Joanbits

  • From /. comes this HP Labs paper: “Our results demonstrate that deviance, whether perceived or actual, from the group’s average asymmetrically impacts the price demanded to reveal private information.” In other words, the more deviant you are, the less likely you are to reveal information about yourself . . . until you get paid enough money to do so. Everyone has their price. Someone on /. commented: In other words, the greater our individual entropy, the more value we attach to it.
  • I’m now the Chair of the IEEE Women In Engineering Toronto Affinity Group. Women engineers in Toronto, I’m comin’ for ya. :)
  • I’ve also been broadcast on Japanese television again . . . this time as a voice actor only. My voiceover was used in the opening minutes of AIC‘s Burn-Up Scramble, Episode 1. Simultaneously played back with Japanese and Chinese versions, I read a weather report for a snowy Christmas Eve in Tokyo in the near future (20 years or so). (Despite the other two voiceovers, mine is pretty clear.) BUS is definitely fanservice through and through, so naturally I’m proud to be a part of this project. :P The episode first aired on Chiba TV, 01.12.04 25:25 – 25:55 (yes, that’s how some Japanese people will write 01.13.04 01:25 – 01:55.)
  • I’m off to LA tomorrow, so updates will be frequent before then (I have so much to tell y’all!) and slow until February 8th or so.

10 thoughts on “Joanbits

  1. It’s pretty amazing to me that it actually happened . . . and I’m hoping AIC or other animators contact me again. I had a blast. :)

  2. Very cool! I’m very glad for you re: voice-over and IEE; the HP labs report is very interesting, though it makes sense, really.

  3. that’s really neat about the japanese voice over! the link to the hp labs site doesnt work, but the quote is cool, and interesting. have a safe trip!!!

  4. The HP paper’s not there anymore. Poop!

    Probably slashdot’s fault too, for making that URL too popular. :-/

  5. heyyy you live in toronto, and i usded to too. I wonder if we’ve ever met in person before.

    peace!

  6. First off, wow! what a great link.
    Nowadays, I read /. about twice a year (too much crap to sift through), so i inevitably miss the few good bits that crop up every now and then, such as this paper. Thanks Joan!


    Now, an obligatory bit of silliness:

    Our conjecture and motivation is that people are willing to reveal information whenever they feel that they are somewhat typical or positively atypical compared to the social group.

    Note that the word “positively” doesn’t mean “definitely” or “decidedly” here — it means merely “towards the positive side”.
    I really liked this phrase, “positively atypical”. It can be used as a euphemism whenever you need to say, “I’m way [smarter|prettier|more successful|etc.] than you guys.” Likewise, the phrase “negatively atypical” would be great for putting people down. ;-)


    Thirdly, this sentence —

    Because of the
    ease with which data about individuals can be obtained, aggregated and dispersed, information technology can broadcast an individual’s secrets to unintended recipients who in turn can use it in ways that the individual no longer controls.

    — really gives you something to think about. The central issue is that of control over how information will be used after you release it. Anyone notice how similar this is to copyright issues?



    Furthermore, we find that small deviations in a socially positive direction are associated with a lower demanded price.

    Note the word small above. The subtle implication is that people are not as willing to reveal huge deviations from the crowd, even if those deviations are positive. I.e., if you’re too far above the rest, you’d be better off withholding the fact. Alternative interpretation: if you’ve got something way above average, don’t give it away for free; demand a price.


    In this study, the participants got paid money for revealing private information (such as age and weight).
    Has anyone wondered how all of this might apply to the situation where two individuals “barter” private information as they get to know one another? (i.e., “I’ll tell you how old I am if you tell me how old you are.”, “I’ll reveal an embarrassing secret to you, if you do the same.”, etc.)


    And now for something completely different:
    “a weather report for a snowy Christmas Eve in Tokyo” !!
    if that isn’t a rivetingly vivid image, I don’t know what is.
    Two thumbs up, Joan!

    –The Artist Previously Known As Anonymous

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