Many people are talking about the 2011 movie Contagion (IMDb), which is about a virus pandemic and finding a cure. In my opinion, the 1997 movie Gattaca (IMDb) is more interesting as it shows how a future society has adapted itself. The international efforts for developing a smartphone app for warning against nearby contaminated people reminded me of Gattaca.
The recent cooperation between Apple (tech) and Google (data) on COVID-19 contact tracing technology is a perfect example of my blog The 7 Belief systems – a 2019 update (eg, NYT, Wiki). My 2019 blog was still a “prediction”, despite its implementation in China. Today, the coronavirus pandemic is becoming a Tipping point for belief systems Data and Technology.
Excerpt from a recent NYT article (and my hat tip to a Scientific American newsletter):
“Public-health authorities have said that improved tracking of infected people and their contacts could slow the pandemic, especially at the start of an outbreak, and such measures have been effective in places like South Korea that also conducted mass virus testing. Yet two of the world’s largest tech companies harnessing virtually all of the smartphones on the planet to trace people’s connections raises questions about the reach these behemoths have into individuals’ lives and society.”
In my view, the coronavirus pandemic is only accelerating what would have happened anyway. Also see my blog label accelerationism (Wiki). There is just too much money involved in data (eg, Big Data) and in technology (eg, Big Tech). The current/future Power domain of the 7 Belief systems is extremely strong, following its 3 beliefs: Data, Money, and Technology (my 2018 blog).
The missing link between the above and the 1997 movie Gattaca is genetics – but not for long. The lack of credible explanations for the coronavirus pandemic has made people wonder whether genetics can explain its anomalies (my recent blog, Bloomberg, April 16).
I still remember the Gattaca scene where Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman walk to an ATM like terminal to get their marriage licence. The terminal analyzes their blood. The computer says NO because Ethan Hawke has “inferior” DNA. Then they start planning their escape.
“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that [is] it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not before.” A quote by Rahm Emanuel, based on an earlier quote by Winston Churchill: “Never let a good crisis go to waste”.
Opportunity (1977) by Joan Armatrading
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Opportunity
Came to my door
When I was down
On my luck
In the shape
Of an old friend
With a plan
Guaranteed
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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