[CODATA-international] UNESCO Global Consultations on Open Science - Diagram Paul Berkman adapted

[Hans Pfeiffenberger]

Dear Paul,

Am 01.05.20 um 17:30 schrieb Berkman, Paul A:
> we are working with effectively infinite and instantaneous 
> information access in our digital era. 

I think you might reconsider this statement a bit, in light of the 
current pandemic:

There is "The Reality" of infections happening, and in the 
"Information Space" the point in time when these infections can be 
seen in PDF-statistics or on (public or confidential) dashboards. Not 
only is there a delay due to the asymptomatic-while-infectious period 
(which could only be overcome by daily testing of all or of a 
representative sample), but then a delay due to the processing of 
tests plus delays in reporting which typically add up to some days 
(almost a week?). The only thing which is instantaneous about that is 
the access to these results after reporting and collating is finished 
(e.g., the Johns Hopkins site; these people are doing an amazing job!)

=> This leads to consequences of decisions to be noticed only after 
two to three weeks or so, rather than one week (including incubation 
time).

Also, as to "infinite", I am afraid we know next to nothing about many 
countries - whether these countries don't have the economic capacity 
or the logistics to acquire the data or prefer not to disclose them.

=> This will lead to widespread uncertainty about how and when to 
resume global (or even trans-national) trade and travel.

Of course, both of these observations lead to my previous points about 
openness and real-time operations (and trust), as desirables for the 
future.

best,

Hans

-- 
Hans Pfeiffenberger
Consultant, scientific data infrastructures & policies
www.hans-pfeiffenberger.de

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