Rick Smolan, Creator of the Groundbreaking ‘Day in the Life’ Series, Launches ‘The Human Face of Big Data,’ A Multi-Platform, Globally Crowdsourced Project

Innovative Smartphone App; “Mission Control” Events in New York, London and Singapore; Global Youth Engagement Event; Stunning Book of Photography, Es-says and Infographics; Documentary in 2013


KUALA LUMPUR – September 18, 2012 – Elephant seals equipped with antennas on their heads to map the oceans; satellites being used to target mosquitoes; an SMS system preventing the sale of counterfeit medicines in Ghana; smartphones that can predict you’re going to get depressed; credit cards that know two years before you do that you’re headed toward divorce; pills that transmit information directly from your body to your physician.

These and other stories are being told through “The Human Face of Big Data,” the latest groundbreaking, globally crowdsourced initiative from Rick Smolan, the creator of the “Day in the Life” series. The project, made possible through primary sponsorship from EMC® (NYSE:EMC), is based on the premise that the real-time visualization of data col-lected by satellites, and by billions of sensors, RFID tags, and GPS-enabled cameras and smartphones around the world, is enabling humanity to sense, measure, understand and affect aspects of our existence in ways our ancestors could never have imagined in their wildest dreams.

The multifaceted project kicks off on September 25 with an eight-day “Measure Our World” event inviting people around the world to share and compare their lives in real time through an innovative smartphone app. The project also includes “Mission Control” events in New York, Singapore and London; “Data Detectives,” a global student initia-tive being conducted in conjunction with the TED organization; a stunning large-format book featuring more than 200 photographs, essays from noted writers and infographics; an iPad app; and a documentary.

Project Elements:

The Human Face of Big Data project elements include the following: 

A Visual Record of Big Data in Action

In March 2012, Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt dispatched more than 100 photogra-phers, editors and writers in every corner of the globe to explore the world of Big Data and to determine if it truly does, as many in the field claim, represent a never before seen toolset for humanity, helping us address the biggest challenges facing our species.

Smartphone App

From September 25 through October 2, people around the world will be invited to “measure our world” via The Human Face of Big Data app (free and available on iOS and Android in five languages). The app will engage people in a series of activities using the sensors in their phones, as well as enable them to compare their responses to thought-provoking questions with others around the globe. Participants will be able to map their daily path, share objects and rituals that bring them luck, get a glimpse into the one spe-cial thing that others want to experience during their lifetime and discover hidden secrets about their world. Participants will also be able to find their “data doppelganger.”

The “Mission Control” Experience

On October 2, representatives of media organizations will be invited to Mission Control events in New York City, London and Singapore, where data collected from participants will be analyzed, visualized and interpreted. Experts and innovators in the Big Data arena will share examples of their work in an interactive “Big Data Lab.” A live webcast will allow people around the world to watch the events as the day unfolds.

“Big Data Detectives,” in Association with TEDYouth, Will Engage Students 

On November 8, students around the world in grades 6–12 and their teachers will engage in a series of data-collection activities to measure, analyze and map their worlds through the Data Detectives initiative. These activities will connect thousands of students and al-low them to compare their opinions, thoughts, concerns and beliefs through exciting data visualizations and graphics. 

The Human Face of Big Data Large-Format Illustrated Book 

On November 20, The Human Face of Big Data book will be unveiled and will be deliv-ered on the same day to 10,000 of the world’s most influential people, including world leaders, Fortune 500 CEOs, and Nobel laureates across 30 countries. The book will fea-ture a fascinating array of more than 200 photographs, compelling essays from noted writers and dramatic infographics from renowned designer Nigel Holmes. The book will also be available for sale online and through major booksellers. 

Documentary

In 2013, The Human Face of Big Data documentary will be released.

About The Human Face of Big Data 

The Human Face of Big Data project is editorially independent and is made possible through the generous support of EMC Corporation, which serves as the primary sponsor. Supporting sponsorship comes from Cisco, FedEx, VMware, Tableau and Originate.

The Human Face of Big Data is a globally crowdsourced media project focusing on the new ability to collect, analyze, triangulate and visualize vast amounts of data in real time. The project includes a free mobile app, Mission Control briefing events, a student ele-ment called Data Detectives, a large-format book with more than 200 photographs along with essays and infographics, an iPad app and a documentary. 

The Human Face of Big Data is produced by Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt, co-founders of Against All Odds Productions, which specializes in the design and execu-tion of large-scale, crowdsourced global projects that combine compelling storytelling with state-of-the-art technology. To produce these projects, Smolan and Erwitt invite teams of leading journalists and photographers (plus members of the general public) to come together to focus on emerging topics such as the global water crisis, the effect of the Internet on civilization or how the human race is learning to heal itself. Their projects result in bestselling illustrated books, TV specials, apps, exhibits and hundreds of mil-lions of media impressions. Fortune magazine described Against All Odds Productions as “one of the coolest companies in America.”

To learn more, go to HumanFaceOfBigData.com and follow the project on Twitter @FaceOfBigData and Facebook.