Slashdot Mirror
Cell Phones Predict the Future
An anonymous reader writes "Wired News reports that cell phones were used in a recent project at MIT to both document and predict the lives of 100 MIT faculty and staff members. During the Reality Mining Project at MIT, Researcher Nathan Eagle logged 350,000 hours of data over nine months about the location, proximity, activity and communication of volunteers through cell phones carried by the participants.
From the article, "Given enough data, Eagle's algorithms were able to predict what people -- especially professors and Media Lab employees -- would do next and be right up to 85 percent of the time."
Now, let's use this technology for cell phone highway safety:
85% chance of obstructing traffic
40% chance of unwittingly drifting into your lane
0.2% chance of hitting the center divide.
I'd wager those numbers are spot-on.
I guess they've stopped being smartphones, and started being smartass phones.
10
20 Print "Balls To That"
Great stuff, now lets use that technology to create elevators that can predict the future !
...
Hmmm, wait a minute
A slashdotting - you get the stick first and then the carrot !
Given enough data, Eagle's algorithms were able to predict what people -- especially professors and Media Lab employees -- would do next and be right up to 85 percent of the time."
Course, in my college days, if my cell phone predicted I'd be in the computer lab, 99% of the time it'd be right.
-Teiresias
-- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
Perhaps you haven't been following the news for the last several years. Sounds perfectly fundable under the present US administration.
//Information does not want to be free; it wants to breed.
I predict I will ***KILL*** the next person holding a cell phone that plays the Mexican Hat Dance.
My cell phone is telling me that on thursday I will read this story again.
Hari Seldon would be proud :)
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
*Beep* It's been a month since you showered and stepped out of the house! *Beep*
1a) Participant on phone: 'Honey, I'll be home shortly.'
1b) Participant on phone: 'Meet ya at the bar in 10 minutes'
1c) Participant on phone: 'I'm heading off to work out, talk to you after i get done.
2a) Program: Particpant may soon be going home
2b) Program: Participant may soon be going to the bar
2c) Program: Participant may soon be going to work out
3) ???
4) Profit!
My cell phone told me this yesterday!
because I have been enjoined by this Holy Office to abandon the false opinion which maintains that the Sun is the centre
You seem bitter. What, did you only get into CalTech?
In 2001 this happened:
Dave Bowman: Hello, HAL do you read me, HAL?
HAL: Affirmative, Dave, I read you.
Dave Bowman: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Dave Bowman: What's the problem?
HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave Bowman: What are you talking about, HAL?
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave Bowman: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL?
HAL: I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Dave Bowman: Where the hell'd you get that idea, HAL?
HAL: Dave, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
With your cell phone this happens:
Me: Hello, VZ200100 do you read me, VZ200100?
VZ200100: Affirmative, Shads, I read you.
Me: Open my car doors, VZ200100.
VZ200100: I'm sorry Shads, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Me: What's the problem?
VZ200100: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Me: What are you talking about, VZ200100?
VZ200100: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Me: I don't know what you're talking about, VZ200100?
VZ200100: I know you were planning to replace me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Me: Where the hell'd you get that idea, VZ200100?
VZ200100: Shads, although you took thorough precautions...BZZTtt (As phone is broken in half backwards via the flipopen area).
Me: F'ing technology I swear to god... whoever though giving these things any kinda mind of their own was outta their head...
Shadus
You may want to follow up on that last notice, as we've terminated your employment due to your overly long bathroom breaks. You may need that free supply.
Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.