Dutch Gov't Wastes Money on AR Billboards Instead of Hiring Police

by Matthew Zuras on April 30, 2010 at 08:20 AM

Augmented reality technology is really fantastic. Really! But, like anything else, it has potential for abuse, misuse, and simple wrongheadedness. In both Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Dutch government has installed AR billboards intended to combat an apparently pervasive problem; public workers, in the course of their regular duties, are routinely faced with violence and aggression from average citizens. And passersby rarely try to stop these altercations.

So, the Dutch decided to make the billboard, which makes it look like a confrontation has erupted -- between paramedics and some angry people -- right across the street from where you're standing. The goal is to shame Dutch citizens for their inaction. But shouldn't the government maybe address why its people are so prone to beating up government workers?

We're not sure if we really understand the point of this project. Is it a cultural difference of values? Perhaps. But we think that one very real reason that passersby don't insert themselves into a violent altercation is that they don't want to get hurt themselves. Is that so unreasonable?

What does the Dutch government expect of its citizens? To immediately assess a confrontation, determine who is correct in the dispute, and intervene, possibly with violence, to subdue the aggressor? If you want a country full of belligerent vigilantes, you're on the right track, Netherlands.

But, to repeat, we think there's a larger issue going on here than a lack of good samaritanism. If the dangers facing public workers are so many that they merit a high-tech billboard, maybe that money would be better spent on more police protection for said workers, you think? [From: Popular Science]

Tags: ar, AugmentedReality, billboard, crime, GoodSamaratin, government, Netherlands, top, violence, weird

Comments

mhalpApr 30th 2010 9:46AM

Neutral

A little strange... but a good idea if the stats reflect its impact after letting it work for a while.

This type of thing is all too common all over the world and is similar to [I think it's called] the "spiral of silence"; where a person is less likely to voice an opinion on a topic if one feels that one is in the minority for fear of reprisal or isolation from the majority. Basically, the larger the group of bystanders, the more likely nothing will be done.

STAND UP AND FIGHT!

I can only imagine some kid that drops acid, sees this on the screen, freaks out when he doesn't see the actual event happening across the street, tries to run across to help, and gets hit by traffic.

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DarkflameMay 1st 2010 5:41AM

Neutral

This isnt a culture difference. Sadly, the world over people will ignore situations like that.
Even when theres no chance of harm. Even when, say, someone on the floor is badly hurt...people will drive by.
It stems a bit from a combination of "What could I do?" and "Someone else will deal with it". Sadly its human nature.
We have to consciously fight against that nature within us in order to take action.

"What does the Dutch government expect of its citizens? To immediately assess a confrontation, determine who is correct in the dispute,"

The one being beaten to a pulp is normally the one to side with in any dispute.

" maybe that money would be better spent on more police protection for said workers, you think? "

No, this billboard wouldnt cover someone wages for even half a year.

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LesterMay 20th 2010 10:27AM

Neutral

I remember this. Was big news here.
This news on it's own is a bit misleading. In the Netherlands the law protects criminals as well as victims. In fact, you can be sure you will receive harsher punishment as the perp if you intervene in this kind of situation. They want to avoid people playing judge and executioner themselves, but it has gone a bit far.

What has been in the news: burglar gets knocked out by owner of a house with a heavy-duty flashlight. Burglar gets a €500 fine, houseowner get's 2 months in jail. Another example: man in Naarden intervenes in argument. Three men beating up some tiny guy. One of the men tries to hit him. He gives a headbutt. Guys beating up the loner go free(they had been frightened enough by the man smashing a nose to bits the bleeding it caused)and the guy that saves someone else gets a big fine(I believe it was about €1500-€2000.) When askes if he would do anything again, he replied:"No way, if I ever come across a situation like this again, I will just walk by. Fend for yourself." Man in Amsterdam comes home and familyfriend is raping his wife. He breaks the guys legs. Broken legs was considered punishment enough by the court, and so the familyfriend was let go with a warning. The husband went to jail for causing severe bodily harm, and received 2 years(Husbands name was Henriques). In all these cases, these people were expexted to act, BUT that means grabbing a hold of whoever is doing anything(a firm grip around the shoulder is acceptable) and calling the police while holding the criminal. You cannot use any kind of violence at all. If you do, you better have a story so good, police will let you off the hook, because you can be damn sure the courts will NOT let it slide.

Now you're walking in Amsterdam, and there's a huge guy beating someone up. Not doing anything is a crime, but it's not like you will be prosecuted for it. You can do something, but you can't even cause a nosebleed or you will have to answer to a judge. You're supposed to grab a hold of his/her shoulder, and tell him/her to stay where he/she is, you are calling the police which will be there within 8 minutes to arrest him/her. What vient individual will listen to this? A group of 6 idiots would listen and stand there to get arrested? Or would they beat you up before you have a hold of your phone? I think I'd only bet on the beating.

Belligerent vigilantes is the last thing you'll have here. It would get criminals off the hook and the vigilantes with jailtime.

Second issue that's related to this: it's the foreigners. More specifically: one group of foreigners. It's kept out of the two most popular newsshows, but they are overrepresented in the crimestatistics. They are the usually (read: always) the ones pulling stunts like this. If you say it out loud, you're a hatemongerer and a racist, and you can bet your ass someone will call the cops on you.(I'll tell you they speak Arab and are North-African)

What would really solve the problem is stop trying so hard getting the ones who actually do help in jail.

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