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S. Anderson's avatar

As a side note, I noticed yesterday that my local Whole Foods has installed those palm readers at all the self-check out stations.

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

I have been avoiding Whole Foods since I heard about those.

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Jonathan Reece's avatar

Paranoia - no: common sense. I keep a small piece of paper stuck over the camera that faces me on my phone and laptop.

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Deborah Gregson's avatar

Here's another article I was sent today by the Brain Health Registry, a group I've done studies for as my mother-in-law had Alzheimer's and I've had a caregiver's support group since 2005. They are also "tricking" people into having a photo of their iris taken for the sake of advancing dementia treatment.

"How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Alzheimer’s Disease Research" 1/3124

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transitioned from being a futuristic concept to a daily reality.

It powers virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, and helps inform your Google search results.

Now, AI is playing an increasingly vital role in the medical field. It fuels drug development and discovery, and helps facilitate disease diagnosis and prediction.

The Importance of Early Detection

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms worsen over time. Identifying Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages is crucial for helping people access appropriate treatments and resources.

A type of AI called deep learning can aid in early disease detection. Deep learning is a method through which machines learn to recognize patterns and make decisions based on large quantities of data.

For example, deep learning tools can analyze large amounts of brain imaging data, and can learn to identify subtle changes in brain structure or function that are associated with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

A 2022 article in The Lancet Digital Health describes a deep learning model for detecting Alzheimer’s disease based on images of the retina — the layer of cells that line the back of the eye.

Research suggests changes in the retina can be associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Widespread use of retinal imaging could eventually help with large-scale, inexpensive population screening for disease.

Transforming Clinical Trials

It’s likely that AI will become an important part of clinical trial design and execution more broadly in the coming years.

Clinical trials are currently expensive and labor-intensive, and AI holds potential for making them more efficient and effective.

Enrolling participants into studies often poses a major challenge, and AI could help match participants with appropriate trials. To help with recruitment, AI tools could be used to engage with participants and address their questions about a study. AI could even make the process of informed consent clearer and more interactive.

Importantly, AI could also help improve analysis of study data, and aid in widespread sharing of study findings.

Navigating Ethical Terrain

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, it raises important questions around data privacy and ethical use. For example, AI systems often require access to large amounts of participant data. Ensuring this data is stored and used in a way that protects patient privacy and confidentiality is crucial.

Nonetheless, AI is a powerful tool offering innovative solutions for early disease detection and clinical trials. As we continue to navigate complex ethical considerations, AI is ushering in a new era of efficiency and precision in research, holding the potential to better combat conditions like Alzheimer's disease."

Brain Health Registry

4150 Clement Street, #114M

San Francisco, CA 94121

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Wow, Deborah. Great find. This is exactly the kind of clinical research I suspect the FDA informed consent exemptions will be used for.

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Deborah Gregson's avatar

And it's "for the good of so many people who desperately need help" so they will give up their eye signatures. There has to be a way to resist, but it won't be easy. Night.

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Deborah Gregson's avatar

October 2020 I made a trip from my home in NC to Disney World and met my cousin for a week so she could escape CA's COVID lockdown. The day before she was to leave I tripped over a curb due to mask wearing blindness ending up in a hospital to get stitches over my eyebrow, as well as a badly sprained ankle. My flight was a day later so I limped around Disney Springs before getting back to wait for a bus to my hotel for overnight. I wasn't in a hurry so I waited while three buses filled with people bound for the airport, but it was hot, so I got up to go inside a lobby for water. And once again I tripped over a curb because of mask blindness (I'm a country girl, we don't have curbs). This time I broke my collarbone requiring another trip to a different ER. I got to my hotel around midnight.

At the airport the next morning, with stitches, an ankle boot, and sling, a nice man offered to make my TSA wait shorter so I wasn't so uncomfortable. Being tired, in pain, and on drugs, I followed him thinking he was making accessible accommodations for me. But no. He took me to a kiosk and asked me for my ID, filled out a form, then asked me to look into a thing that scanned my eyes and then explained that my eye scan would now be on file and anytime I flew this gizmo would allow me to get faster access to events that used the gizmo. I was upset, irritated, confused, and annoyed. He did explain I could unenroll within 30 days if I wanted.

I got on the plane and I did "unenroll" on the website the next day. What bothers me is that I am sure my eye scan is still stored somewhere that it shouldn't be and I don't want it. They caught me in a weak moment and I agreed to something I never would have done any other time. All I can think of is "Minority Report" and the guy gouging his eyes out. It's disturbing that I'm paranoid, but for good reason. Like you, I'm a critically thinking person who has examples of history and artistic expression "ever gentle on my mind".

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Wow, Deborah. I'm sorry you went through the whole ordeal. And I think that is the first time I've heard the term "mask blindness". It makes sense. I wonder how many people experienced this.

I think many people are caught off guard when confronted with this technology. No real opportunity for informed consent in the vast majority of cases... and who knows where the information goes? I remember going to Bat Mitzvahs where kids got 3D printed models of their hands as party favors. Today, you can pay in some Whole Foods stores with your hand. I have to wonder how often our biometric data is being collected. I've even heard some people suggest that our phones and computers collect our eye data and that some of the images that ask us to find the hidden numbers or words are designed to get us to focus or eyes a particular way for that. Who knows?

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Deborah Gregson's avatar

It's disturbing since we consider ourselves informed and intelligent but get sucked in and the information is captured before we realize it. As you point out it's possibly gained in ways we'd never suspect because our minds aren't as devious, and trying to think that way every day all the time is too tiring. It's begun to make me a person who is far too negative and different than I want to be, so I think 2024 will be the year of being aware but remembering God has me in His hand.

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Yes to all of this. We are on the same page and so many are reaching the same conclusion. As alternative health practitioners, my husband and I often observe how prolonged hypervigilance is a path to autoimmunity. While it's important to be aware, it doesn't serve us (or anyone) to be continually reacting to triggers. I don't know if you follow Barry Brownstein, but his writing has been very helpful to me in that regard. I'm taking his MindsetU meditation course if you want to check out his Substack.

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Deborah Gregson's avatar

Thank you so very much, and for understanding. I already have autoimmune issues (because I'm the first child, or an Aquarian, or a type A person? who knows, but the last few years have taken a great toll. Having spiritual faith and greater knowledge of Bible doctrine has helped greatly. Going to counseling hasn't been a realistic option because trying to find someone who wouldn't label me due to my beliefs would be impossible and I know any notes would be available to those same government officials (again with the paranoia). I will follow the link, I really appreciate this information. (Ordered the book, joined, and paid sub to you. Thanks for the months of a free sub)

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Thank you, Deborah. I very much appreciate the support and I hope you enjoy Barry's work. I think many of us are working towards cultivating a new way forward. It looks like we'll be embarking on some shared journeys.

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