The Download: Chicago's surveillance network, and building better bras | MIT Technology Review
Summary
This edition of The Download covers Chicago's extensive surveillance network and the evolving field of breast biomechanics, highlighting issues of privacy and women's health.
Why It Matters
The article sheds light on the balance between public safety and individual privacy in Chicago's surveillance practices, while also addressing the growing need for scientifically designed bras as more women engage in sports. These topics are crucial for understanding societal implications of technology and health.
Key Takeaways
- Chicago has one of the highest per capita surveillance camera counts in the US, raising privacy concerns.
- Activists argue that extensive surveillance creates a chilling effect on free speech and behavior.
- The demand for scientifically designed sports bras is increasing as more women participate in high-impact sports.
- Research in breast biomechanics is essential for developing better support for women's health.
- The article emphasizes the intersection of technology, privacy, and health in contemporary society.
This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Inside Chicago’s surveillance panopticon Chicago has tens of thousands of surveillance cameras—up to 45,000, by some estimates. That’s among the highest numbers per capita in the US. Chicago boasts one of the largest license plate reader systems in the country, and the ability to access audio and video surveillance from independent agencies such as the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, and the public transportation system as well as many residential and commercial security systems such as Ring doorbell cameras.Law enforcement and security advocates say this vast monitoring system protects public safety and works well. But activists and many residents say it’s a surveillance panopticon that creates a chilling effect on behavior and violates guarantees of privacy and free speech. Read the full story. —Rod McCullom Job titles of the future: Breast biomechanic Twenty years ago, Joanna Wakefield-Scurr was having persistent pain in her breasts. Her doctor couldn’t diagnose the cause but said a good, supportive bra could help. A professor of biomechanics, Wakefield-Scurr thought she could do a little research and find a science-backed option. Two decades later, she’s still looking.Wakefield-Scurr now leads an 18-person team at the Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. And as more women tak...
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