While some companies work to shift or recreate the natural, some choose to aim their efforts at preserving and facilitating the flourishing of nature. Technology for Nature is an organization managed by a collaboration of the Zoological Society of London, University College London, and Microsoft Research. Focusing on wildlife conservation, the team has established means of collecting and analyzing data on patterns and changes in wildlife populations, health, environment, etc. Through monitoring and surveillance, the organization studies natural wildlife in the most un-intrusive, intentional way. Currently, they are making developments in telemetry, cameras, sound recording and satellite technology. Their current sensing-based projects include AMPtrack (for more automated, consistent observations of a larger population of subjects), e-Phenology (the study of influences on natural animal and plant cycles), and tracking devices. Their analytics department features programs regarding the automatic identifying of species based on audio recordings and images, as well as the predictions of animal behavior under certain environmental conditions. One of their major species of interest right now is the bat population.
Technology for Nature appears to be very ethically founded, utilizing technology for the study and betterment of the natural world. They put a great deal of study and intention into the ways in which the go about collecting data and responding with new conservation methods accordingly. With more organizations like this, we can begin to gain a better understanding of how humanity impacts the natural world around us, and how we can do so in the best way possible.
(An insect carrying a Technology for Nature surveillance device.)
Biophilia in the Digital World 