Pervasive Computing Gets a Look-See in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes
Via Kable: “Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Service is planning to use handheld technology for fire risk inspections. It intends to replace its paper based scheme with electronic forms on handheld devices, which make it possible to transmit the reports immediately to headquarters servers.”
Progress marches on. However, “Information captured is stored on the device until completed and automatically updated to a Fire Safety Management application provided by Consilium, which manages Fire Safety Inspections and produces statutory reports.”
A couple of things I hope they’ve thought of: What happens to the data in the device after the Consilium Fire Safety Management application is automatically updated? Does it stay on the device? Is it transmitted securely? And, of course, what happens if a device is left in a pub?
I don’t (at first glance) see that this information needs MI5 level of security, but the providers of this information do have rights under the Data Protection Act, and as property is money these days, I should hope there is some provision regarding this.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
What personal information is stored in the system that would be subject to the Data Protection Act?
This is a good use of handheld devices, but “pervasive” computing would imply there were a whole range of sensors embedded in the buildings under inspection that would continuously report fire safety status to the Fire & Rescue service!
November 17th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Well, I certainly hope that’s next–right next to continuously reporting meters, etc. It’s actually also a step towards wearable computing, which I sort of lump in as a sub-category with pervasive and mobile computing for reporting purposes. They’ll all blend in together soon enough, IMO. PDAs are getting small enough to clip on to a coat–do they become wearable devices at that point? Alarm devices could easily send info over a network–I’m sure somewhere, some do, especially in commercial environments. Are they pervasive computing devices at that point? The point is that the network keeps extending outwards into the real world in a fascinating variety of ways.
November 18th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Hi Ian,
I forgot to respond to the first part of your question–I can think of a lot of things I would show a fire inspector that I’d be reluctant to show other people. Additions and improvements, ramps for Mum and Dad, the wiring for the new TV room, the networking nightmare that is the kids’ rooms, etc.
November 18th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Indeed; but the Data Protection Act protects personal data linked to individuals, not building configurations
November 18th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Er, um, well… hmmm.