Another All Seeing Eye

Another miovision Scout traffic camera system appeared in my neighborhood on or about November 15, 2017 (yesterday).  This is a brief (about one minute) video of the device:

(C) 2017 John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

About the Author

John F. McGowan, Ph.D. solves problems using mathematics and mathematical software, including developing gesture recognition for touch devices, video compression and speech recognition technologies. He has extensive experience developing software in C, C++, MATLAB, Python, Visual Basic and many other programming languages. He has been a Visiting Scholar at HP Labs developing computer vision algorithms and software for mobile devices. He has worked as a contractor at NASA Ames Research Center involved in the research and development of image and video processing algorithms and technology. He has published articles on the origin and evolution of life, the exploration of Mars (anticipating the discovery of methane on Mars), and cheap access to space. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Report of Deadly Traffic Light Malfunction (Double Green Light) in Detroit 2013

This is a television news report from Detroit (WXYZ-TV Channel 7, Detroit) with a YouTube publication date of May 16, 2013 on a traffic light malfunction that may have caused a fatal accident:

Reporter on the scene is Kim Russell at the intersection of Warren and Beechwood on Detroit’s West Side.  The story shows a double green light with a green light for both Warren and Beechwood at the same time.

Another YouTube video with a television news report of a traffic light malfunction at the intersection of Rossler and Dingens (Dingers caption in the video is incorrect) in Cheektowaga, New York (from WIBV TV Channel 4, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and All of Western New York and Southern Ontario, Published August 27, 2013):

The news reporter on the ground was Lou Raguse of WIVB-TV Channel 4 News.

This is a TV news report on “smart” traffic lights that allegedly turned green at the same time in Point Loma, San Diego, California USA (ABC 10 News, Published April 4, 2017):

In this case, the double green light was not caught on camera so the report depends on eyewitness testimony alone.

UPDATE

Direct link to ABC 10 article/report on traffic lights.

Follow up on April 5, 2017 on testing of traffic lights for possible problem:

http://www.10news.com/news/point-loma-intersection-being-tested-after-reported-close-calls

Follow up video news report:

(C) 2017 by John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

About

John F. McGowan, Ph.D. solves problems using mathematics and mathematical software, including developing gesture recognition for touch devices, video compression and speech recognition technologies. He has extensive experience developing software in C, C++, MATLAB, Python, Visual Basic and many other programming languages. He has been a Visiting Scholar at HP Labs developing computer vision algorithms and software for mobile devices. He has worked as a contractor at NASA Ames Research Center involved in the research and development of image and video processing algorithms and technology. He has published articles on the origin and evolution of life, the exploration of Mars (anticipating the discovery of methane on Mars), and cheap access to space. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

 

Another Article on Hacking Traffic Lights

Lights on Wolfe Should Have Stopped Other Driver
Traffic Lights in Sunnyvale, California (USA)

 

An article from the Washington Post:

“Can hackers take over traffic lights?” by Faiz Siddiqui (Washington Post, August 8, 2015)

A brief excerpt:

But it was the District that captured the attention of Cesar Cerrudo, chief technology officer of IOActive Labs, an Argentina-based security research firm. Cerrudo walked the streets of Capitol Hill last year with a tracking device, seeking to expose vulnerabilities in the District’s traffic system as part of a nonprofit initiative. He has done the same in New York and other cities, usually with similar results, he said.

Cerrudo said he was able to access traffic data at intersections at Union Station, Capitol Hill, and at Third and Madison streets NW. Were he a malicious hacker, he said, he could have gridlocked the entire city, creating paralyzing traffic on North Capitol Street NW or turning neighborhood roads into bona fide freeways.

UPDATE

Related article in The New York Times:

“Traffic Hacking: Caution Light Is On,” by Nicole Perlroth, New York Times, June 10, 2015

This is Cesar Cerrudo’s detailed technical talk at DEFCON 22 on his investigation of traffic control systems covered in the articles:

This is the website of Sensys Networks, the traffic control system discussed in the articles and video above.

