Download A Short History of Ocean Conservation and

A Short History
of
Ocean Conservation
and
Physical Computing
By Elizabeth Davis
A History of Ocean Conservation
• The protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and
seas.
• Modern conservation efforts were first globally recognized in
the 1970s after WWII in an era known as the “marine
revolution.”
• At the end of the 1970s, undersea explorations equipped with
new technology (i.e. computers) started to put a new emphasis
on restoring systems within the environment, protecting
biodiversity, and changed the approaches of marine
conservation efforts at the time.
• Zoological Society London integrates technology and
conservation to get a deeper understanding into the wildlife we
are trying to protect.
– Introduces new ways to track animal species, new camera trapping
technologies, and conservation awareness through applications on
mobile devices.
A History of Physical Computing
The microprocessor was
introduced. It
miniaturized all
hardware components
of a computer’s central
processing unit to fit
into a single, integrated
circuit.
The development of
the computer
accelerated during the
1940s, with the
biggest influence
coming from WWII,
with needs for
accurate calculations
for military vehicles
and ammunition.
Advancements
in more
powerful
programming
languages such
as C, C++, and
later Java)
Arduino team was formed in
Ivrea, Italy with the goal to
create an electronics
prototyping platform which
further simplified the Wiring
platform, making it
accessible to users in
creative fields.
The PIC microcontroller
board was introduced.
Became popular because
of its ease and speed of
programming of the
board via simple
languages, and its
onboard flash memory
chip.
Raspberry Pi launched and
quickly becomes popular for
its simplicity and
affordability.
A custom made
Wiring
microcontroller was
created and
intended for a “nontechnical audience”
of artists, designers
and architects.
1940s
1970s
1970s/1980s
1985
2005
2012
Pioneers of the Field
• Specific references to
marine life were first
recorded by Aristotle in 384
BC.
• Modern day study of
marine biology began with
the exploration of Captain
James Cook in 18th century
Britain.
• Charles Darwin is notably
famous for the Theory of
Evolution (1831-1836).
• It is well known that Alan
Turing is often referred to
as the father of modern
computing, after
developing the universal
Turing machine in 1936,
developing the
groundwork for many
theories in computing.
• Eben Upton is the pioneer
of Raspberry Pi, launched
in 2012 to help kids learn
how to code.
The Plastic Ocean
Some scary facts:
• There are currently 5.25 trillion pieces of
plastic trash in the world’s oceans right
now.
• Each year, 8 million tons of plastic are
added to the oceans.
• At this rate, by 2025, the ocean could
contain one ton of plastic for every three
tons of finfish.
• The waste infrastructure of countries near
oceans (China, Indonesia, Thailand,
Vietnam, the Philippines) hasn’t been able
to keep up with its rapid industrialization.
Plastic trash pollution on the beach of Labuan Bajo (Flores Island).
Current Technology Conservation Activists Out There
• The Ocean Cleanup
– Removing plastic from the oceans by creating
large barriers in the areas where plastic builds
and recycles the collected garbage.
• ORCA: Ocean Research and Conservation
Association
– Developing high-tech sensors and
communications systems capable of detecting
the presence of certain plants, animals and
other factors important in evaluating water
quality.
• Satellite Ocean Monitoring with Raspberry Pi
– Used to monitor marine biodiversity in large
marine protected areas using the Raspberry Pi,
standard webcams, and Motion tracking
software.
1948
• International Union for Preservation of Nature (IUPN) established.
•2005
A
Network
of
Connections
How tech and conservation have crossed paths
•Arduino boards launched.
•Ocean Research and Conservation (ORCA) founded to develop high tech sensors &
communication systems capable of evaluating water quality.
2012
•Raspberry Pi officially released.
2013
•Raspberry Pi Ocean Monitoring system implemented by Zoological Society London.
•The Ocean Cleanup founded to remove plastics and garbage from the oceans.
2014
•Drones used to map marine habits and monitor protected areas of the oceans.
2016
•The Ocean Cleanup deployed first pilot system.
Future Advancements
Ocean Exploration & Conservation
Scuba diving
Fast Computers
Remotely-operated Vehicles (ROVs)
Deep sea submersibles
Technology & Computing
New ‘Artificial Synapses’ pave new roads
for Brain-Like AI
3D Printing
Drones
Self-Driving Cars
Reinforced Diving Suits
Smart Devices
Satellites
Wearable Technology
Fun Fact: It is estimated that only 5 percent of the worlds oceans have been explored.