Human Colossus blog
Journey to a Dynamic Data Economy
The Human Colossus Foundation introduces key components of a Dynamic Data Economy through a series of blog posts
Journée de la Protection des Données
In the digital age, freedom of choice is profoundly affected by the way data is collected, shared and used. This freedom of choice is closely linked to the notion of privacy.
Based on its work, the Foundation will present an approach where digital technology is used to empower patients, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health, while contributing to significant advances in medical research.
The discussion will be around current issues in Switzerland linked to the E-ID digital identity project and its impact on the healthcare ecosystem.
Switzerland: E-ID set to go live in early 2026
On December 6, 2024, the Swiss Federal Council made decisions regarding the technical implementation of the Confederation's new electronic identity proof (e-ID) and the underlying operational infrastructure. A press release[1] describes a two-stage launch of the e-ID, with the first delivery planned for 2026. The first stage will introduce a technology used by the European Union. At the same time, work will continue to develop additional solutions that could be used in a second stage to meet even higher privacy protection requirements, in particular the requirement that the various uses of the e-ID not be traceable to an individual.
HCF Presence at DaKM 2024 in Copenhagen
The Human Colossus Foundation (HCF) is pleased to announce that Paul Knowles, co-founder and Head of the Advisory Council, will attend the 9th International Conference on Data Mining & Knowledge Management (DaKM 2024) in Copenhagen on 21-22 September 2024. Paul will present his paper, "Data-Centric Design: Introducing an Informatics Domain Model and Core Data Ontology for Computational Systems," which proposes a transformative approach to system architectures, focusing on data security, semantic interoperability, and scalability.
In addition, Paul will chair Session 3, overseeing discussions on AI-powered technologies and their potential applications in distributed data ecosystems. Topics will range from AI-enhanced assistive technologies to intelligent community-driven platforms, exploring cutting-edge solutions aligned with HCF's initiatives.
For further details or to explore potential synergies with HCF, don't hesitate to contact Paul Knowles or the team at Ac@humancolossus.org.
News from HCF Digital Governance Periscope
As we enter the second half of 2024, a time full of global digital governance initiatives, we're excited to share our progress at the Human Colossus Foundation from the governance perspective. This update encapsulates the recent strides of the Swiss E-ID, G20 Digital Public Infrastructure, UN Development Program, and the inaugural event for European Digital Independence.
Human Colossus Foundation Announces the Publication of "Decentralised Semantics: A Semantic Engine User Perspective"
The Human Colossus Foundation announces the release of a pioneering paper, "Decentralised Semantics: A Semantic Engine User Perspective," by Carly M. Huitema, Paul Knowles, Philippe Page, and A. Michelle Edwards. This paper introduces the Semantic Engine, a powerful tool built on the Overlays Capture Architecture (OCA), designed to enhance the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) principles for data. The Semantic Engine allows researchers, particularly in the agri-food sector, to create decentralized, machine-actionable metadata schemas, facilitating better data management across institutions. The paper is available at https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2024-042.
Developing Sustainable Approaches to Shaping a Secure and Inclusive European Health Data Space
Nestled amidst the majestic Swiss Alps and the picturesque Disentis Monastery, the 2024 Summer Academy of the German Studientstiftung des deutschen Volkes and Max Weber Programm was an inspiring setting for over 70 passionate students. Among them, six vibrant working groups explored pressing societal matters, ranging from sustainability to digital health. One such group took on the challenge of envisioning a secure and inclusive European Health Data Space (EHDS).
Addressing Data Challenges for the Next Generation of Digital Therapeutics Development
“The largest bottleneck medical research organisations at the forefront of technology face is access to useful data. These difficulties stem from strict policies that limit access to ML teams instead of allowing technology to enable and ensure responsible data use.”
Securing Your Digital Future: A Three-Part Series on Enhanced Privacy through Data Protection - Part 1
In 'Securing Your Digital Future,' Part 1 of this three-part series unveils the pivotal role of the Blinding Identity Taxonomy (BIT) and its Supplementary Document in fortifying data privacy. Emphasizing the critical need to protect sensitive personal data, we explore the foundation of data semantics—bolstered by the BIT framework crafted by the Human Colossus Foundation and backed by Kantara Initiative—as the cornerstone for identifying and securing sensitive data attributes, paving the way for robust data privacy in the digital landscape.
Unraveling the Path to Genuine Semantic Interoperability across Digital Systems - Part 2
Delving into the integration of stemmatic traceability with directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) and kinematical mechanics reveals advanced strategies for enhancing data integrity and fortifying the foundations of semantic interoperability in the digital era.