Data Proliferation

Data proliferation is a direct production of digitization and the accompanying hardware and software that is easing its spread. There is fairly little questioning of the value of the data, other than as it relates to privacy. This concern is prominent, but it relates to the use of the data. It does not address the question of whether gathering and using all this data is actually leading to better decision-making – it is assumed to be true.

Chaos or Connection? The Global Media and Information Landscape in 2035 by Global Governence Futures asks, who ultimately owns data and how should ownership be transferred to those that should own it? This becomes increasingly important as the nation state retreats in key areas of regulation, creating opportunities for private companies to fill the void and leverage their control of personal data.

The Future of Learning and Training: Environmental Scan by Policy Horizons Canada notes that data rich profiles of individuals and their learning endeavors make possible innovative learning products and practices, such as adaptable learning, competency-based learning, social learning platforms, or game-based software. At the core of the potential for personalized and socially immersive learning is a range of software, personal and digital content, and technological devices.

Health and Health Care in 2032 by the Institute for Alternative Futures states that data rich environments may be used in multiple ways - for beneficence or for manipulation/exploitation.

• For beneficence, tools in the background support quality of life; personal and community health which promote equity. tools lead to purposeful social networking and new forms of supportive health media.

• When used for manipulation/exploitation, big data focuses on the output, creating digital communities concerned with defined contributions; focus here is on reaction over prevention.

Canada in a Changing Global Energy Landscape by Policy Horizons Canada notes that intelligent energy management systems are expected to become more pervasive as increasing energy consumption results from increased data storage the commonalit of the Internet of Things.

The Future of Cybercrime in Light of Technology Developments by RAND notes the rise of law enforcement challenges in investigating cybercrime, with a lack of cross-border cooperation and international responses.

The 5th Science and Technology Foresight (2016-2040) by the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning considers both the short- and long-term implications a data-rich environment.

For the short term, there is likely to be an increase in focusing on the individual instead of the family as a “typical household” where data access and management is concerned. There is also expected to be a rise IT-related crime and the resulting emergence of a “Big Brother” to regulate and control it (though whether a government or other entity or set of entities do so is open to question).

For the longer term, increasing capacities regarding the rapid diffusion and circulation of information will likely lead to intelligent communication between devices (to further facilitate the process), the expansion of virtual space connectivity, and reforms in the education system to take best advantage of the improved capabilities.

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