Can A.I. explain air quality?
Every semester groups of students of Fontys University can choose a project to work on. AiREAS (multidisciplinary level 4 cooperative for regional environmental quality and health development) challenges them to use their study knowledge, the data from our innovative air quality measurement system and our broad cooperative network, to help create public awareness and stimulate behavior in favor of health. This student explain the process they went through and how the reach an end result that AiREAS can implement in our local society.
Our words matter
Recently I was invited (again, with gratitude) to challenge a new team of Fontys A.I. advanced students. My approach was to ask them for help as AiREAS (local air quality and health) in addressing local citizens for their part of the shared responsibility within air quality and their own health. After all, over 50% over our exposure to the problem is caused by ourselves, according to our research. It can be considered as the very first health benefit to be obtained if we convert our awareness in some changes in our daily habits or comfort zone.
During an entire semester these students team up to, next to attending class, work out their own ideas to tackle the challenge. To my surprise this group choose the psychological path. This was new. In many other occasions the teams decided to use measurement data to produce apps. Not this time. Their approach became to design an A.I. algorithm that would be positively persuasive in our communication. In other words: Our words matter! They started to do research on the engagement with emotions.
Their approach challenged also me as challenger. I myself had introduced various new words into the world in order to develop a common understanding around a particular topic. Take for instance the overarching concept of Sustainocracy, introduced in 2012. It does not appear yet in Wikipedia but many people worldwide already know that it refers to a human centered societal approach. One in which the existential ethics of our sustainable existence is translated into five core values as a shared responsibility between people and institutions alike. It was born out of the general confusion of what we mean by “sustainability”.
Today I came across an online analysis about the color blue. Apparently it only started to exist when the Egyptians created a pigmented powder with that color definition. Before that the color was not recognized as such, or named by people, so it did not formally exist. Have a look at this interesting analysis of “The Why Files” that shows how our words matter. But this Why File video was debunked. The debunking uses the analysis again of semantics, but this time with a contextual historical outline. Our words do matter, and so does our own responsibility to get to an understanding of them. And so does context. Enjoy!
Our true human potential
Our true human potential is blocked by many things. It is feared by politicians, manipulated by financial economists, yet needed to survive ourselves and enter a new era of post anthropocenic sustainable existence. The STIR Foundation experiments with this through Sustainocracy as a societal invitation to develop our essential natural human values together. Here is some “deblocking” stuff:
No, we don’t use only 10% of our brains. We only behave as such.
When we are given the opportunity
In the open space, conditioned by essential human values, as presented by Sustainocracy, its spin offs and like minded partnerships, we can value this unique manifestation of creativity. Creating this space requires a modified attitude by corresponding institutions, such as government. They become facilitators, showing their commitment to the human values while applying innovations that make us get and stay there. The open space is not necessarily oriented at problem solving. It is more directed at the opportunity to make a proactive, positive difference, guided by existentialist ethics.
STIR Innovation Lab
STIR develops this space together with the institutions, providing guidance for both those at the centre of innovation as those needing to get used to the facilitating role.
Sustainocracy, the new democracy 