2026-09-21T00:43:48Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/630512022-01-13T07:54:12Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131023
Ana Miljacki.
Hirschman, Sarah (Sarah Margaret)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture
2011-05-23T18:09:10Z
2011-05-23T18:09:10Z
2011
2011
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/63051
722946331
Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-120).
More than 300 million biospecimens - blood samples, saliva swabs, excised tumors - are housed in different collections all over the country right now. Meanwhile, biometric data is constantly being compiled by sophisticated security systems, by lifestyle products, and even by ordinary ATMs. Because private companies, hospitals, for-profit testing facilities, and security companies 'own' the information they collect, it can't work for you. Billions of dollars in grants are spent each year on focused medical studies seeking information that is most likely already available, but unobtainable. The availability of biometric information to researchers able to draw real statistical conclusions from it is impeded both by a shaky notion of individuals' privacy and the proprietary funding structure by which much of the information has been gathered. The data is out there - it's not a question of wanting to share personal data or not. Measures like the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act treat a symptom of the end of privacy, but by no means secure it. The only productive embrace of this national mine of information is to make it fully transparent, to make it available to the public and researchers alike, to nationally acknowledge the end of an antiquated notion of privacy, and to stave off the flow of research dollars into patented pharmaceuticals. The Biobank for America does just that by making transparent the collection and storage of biometric information on a national scale and finally collating it into a comprehensive, searchable archive.
by Sarah Hirschman.
M.Arch.
121 p.
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Architecture.
Biobank for America
Thesis
application/pdf
false
Publication
unknown
unknown
<Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="b44bec4e-fb95-4102-a01e-a60a2d78808a">
<Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type>
<Language>eng</Language>
<Title>Biobank for America</Title>
<PublishedIn>
<Publication>
</Publication>
</PublishedIn>
<PublicationDate>2011</PublicationDate>
<Authors>
<Author>
<DisplayName>Hirschman, Sarah (Sarah Margaret)</DisplayName>
<Affiliation>
<OrgUnit>
</OrgUnit>
</Affiliation>
</Author>
</Authors>
<Editors>
</Editors>
<Publishers>
<Publisher>
<DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName>
<OrgUnit />
</Publisher>
</Publishers>
<License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License>
<Keyword>Architecture.</Keyword>
<Abstract>More than 300 million biospecimens - blood samples, saliva swabs, excised tumors - are housed in different collections all over the country right now. Meanwhile, biometric data is constantly being compiled by sophisticated security systems, by lifestyle products, and even by ordinary ATMs. Because private companies, hospitals, for-profit testing facilities, and security companies 'own' the information they collect, it can't work for you. Billions of dollars in grants are spent each year on focused medical studies seeking information that is most likely already available, but unobtainable. The availability of biometric information to researchers able to draw real statistical conclusions from it is impeded both by a shaky notion of individuals' privacy and the proprietary funding structure by which much of the information has been gathered. The data is out there - it's not a question of wanting to share personal data or not. Measures like the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act treat a symptom of the end of privacy, but by no means secure it. The only productive embrace of this national mine of information is to make it fully transparent, to make it available to the public and researchers alike, to nationally acknowledge the end of an antiquated notion of privacy, and to stave off the flow of research dollars into patented pharmaceuticals. The Biobank for America does just that by making transparent the collection and storage of biometric information on a national scale and finally collating it into a comprehensive, searchable archive.</Abstract>
<Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right"
>
</Access>
</Publication>