BENGALURU: Co-founder of DataMeet (Community of Data Science and Open Data enthusiasts) Thejesh GN conducted a workshop with a bunch of children and taught them to build sensors for the environment on Sunday afternoon in Bengaluru.
“Weather change is just a feeling for most children but they will now be able to measure the temperature and humidity at any given time at their homes,” said Thejesh.
The four-hour workshop was a part of the Open Data Camp Meet 2016 and was attended by students. “I have never done anything like this before and it was so interesting that I will definitely go home and re-build the sensor just the way it was taught,” said Vaishnavi Arun, a second year student of MCC.
The children built sensors using LED, micro-controller and bread board. On completing the circuit they did their own little weather census using cold juice packets and ice cream.
“On another Sunday morning I would have probably just sat at home or gone out with family but this was very exciting and I cannot wait to attend the next session to learn how to measure pollution levels,” said Amruta T, Grade 11 student of GreenWood High School.
As the students build sensors, a group of data enthusiasts simultaneously discussed the Geospatial Information Regulation Bill 2016.
Nisha Thompson, cofounder of DataMeet, said, “This bill could seriously restrict everyone’s access to mapping data and it even might restrict an individuals ability to keep any mapping data. We don’t want to reject the bill but it needs to be much more specific.”
DataMeet which is a community of Data Science and Open Data enthusiasts have five chapters across the country that meets often to discuss anything and everything related to data. More than 40 data enthusiasts met in Bengaluru to discuss the issues around the GeoSpatial Bill on the occasion.
Mahroof M, urban planner and one of the meet-up organisers of DataMeet (Ahmedabad Chapter), said, “The bill is too broad and there is a lot of confusion around it. It might affect legitimate spatial data collection as well. It has to be clear in what needs to be restricted with regard to depiction of international borders.”
While Sajjad Anwar, a member of the Geo-Bengaluru group of digital mappers said that the draft bill does not gurantee security and could basically affect anyone who is using a smart phone. “#Save the Map is a internet campaign through which we are trying to build awareness as well as give suggestions to the bill while it is open for that.”
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