3 global #QuantifiedSelf trends discussed at TechnoArk 2018 conference.
The TechnoArk Conference once again sold out its 13th edition, at the Techno-Pôle in Sierre on January 26, 2018. The theme of Quantified Self (self-measurement) was covered in depth through three aspects:
- Its technologies, with concrete examples of new services created in Switzerland and internationally thanks to Quantified Self, particularly in the fields of health and sport.
- Its sociological aspects for a better understanding of the impact of these real-time measurements on individuals.
- The processing of personal data, addressing in particular the RGPD (European Data Protection Regulation), which will come into force on May 25, 2018.
Self-knowledge through self-measurement has always existed
The term "Quantified Self" is fairly recent, with a trademark registered in 2007 - the year the iPhone appeared - even though self-measurement has always been carried out by non-technological means, as Carine Coulm, a French entrepreneur active in connected belts(Belty by emiota) reminded us. Indeed, these measures bring autonomy and control by enabling us to be aware of our behaviors and adjust them according to our goals. As Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy, puts it : "Everything that is measured and observed improves". As a result, activity trackers have found their way into our pockets, around our wrists, onto various parts of our bodies and even into our brains.
Technology to optimize sports training and improve performance
In the world of sport, technology has made a remarkable contribution, making training much more effective. Patrick Flaction, coach to elite athletes at Elitment, experiences this on a daily basis. Digitization makes it possible to tailor training to the athlete's abilities, reduce the element of chance, save time, avoid injuries and thus significantly improve performance.
Technology also facilitates the creation and monitoring of training plans by the coach. Targets are derived from measurements (analysis and ability tests), and remote interaction with the coach is enhanced by real-time feedback (correction and consolidation) and immediate statistics.
Also a top-level sports coach, Philippe Monnier-Benoit shared his eCoaching experiences with the o2score device , a Swiss innovation from the EPFL that required 10 years of technological development. This tool offers a range of functions for optimizing training sessions:
- measure a physiological index to determine the athletes' state of fitness and recovery.
- regularly retrieve athlete data to establish and adapt training follow-up.
- investigate the parameters necessary for performance: quality of training, nutrition, sleep, stress and anxiety levels.
The volume of information is particularly high in top-level sport, and growing exponentially. However, it is very difficult to exploit in real time. To make it useful and usable, Dartfish, a company founded at EPFL, uses images, which are now part of the data. Generation, aggregation and visualization enable the trainer to understand and take corrective action. Image analysis is a new performance development solution for top-level sports.
Quantifying intimacy presents risks
Mathias Humbert, Senior data scientist at the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC ), introduced conference participants to the genomics revolution. The genome contains sensitive information about our predisposition to certain diseases, our physical abilities, our family ties and even our appearance. It's an avalanche of data that's getting bigger by the day. The medical uses of genomic data enable more preventive and personalized medicine, but they also present risks. The confidentiality of biomedical data must be protected. To this end, the SDSC is developing models (legal means and technical solutions), notably via machine learning.
Still on the subject of personal data processing, Sébastien Fanti, the cantonal data protection commissioner, talks of "digital stripping" and the risks associated with quantifying the intimate. Big Data poses a real problem of confidentiality, as it opens up an infinite field of possibilities. Today, the Swiss legal framework is unfortunately incomplete. Mr. Fanti encourages us to be vigilant in safeguarding the three main principles of data protection: transparency, consent and precision.
The day concluded with an interview with Vanessa Lalo, digital psychologist at Université Paris VII, on the impact of Quantified Self on our behavior and society. Data has become a new currency of exchange. We offer our data in exchange for services. If we want to protect ourselves against the abuse of personal data, we need to anticipate the systems we want to co-construct in the digital world. We need to put people first, and not let the tool answer all our questions.
Links to presentations: http://blog.theark.ch/fr/detail/la-mesure-de-soi-au-coeur-de-la-conference-technoark-8944