(C) 2017 by John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

About

John F. McGowan, Ph.D. solves problems using mathematics and mathematical software, including developing gesture recognition for touch devices, video compression and speech recognition technologies. He has extensive experience developing software in C, C++, MATLAB, Python, Visual Basic and many other programming languages. He has been a Visiting Scholar at HP Labs developing computer vision algorithms and software for mobile devices. He has worked as a contractor at NASA Ames Research Center involved in the research and development of image and video processing algorithms and technology. He has published articles on the origin and evolution of life, the exploration of Mars (anticipating the discovery of methane on Mars), and cheap access to space. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Google Can’t Legally Fire Workers for “Virtually Any Reason”

Silicon Beat, the tech blog of the (San Jose) Mercury News, recently published an article by Ethan Baron “Google’s fired engineer: James Damore’s claim against search giant revealed” which contained the following factually incorrect statement:

California law allows employers to fire workers for virtually any reason — and the Constitutional protection of free speech doesn’t apply to private company workplaces.

In fact, it is illegal under California law, which is broader than United States federal law, to fire workers for many reasons including political activities or affiliations.

In practice, under the “at will” doctrine of employment it is generally difficult to prove that someone has been fired for an illegal reason.  That is however different from saying it is legal to fire someone for virtually any reason.

It is, among other exceptions, illegal under federal law to fire a worker for various labor organizing activities and D’Amore appears to be making a case under these exceptions.

For those unfamiliar with the case, James D’Amore, then a Google engineer, wrote and distributed a detailed critique of Google’s gender diversity programs internally which was then leaked to the press causing a furor.   Google apparently specifically requested feedback from engineers who had attended its diversity training programs.  D’Amore was one such engineer.  He was fired shortly thereafter.

Google incidentally is being sued for gender discrimination and the US Department of Labor is reportedly investigating the company for discrimination against its female employees.

Again, in practice under the “at will” doctrine it is difficult to prove someone has been fired for protected labor organizing activities.   One can for example simply give a labor activist a poor performance review or even refuse to cite a reason.   See, for example, this recent article on firings by Tesla:  “Tesla employees detail how they were fired, claim dismissals were not performance related”  (CNBC, October 17, 2017)

Because D’Amore appears to have been fired specifically for distributing a political document dealing with working conditions and employment policies at his employer instead of for a pretext such as alleged poor performance, however transparent the pretext may be, he probably has an unusually strong case.  Standard Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. 

The moral here may be to be careful about asking for honest feedback from your employees.  They may give it to you.   🙂

(C) 2017 by John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

About

John F. McGowan, Ph.D. solves problems using mathematics and mathematical software, including developing gesture recognition for touch devices, video compression and speech recognition technologies. He has extensive experience developing software in C, C++, MATLAB, Python, Visual Basic and many other programming languages. He has been a Visiting Scholar at HP Labs developing computer vision algorithms and software for mobile devices. He has worked as a contractor at NASA Ames Research Center involved in the research and development of image and video processing algorithms and technology. He has published articles on the origin and evolution of life, the exploration of Mars (anticipating the discovery of methane on Mars), and cheap access to space. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

The All Seeing Eye Vanishes

The traffic (?) surveillance device, apparently a “SCOUT” from miovision technologies, monitoring the intersection of El Camino Real and San Antonio at the border between Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos in California, USA has vanished as of about 7:30 AM Pacific Standard Time, Saturday, November 4, 2017.

Light Pole No Longer Has "Traffic Camera" Attached
Light Pole No Longer Has “Traffic Camera” Attached

Here is an earlier picture of the device:

Light Pole with Device Attached
Light Pole with Device Attached

Here is my detailed video on the device:

I noticed the device on Thursday, November 2, 2017.  It is not that obvious so it could have been there for several days, although I am pretty observant and go by the light pole daily.  I suspect it was installed on Wednesday or Thursday.  If so, it was only able to collect data for a few days.  It does not seem like long enough to collect reliable data.  For example, one would like to observe the intersection for at least a week to see the variations between weekdays and weekends as well as from day to day during the week.

I wonder if it was taken down due to my posts.

(C) 2017 John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

The All Seeing Eye (Video)

 

Video of a traffic surveillance camera that appeared mysteriously on a light pole in my neighborhood.

This is the web site of miovision technologies which appears to be the manufacturer of the surveillance device:

https://miovision.com

 

(C) 2017 by John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

The All Seeing Eye

This is a self-described “traffic camera” that I ran across attached to a light pole near the intersection of San Antonio and El Camino Real in  Palo Alto/Mountain View/Los Altos (the intersection is at the intersecting borders of all three cities).

