Cell Phones Predict the Future 240
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."
Alternative uses (Score:3, Funny)
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.
Changes in Technology? (Score:5, Funny)
There is but one solution... (Score:4, Funny)
Elevators ! (Score:5, Funny)
Hmmm, wait a minute
Well in college I'm usual in one place. (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Seems like alot of work to go through... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wow... (Score:5, Funny)
Perhaps you haven't been following the news for the last several years. Sounds perfectly fundable under the present US administration.
Mexican Hat Dance. (Score:1, Funny)
My cell phone is telling me... (Score:5, Funny)
And so Psychohistory was born (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Shameless Plug - Schedule Nanny (Score:4, Funny)
Quicker Program (Score:1, Funny)
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!
Old News (Score:5, Funny)
Re:consider the subject (Score:1, Funny)
eh... at least it's not hal... (Score:4, Funny)
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...
Re:It's not that deep (Score:3, Funny)
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.