CIPS BC presents: Tuesday, October 23

Fighting The Creep Factor In Technology!

Dr. Tom Keenan. I.S.P., ITCP

Professor and Associate Dean

Faculty of Environmental Design

University of Calgary

In a world where you can order a DNA test online, receive ads based on what you just wrote in an email, and might have your implanted medical device probed by hackers, the “creep factor” is becoming an important limitation on technology adoption.

There’s even an app for that. “Girls Around Me” recently aroused great controversy because it allowed people to gawk at the Facebook profiles of total strangers in their vicinity. While the developers argued they were merely combining data users had already freely disclosed, many found it very disturbing.

Governments are stampeding to liberate their data through the Open Government movement. Yet, a recent investigation found major privacy holes in almost every system studied. Open Data sounds great -- until you get a letter from a “property tax appeal company” quoting your exact tax assessment along with those of your neighbours!

Tom’s presentation gives a fast-paced overview of things that make the hairs on our necks stand up and lays out some “dimensions of creepiness.”   Even better, he shows some of the ways in which creepiness can be fixed, or, better yet, designed out in advance.

Seating is limited.  Please book now.