surveillance it is not about Big Brother it is not about

is not about Big Brother it is not about

is not about Big Brother it is not about the dangerous hacker it can’t be about

the dangerous hacker it can’t be about

the dangerous hacker it can’t be about that because a certain percentage of you

that because a certain percentage of you

that because a certain percentage of you actually think that’s a good idea

actually think that’s a good idea

actually think that’s a good idea and you justify it calling it national

and you justify it calling it national

and you justify it calling it national security this is actually a different

security this is actually a different

security this is actually a different conversation it’s a conversation about

conversation it’s a conversation about

conversation it’s a conversation about the fact that there are decisions that

the fact that there are decisions that

the fact that there are decisions that are being made based on your data votes

are being made based on your data votes

are being made based on your data votes for lack of a better word that you’re

for lack of a better word that you’re

for lack of a better word that you’re not yet engaged in the conversation my

not yet engaged in the conversation my

not yet engaged in the conversation my favorite example is actually a recent

favorite example is actually a recent

favorite example is actually a recent one it’s pretty funny to me Jeff Bezos

one it’s pretty funny to me Jeff Bezos

one it’s pretty funny to me Jeff Bezos in his Amazonian enterprise and AI

in his Amazonian enterprise and AI

in his Amazonian enterprise and AI Empire the enterprise

just purchased whole food it sounds

just purchased whole food it sounds awesome especially for those of us that

awesome especially for those of us that

awesome especially for those of us that had stock in them like yes this is

had stock in them like yes this is

had stock in them like yes this is awesome and the newspapers are

awesome and the newspapers are

awesome and the newspapers are justifying it saying hey this is the

justifying it saying hey this is the

justifying it saying hey this is the best distribution network ever for

best distribution network ever for

best distribution network ever for organic food right so on it like you but

organic food right so on it like you but

organic food right so on it like you but I’m gonna give you some other

I’m gonna give you some other

I’m gonna give you some other justifications for it and I want you to

justifications for it and I want you to

justifications for it and I want you to really listen to what I’m saying because

really listen to what I’m saying because

really listen to what I’m saying because this is how we vote in data this is how

this is how we vote in data this is how

this is how we vote in data this is how each one of us vote in the realm of data

each one of us vote in the realm of data

each one of us vote in the realm of data the organic food market is thirty nine

the organic food market is thirty nine

the organic food market is thirty nine point seven billion dollars that is a

point seven billion dollars that is a

point seven billion dollars that is a number one way we vote but let’s just go

number one way we vote but let’s just go

number one way we vote but let’s just go with everything

with everything

with everything thirty nine point seven billion dollars

thirty nine point seven billion dollars

thirty nine point seven billion dollars in that the most influential set of

in that the most influential set of

in that the most influential set of votes come from the Millennials to the

votes come from the Millennials to the

votes come from the Millennials to the tune of fifty two percent fifty two

tune of fifty two percent fifty two

tune of fifty two percent fifty two percent of Millennials buy and believe

percent of Millennials buy and believe

percent of Millennials buy and believe in organic food okay awesome right so

in organic food okay awesome right so

in organic food okay awesome right so what will happen is they have bought

what will happen is they have bought

what will happen is they have bought Whole Foods the number one distribution

Whole Foods the number one distribution

Whole Foods the number one distribution network in the world for organic

network in the world for organic

network in the world for organic materials to serve the fifty two percent

materials to serve the fifty two percent

materials to serve the fifty two percent of Millennials who get this have not

of Millennials who get this have not

of Millennials who get this have not even started creating their infinite

even started creating their infinite

even started creating their infinite entity Jie so this is an ongoing this is

entity Jie so this is an ongoing this is

entity Jie so this is an ongoing this is an exponential like purchase what

an exponential like purchase what

an exponential like purchase what they’re failing to consider what we are

they’re failing to consider what we are

they’re failing to consider what we are failing to consider every single time we

failing to consider every single time we

