Monday, August 29, 2016

Olivia Moretta- Chicago Cracks Down on Air Quality

Computers called “nodes” are now being installed on many of the traffic poles in Chicago, Illinois. Likened to the Fitbit, these new data-collecting devices are helping track everything from congested traffic to health risks throughout the city. In a quote from Chicago’s chief information officer, Brenna Berman, “better data means better outcomes”. This is being said in regards to the outcome of overall safety, health, and improved functionality that these new gadgets could bring to the city.
            At a time like this, when technology is more advanced than it’s ever been, I believe it’s important for our country to play to its strengths use these new advances for our benefit. I predict that Chicago will be the first of many cities to invest in traffic nodes, as they have the potential to help thousands. The ability of these nifty computers to zero in on asthma-inducing content in the air also gives people the opportunity to alter their community for the better. By planting trees in “trouble spots”, or areas with poor air quality located by the nodes, asthmatics could have less reason to worry about breathing problems in their city. This event can be likened to the Clean Air Act of 1956 (post industrial revolution) that introduced smokeless zones. These were places where only smokeless fuels could be burnt and were said to help control the smoke and particles released into the atmosphere. It was then that air pollution in urban areas significantly decreased.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/29/technology/chicago-sensors-data/index.html

6 comments:

  1. I agree that our contry should invest into these technological advances so that it can better our communities and provide a safe and healthy livestyle.

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  2. This stuff really makes me excited because it could eventually improve the health of, not just humans, but the earth too. Asthma is a large part of the world, especially in urbanized areas, and can be detrimental to an individual's lifestyle. You're hitting two birds with one stone.
    -ANNA CZYZEWSKI

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  3. I can see how helpful this will be and I hope that this will spread across the country. I'm glad people are trying to make a difference for the better in regards to people's health and safety.

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  4. This is a really important technological innovation that could help everyone out worldwide, and I really hope that these are implemented all over the United States, in order to help the nationwide health and safety situation, and really trying to fight back against pollution.

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  5. These air pollution problems remind me of how things are in China. In many areas people walk around wearing medical masks. It's scary how something so serious could soon be going on in our own backyards

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  6. Since this is a large issue in Dallas, as well as many other big cities in America and around the world, I think that this newly-developed technology could help the quality of the air massively.

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