Re: Usage data collection (was: Re: ImageJ 2.0.0-rc-11 released)

Posted by Pavel Tomancak on
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/ImageJ-2-0-0-rc-11-released-tp5009074p5009118.html

Dear All,

I would like to provide a perspective from someone who is not so concerned about privacy (I use Gdocs, shop on Amazon etc.). In my opinion Mark has put forward some very sensible arguments, there is a big difference between logging "Someone in Dresden just updated Fiji" and "Pavel Tomancak in Dresden just updated Fiji".

I have had these discussions with my computer science friends and colleagues a lot. It is clear that the more knowledge of what is possible to deduce from an IP address you have, the more concerned about privacy you will be. The opt-in suggestion put forward is a good one and I support it.

I would be however strongly opposed to disabling usage tracking altogether. As mentioned before, Fiji does this since the very beginning. While for someone this is one of the reasons not to use Fiji, for  others this is one of the reasons why they do. There are literally thousands of academic open source projects out there, most don't take off the ground simply because people have an attitude that this is just another pet project of XY to get a paper out. I keep using what I am used to no matter how advanced the functionality of the new software might be. Usage tracking in the form of a world map of updates has been instrumental in lifting Fiji above the threshold in the bioimaging community. I have been showing this map all over the world and I am not ashamed of it. It does not violate anyones privacy. Many other project do this kind of usage tracking. And yes, funding is an issue. I also admit I am a bit addicted to this usage map ;-).

Its good we have a discussion about this topic, but I would also encourage readers who, similarly to me, don't share these burning privacy concerns to voice their opinion.

All the best

PAvel
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Pavel Tomancak, Ph.D.

Group Leader
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Pfotenhauerstr. 108
D-01307 Dresden Tel.: [phone]
Germany Fax: [phone]
email: [hidden email]
homepage: http://www.mpi-cbg.de/research/research-groups/pavel-tomancak.html
twitter: @PavelTomancak
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