Comments on: Four for Friday Saturday, February 9 http://www.gaussianblur.org/2008/02/four-for-friday-saturday-february-9 Blurring the line between media and design Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:27:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ryan Eanes http://www.gaussianblur.org/2008/02/four-for-friday-saturday-february-9#comment-7 Ryan Eanes Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:23:31 +0000 http://gaussianblur.org.s37177.gridserver.com/?p=34#comment-7 My main point of contention is that the Law of Diminishing Returns comes into play at a certain point. It's true that computers can handle a practically unlimited amount of data, but human beings cannot. At some point in the not too distant past it was literally possible to know everything (or close to everything) that comprised human knowledge. That's not the case anymore, and while I think it's certainly laudable that Felton and Bell have undertaken these kinds of projects, I question their overall value. My main point of contention is that the Law of Diminishing Returns comes into play at a certain point. It’s true that computers can handle a practically unlimited amount of data, but human beings cannot. At some point in the not too distant past it was literally possible to know everything (or close to everything) that comprised human knowledge. That’s not the case anymore, and while I think it’s certainly laudable that Felton and Bell have undertaken these kinds of projects, I question their overall value.

]]> By: bdubbs http://www.gaussianblur.org/2008/02/four-for-friday-saturday-february-9#comment-8 bdubbs Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:58:26 +0000 http://gaussianblur.org.s37177.gridserver.com/?p=34#comment-8 The Feltron Annual Report is not unlike the project I have been undertaking and actually, Feltron and Bell were the original inspiration. The idea of tracking daily activities is very similar to what Facebook and MySpace are trying to capitalize on with "life streams" -- broadcasting every update you make to your personal profile to your connections. This includes your favorite whatever, photos, comments, etc. It's about connecting people with similar interest, sharing ideas and offering recommendations. Companies like Google, Amazon, NetFlix and Wal-Mart wouldn't be in business if it weren't for their aggressive collection of user and behavioral data. The profits are in how they use it. They are collecting all this data about you, but shouldn't you own your own personal information? Look for my independent personal profile coming soon to bdubbs.net. The Feltron Annual Report is not unlike the project I have been undertaking and actually, Feltron and Bell were the original inspiration.

The idea of tracking daily activities is very similar to what Facebook and MySpace are trying to capitalize on with “life streams” — broadcasting every update you make to your personal profile to your connections. This includes your favorite whatever, photos, comments, etc.

It’s about connecting people with similar interest, sharing ideas and offering recommendations. Companies like Google, Amazon, NetFlix and Wal-Mart wouldn’t be in business if it weren’t for their aggressive collection of user and behavioral data. The profits are in how they use it.

They are collecting all this data about you, but shouldn’t you own your own personal information?

Look for my independent personal profile coming soon to bdubbs.net.

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