Self-Described Traffic Camera on Light Pole
Self-Described Traffic Camera on Light Pole

 

Closeup of Traffic Camera
Closeup of Traffic Camera

 

Identifying Tag on the Camera Base
Identifying Tag on the Camera Base

 

Intersection of San Antonio and El Camino Real
Intersection of San Antonio and El Camino Real

 

The traffic camera is on a light pole to the right of the picture of the intersection of San Antonio and El Camino above.  The seeming camera is aimed at the intersection.

 

(c) 2017 John F. McGowan, Ph.D.

 

Update on My Mysterious Accident

I received a letter from the insurance company for the other car in my mysterious accident indicating that they are still investigating.  To me this indicates the need for a genuinely independent neutral third party investigation into a mysterious accident such as this where something unusual such as a traffic light malfunction or tampering may have occurred.

Letter from Insurance Company on Mysterious Auto Accident
Letter from Insurance Company on Mysterious Auto Accident

(C) 2017 by John F. McGowan

Looking for a Sales and Marketing Expert

Sales and Marketing Expert for Data Analysis Tool (Contract)

Sales and Marketing Expert
Data Analysis Tool

We are developing tools and algorithms to automate complex data analysis, reducing costs and increasing results.

Complex data analysis is a multi-billion dollar business. Major data analysis tool makers alone report revenues totaling over $4 billion per year: SAS Institute ($3.2 Billion), IBM SPSS ($0.3-1.0 Billion), MathWorks ($850 Million), Wolfram Research (at least $40 million), and a number of less well known smaller firms. Medical businesses, financial firms, and science and engineering organizations spend billions of dollars per year on these tools and the salaries of the analysts, scientists, and engineers performing the analyses.

Complex data analysis increasingly determines the approval of new drugs and medical treatments, medical treatment decisions for individual patients, investment decisions for banks, pensions, and individuals, important public policy decisions, and the design and development of products from airplanes and cars to smart watches and children’s toys.

State-of-the-art complex data analysis is labor intensive, time consuming, and error prone — requiring highly skilled analysts, often Ph.D.’s or other highly educated professionals, using tools with large libraries of built-in statistical and data analytical methods and tests: SAS, SPSS, MATLAB, Mathematica, Scientific Python, the R statistical programming language, Excel and similar tools.  Salaries and overhead for these analysts range from $40/hour to $200/hour (using a 25 % overhead rate), sometimes even more.

Total Cost of Analyses ($50/hour)
Analysis Duration (Hours) Total Cost

2 weeks ( 80) $4,000
2 months (320) $16,000
6 months (960) $48,000

Results often take months or even years to produce, are often difficult to reproduce, difficult to present convincingly to non-specialists, difficult to audit for regulatory compliance and investor due diligence, and sometimes simply wrong, especially where the data involves human subjects or human society. Many important problems in business and society remain unsolved despite modern computer-intensive data analysis methods.

A widely cited report from the McKinsey management consulting firm suggests that the United States may face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 such human analysts by 2018: http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/digital-mckinsey/our-insights/big-data-the-next-frontier-for-innovation

Please see our web site http://www.mathematical-software.com/ for more details.

We are seeking a sales and marketing expert with both technical and sales/marketing experience in data analysis tools such as SAS, SPSS, Matlab, etc. to develop a specific, actionable sales and marketing plan including a list of prospects and/or marketing channels and a projected budget for our product release scheduled for Q2 2018.

Requirements

o At least three years of hands-on experience in data analysis. Graduate research experience leading to a Ph.D. is acceptable. Need not be current experience. We are looking for a sales and marketing expert who started out doing data analysis before transitioning to sales and marketing.

o At least three years of recent paid professional experience in the sales and marketing of a data analysis tool or related services.

Strongly Preferred

o Familiarity with markets for data analysis tools for high end mathematical modeling such as physics, quantitative finance, econometrics, and new growth areas such as quantitative biology.

Preferred

o Located in San Francisco Bay Area and can visit our office in Sunnyvale, CA if needed.

This is a part-time, contract position (not W-2).

Please send resume or curriculum vitae with cover letter.

No recruiters or head-hunters.

Our job listing on Craig’s List San Francisco (expires November 2017): https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mar/6330138283.html

(C) 2017 by John F. McGowan, Ph.D.