failing to consider every single time we walk into Whole Foods and spend twelve

walk into Whole Foods and spend twelve

walk into Whole Foods and spend twelve dollars on a kale salad

dollars on a kale salad

dollars on a kale salad and aside there we spend more money on

and aside there we spend more money on

and aside there we spend more money on food today than any generation before us

food today than any generation before us

food today than any generation before us but I digress alright $12 for the kale

but I digress alright $12 for the kale

but I digress alright $12 for the kale salad you with me we did that due to

salad you with me we did that due to

salad you with me we did that due to convenience

convenience

convenience honestly that same 52 percent of

honestly that same 52 percent of

honestly that same 52 percent of influence over that thirty nine point

influence over that thirty nine point

influence over that thirty nine point seven billion dollar opportunity tends

seven billion dollar opportunity tends

seven billion dollar opportunity tends to vote local sustainable an urban

to vote local sustainable an urban

to vote local sustainable an urban farmer or local farmer centric now as a

farmer or local farmer centric now as a

farmer or local farmer centric now as a single mom of three boys only honest if

single mom of three boys only honest if

single mom of three boys only honest if Jeff wants to drone drop a box of fresh

Jeff wants to drone drop a box of fresh

Jeff wants to drone drop a box of fresh veggies on my door I’m good like I might

veggies on my door I’m good like I might

veggies on my door I’m good like I might even bow down to gratitude but I

even bow down to gratitude but I

even bow down to gratitude but I understand that I am doing that at the

understand that I am doing that at the

understand that I am doing that at the expense of my own real-life morals

expense of my own real-life morals

expense of my own real-life morals values and ethics that I believe in

values and ethics that I believe in

values and ethics that I believe in today localization is probably where we

today localization is probably where we

today localization is probably where we need to start our global adventure

need to start our global adventure

need to start our global adventure together

together

together and an understanding that I really can’t

and an understanding that I really can’t

and an understanding that I really can’t justify the $12 kale salad much less the

justify the $12 kale salad much less the

justify the $12 kale salad much less the $50 drone drop box of veggies because

$50 drone drop box of veggies because

$50 drone drop box of veggies because there’s a farmer in western Virginia

there’s a farmer in western Virginia

there’s a farmer in western Virginia that I did not vote with

now how do we change that what does that

now how do we change that what does that mean for us it means a couple things it

mean for us it means a couple things it

mean for us it means a couple things it means that we acknowledge that we cannot

means that we acknowledge that we cannot

means that we acknowledge that we cannot get off the grid because you leave your

get off the grid because you leave your

get off the grid because you leave your cell phone at home because you do not

cell phone at home because you do not

cell phone at home because you do not wear the latest amazing wearable

wear the latest amazing wearable

wear the latest amazing wearable technology does not mean that you are

technology does not mean that you are

technology does not mean that you are not gridded we think that we disappear

not gridded we think that we disappear

not gridded we think that we disappear because we don’t carry a device that is

because we don’t carry a device that is

because we don’t carry a device that is not true you have a bill for service I

not true you have a bill for service I

not true you have a bill for service I got you I got you

got you I got you

got you I got you you walk into a grocery store I got you

you walk into a grocery store I got you

you walk into a grocery store I got you it’s kind of how Big Brother works if

it’s kind of how Big Brother works if

it’s kind of how Big Brother works if you were speeding yeah got you did you

you were speeding yeah got you did you

you were speeding yeah got you did you skip the toll I got you are you with me

skip the toll I got you are you with me

skip the toll I got you are you with me the problem is because you don’t know

the problem is because you don’t know

the problem is because you don’t know that I got you you didn’t know that you

that I got you you didn’t know that you

that I got you you didn’t know that you just voted that way you didn’t know that

just voted that way you didn’t know that

just voted that way you didn’t know that we gleaned the infrastructure for

we gleaned the infrastructure for

we gleaned the infrastructure for tomorrow based on how you vote

tomorrow based on how you vote

tomorrow based on how you vote unintentionally today and what I am as a

unintentionally today and what I am as a

unintentionally today and what I am as a 20 year offender of collecting your data

