Article Excerpt
The Raspberry Shake — a small device that combines a cheap computer called a Raspberry Pi with a monitor that measures minuscule ground movements — has, since 2016, helped to make seismology more accessible to the public. Raspberry Shakes are less sophisticated than professional seismographs but a fraction of the cost, and around 1,600 of the devices are scattered around the planet, livestreaming their open access data online to form the largest, real-time seismic network in the world. The network of “Shakers,” as the community likes to call itself, is made up of hobbyists, professionals and educators, whose instruments pick up the seismic waves of earthquakes as well as the daily hum of their nearby surroundings.
In New York, Cesaire frequently checks on his Raspberry Shake’s data in the morning or during his lunch breaks. “You start to become aware of how structured and scheduled city life is,” he said. “You see when the Long Island Rail Road passes by, and construction begins, when the HVAC and computers turn on in school.”
Analysis
The baseline implications of this sort of technology is obvious. By opening the accessibility to seismology equipment to the general public, we can be better prepared for crises like earthquakes. These devices are not only small, but are extremely economical.
As if this wasn’t interesting enough, a man in the middle of the article, seemingly using this device simply as a hobby, tells how he can detect different waves corresponding to different events happening around the city. This becomes a pattern, and reveals a literal rhythm to an individual’s everyday life. I wonder if there’s a way to use this technology to our advantage to better gain intel on each other during an emergency. For example, if there’s small seismic activity where a building has fallen and noises from those trapped are able to be heard. Or just knowledge that a crisis in a remote location is happening at all! Imagine hearing seismic waves to identify a large group of people trapped in a cave in! My mind can’t help but also wonder of the implications of this technology within the espionage industry. It could be used to detect large groups when those groups don’t want to be detected, or at least provide semi-solid evidence towards the location of said groups. I just hope this technology is utilized responsibly.
