The basics are broken : We must fix them!
Suresh Kumar K.K
Head – Data Exchange & Data Spaces (Platform, Partnerships, Applications)
People die when the sun shines a little too bright, when the rain falls a bit harder than usual, in landslides and floods caused by unscientific construction, from mosquitoes bred by our own irresponsibility, from drinking contaminated water, breathing polluted air, eating unhealthy food, overdosing on social media, and even in ambulances stuck in traffic.
Have we become too busy exploring the Moon, Mars, and stars that perished centuries ago, racing faster cars and bikes, or have we simply become complacent with the gadgets and temporary comforts around us?
July 13, 2024?- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India :
A sanitary worker named Joy drifted into the plastic debris while cleaning a stormwater drain in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Within minutes, the police, fire and rescue teams, and divers, and after a couple of hours, even the Indian Navy joined the search. Despite their efforts, they could not locate our brother Joy until his body was retrieved from a nearby canal two days later.
The stormwater drain was filled with plastic waste and sewage, hindering the rescue team's progress for days. The rescuers had no option but to dive through the filth and stench, risking their own lives to find the missing Joy. I saw no technology that could help the situation, except for a couple of robots that were far inferior to human capabilities.
Is this how we should handle our waste? Is this how our drains should be? If so, is this how we should clean them? Where are we in terms of technology to support these efforts??
July 16, 2024?- Shiroor, Karnatataka, India:
A landslide covered shops, people, and vehicles on a busy highway in Shiroor, Karnataka, burying them under a massive heap of soil or pushing them into the nearby river. It took a couple of days to determine how many people were missing until their loved ones reported them. The search and rescue operation continued for thirteen days, speculating whether the victims were buried under the soil or swept away into the river. Police, fire and rescue teams, the Army, Navy and local fishermen joined the efforts but eventually abandoned the search without success. The lack of good satellite maps, underground/water detection sensors, data analytics?and machineries could not complement the bravery and commitment of those amazing people. ?
Is this how our highways and buildings should be constructed? Are we mindful of the nature and climate? Is this how we should find out when our loved ones are missing? Where is the technology to support such life-saving operations?
Everyday?- Around the world :
Saved by brave and caring individuals but perished inside the ambulance while rushing for medical support. The average traffic speed in most cities around the world is around 8 to 10 km/hour. Ambulances often get stuck in traffic due to unplanned public transport, a crowd of private vehicles, parking searches, and poor traffic management, causing our loved ones perish as we watch.
领英推荐
It is technically simple to use an ambulance's GPS location to divert traffic and switch traffic lights to green as the ambulance approaches, yet this is not implemented in many places. Are we not interested in simple and straightforward solutions??Is it because they are not commercially lucrative??Shouldn't supporting life be our top priority??What else are we educated for? What else are we busy with?
We must fix them?:
We continue to generate huge volumes of waste and dispose of it conveniently, polluting land and sea. We fail to provide clean drinking water, clean air, reliable citizen identity, or education for many. ??Our most important asset, our health, is compromised by poor living and working conditions, unhealthy food, and untrustworthy healthcare. We have irresponsibly neglected climate action, inviting natural disasters. Have we grossly misunderstood our priorities?
As I wrote in my book ‘7 Steps to Joyful Living’: “No fish contaminates the water, no animal erodes the soil, and no bird pollutes the air. However, we contaminate all of them as we live in our 'technologically advanced’?world.” It seems we have ignored the basics and broken them indiscriminately, threatening our own lives.
We must fix this. In the meantime, we need technology that can save human lives when nature decides to teach us a lesson for our wrongdoings. Otherwise, the most capable lives on the planet will perish like vegetables in a basket.?If not for us, then for our children and their children, who may develop animosity towards us for ruining their future. I feel desperate, helpless, and restless as an ‘educated’ individual and as a ‘technologist’.
Let us do it together!
Related Articles/Books by Me:
Book : 7 Steps to Joyful Living
Powering Smart Cities through Data at IISc, MoHUA | IIM Alumnus
6 个月It's very true that while we pursue technological advancements, fundamental issues affecting daily lives are still being neglected. There is an urgent need to address basics such as well-built and well-maintained infrastructure, effective waste management, efficient emergency systems, smarter urban planning, etc. Addressing these core issues is crucial for leveraging technology to improve safety and well-being, prevent tragedies, and ensure a sustainable and equitable future.