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Cute Cat Photos Are Data-Driven Science Behind Cunning New Language Learning App

Posted by Unknown on from the no-wonder-i'm-a-genius dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Cats are cute, and cute is good for cognition. Which is why Memrise, a language learning startup, settled on using lolcat-style cat photos as mnemonic aids for a new series of apps aimed at people who normally wouldn't bother learning another language. The first CatAcademy app is 'Cat Spanish' From the article: 'What we found, however we sliced it, was that pictures of cats — cute pictures specifically, of which over 50% were cats — just kept on coming out as the most effective mnemonics... I have to admit we were slightly skeptical to begin with. We're a scientific group, and data driven — but the data did drive us towards cats.'" Now, just to add cat pictures to Mnemosyne.

4 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Cheeseburgers by NoImNotNineVolt · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can has espanol?

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    Chuuch. Preach. Tabernacle.
  2. Alternatve hypothesis? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

    "We're a scientific group, and data driven — but the data did drive us towards cats."

    I assume they've excluded all other explanations including toxoplasmosis...

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    Ezekiel 23:20
  3. Re:thank god slashcode is ancient... by stewsters · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, most of you cannot even edit your posts.

    [Edit] changing you're to your

  4. Re:thank god slashcode is ancient... by dotancohen · · Score: 4, Funny

    I, for one, am glad that we are not on dotchan.

    I resemble that comment.
      - dotancohen

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    It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.