20 year offender of collecting your data

20 year offender of collecting your data I am entreating you I am imploring

I am entreating you I am imploring

I am entreating you I am imploring myself to do the following to one to

myself to do the following to one to

myself to do the following to one to understand that there are right now no

understand that there are right now no

understand that there are right now no comprehensive laws covering your data

comprehensive laws covering your data

comprehensive laws covering your data today beyond HIPPA there aren’t any

today beyond HIPPA there aren’t any

today beyond HIPPA there aren’t any however there are hundreds of cases

however there are hundreds of cases

however there are hundreds of cases going before the case today to discuss

going before the case today to discuss

going before the case today to discuss the collection of the sharing of the

the collection of the sharing of the

the collection of the sharing of the aggregation of the storing of the

aggregation of the storing of the

aggregation of the storing of the archiving of your information you need

archiving of your information you need

archiving of your information you need to be in that conversation you need to

to be in that conversation you need to

to be in that conversation you need to let us know that you know that we’re

let us know that you know that we’re

let us know that you know that we’re doing that and that you want to be part

doing that and that you want to be part

doing that and that you want to be part of the solution so if Jeff is gonna buy

of the solution so if Jeff is gonna buy

of the solution so if Jeff is gonna buy Whole Foods and we’re gonna buy $12

Whole Foods and we’re gonna buy $12

Whole Foods and we’re gonna buy $12 salads then perhaps because we recognize

salads then perhaps because we recognize

salads then perhaps because we recognize why he’s buying Whole Foods we get into

why he’s buying Whole Foods we get into

why he’s buying Whole Foods we get into the conversation and say we will only

the conversation and say we will only

the conversation and say we will only participate if Whole Foods incorporates

participate if Whole Foods incorporates

participate if Whole Foods incorporates the local farmer

the local farmer

the local farmer [Applause]

so I would leave you with three

so I would leave you with three responsibilities that we have

responsibilities that we have

responsibilities that we have responsibility number one you’re the

responsibility number one you’re the

responsibility number one you’re the responsibility to understand your data

responsibility to understand your data

responsibility to understand your data if you are scrolling through 23 pages of

if you are scrolling through 23 pages of

if you are scrolling through 23 pages of I don’t even know what this means and

I don’t even know what this means and

I don’t even know what this means and you click the I agree box that’s wrong

you click the I agree box that’s wrong

you click the I agree box that’s wrong that’s how you lose your DNA for those

that’s how you lose your DNA for those

that’s how you lose your DNA for those of us who did that too we do have the

of us who did that too we do have the

of us who did that too we do have the responsibility to understand our data

responsibility to understand our data

responsibility to understand our data when we fill out a form when we share it

when we fill out a form when we share it

when we fill out a form when we share it we need to know where it goes and what

we need to know where it goes and what

we need to know where it goes and what the implications are when you take a

the implications are when you take a

the implications are when you take a picture who else unintentionally gets

picture who else unintentionally gets

picture who else unintentionally gets affected by that and lastly we need to

affected by that and lastly we need to

affected by that and lastly we need to understand that we do have the

understand that we do have the

understand that we do have the responsibility to share our data to

responsibility to share our data to

responsibility to share our data to collect our data together to create

collect our data together to create

collect our data together to create those Federation’s that will help create

those Federation’s that will help create

those Federation’s that will help create the future that our real lives have

the future that our real lives have

the future that our real lives have indicated that perhaps our virtual lives

indicated that perhaps our virtual lives

indicated that perhaps our virtual lives do not agree with because at the end of

do not agree with because at the end of

do not agree with because at the end of the day we are a citizen data we are the

the day we are a citizen data we are the

the day we are a citizen data we are the ones who create tomorrow we’ve just been

ones who create tomorrow we’ve just been

ones who create tomorrow we’ve just been doing it unintentionally thank you

doing it unintentionally thank you

doing it unintentionally thank you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *