What the drone knows
As humans, we evolved to process the world from a human perspective (at about six feet high). When we observe events through a lense, we participate in it at the same perspective from which it was filmed. Most of the time these videos are from a human’s perspective. Large buildings tower over us, crowds are claustrophobic, emotion is evident on faces and power is easily identified. The ability to share these human perspectives is an impactful force that smartphones and the internet have distributed to each citizen.
However, the human perspective is limited. We only see where we can travel and the wavelengths our eyes absorb. Our human length timelines do not let us observe that which outlasts our resolve. Nor does a height of six feet allow us to see patterns in our midst from above.
Once the domain of governments, unmanned autonomous vehicles with automatic take off, flight planning and real time video are now available for consumers. It is easy to dismiss them as toys, but these peace dividends of the smartphone war [1] may just halt real wars. Their unique ability to teleport our senses far and wide will make war torn countries safe, the vast wilderness easy to traverse and that which was hidden, revealed.
Drones alter the human perspective. Journalists will have the ability to circle a war torn city, over the blockades and above building to building combat in order to give context to conflicts. NGOs will be able to observe and plan for mass influxes of refugees and record atrocities as they unfold. Scientists will collect data on timelines and locations previously beyond the scope of their grants.
Drones have arrived, and what they know is human after all.
Originally published at www.hvflabs.com.
