Understanding Systems With Help From IBM

We know that systems are complex and interconnected.

I write a lot about the ways in which data, networks, information technology and the web relate to the food system and to each of us. These things fascinate me because for the first time we have the ability to understand interconnections in our world, and more specifically in our food system, in ways that have never before been possible.

The ability to see and understand these connections is becoming increasingly important. Open up any newspaper or major magazine and you are likely to find an article covering food-related concerns such as the egg recall, genetically modified salmon, high-fructose corn syrup, school lunches, obesity and other health concerns, or food deserts (I encourage you to check out the links). Put simply: we all affect and are affected by the system.

This morning I came across IBM’s new video, System of Systems. The short clip does an excellent job of articulating some of the opportunities created by the internet for understanding systems and the role of data in understanding them. Please let me know what you think!