'I Know Where Your Cat Is' is an experimental enterprise that uses megadata to pinpoint the exact location of beloved pets all over the globe.
Artist and programmer Owen Mundy wanted to illustrate how intense and problematic our surveillance culture has become, and he wanted to hit us where it hurts: our precious felines. Hey, sometimes shock tactics are really effective! The experiment uses megadata that is provided by the owners, unbeknownst to them. Did you know that smartphones and digital cameras embed latitude and longitude coordinates in each image? Now, think of all the cat photos you share of Fluffy on Instagram, Flicker and Twitpic. Yeah, that's a lot.
The site superimposes one of those photos onto satellite map imagery. Although Mundy neglects to include specific street names or addresses, the images still lead us to one horrifying conclusion: it's frighteningly easy for someone to get your cat's address, and from something as simple as an Instagram photo #nofilter.
Cat Surveillance Maps
'I Know Where Your Cat is' Emphasizes Surveillance Culture
Trend Themes
1. Surveillance Culture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop privacy-focused technologies that protect individuals from surveillance culture.
2. Megadata Collection - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create efficient and secure systems for collecting and analyzing large sets of data.
3. Location-based Tracking - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced tracking technologies that provide real-time location information without compromising privacy.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative software and hardware solutions for enhanced privacy and data security.
2. Data Analytics - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced algorithms and tools for analyzing and extracting insights from large sets of data.
3. Pet Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate technology to improve pet tracking and safety, ensuring the privacy and security of both pets and their owners.