Benefits of Group Cooperation vs. Personal Decisions
Some people prefer not to get vaccinated against certain illnesses, for example, influenza, either from the belief that their immune system can handle it naturally, or if they do happen to get sick, the symptoms would simply pass in a few days. This indifference is perhaps expected given the fact that getting vaccinated has some […]
Information Cascades in Swarms
Link: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0040084 The spatial aggregation of animals, such as bees, fish, and birds, is a common phenomenon that occurs in the natural world and provides functions (e.g. protection and migration) necessary for the species’s survival. Scientists are very interested in the process during which individual members get together and coordinate as a group. There is […]
Network Theory and Big Data
This article describes the various motivations and history behind the increasing importance of network theory. From early Londoners mapping the London Tube to find convenient routes to the “six degrees of separation” of Kevin Bacon (which describes how everyone is at most six “hops” away from Kevin Bacon, a prolific actor). However, unlike other sciences, […]
Information Cascades and Sexual Misconduct in Hollywood
One of the most pressing topics in recent news has been the vast number of powerful men in Hollywood being accused of sexual misconduct, ranging from harassment to rape. The chain of allegations began when Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood film producer, was accused of sexual assault by an Italian actress. Following her accusation, multiple women came […]
The Necessity of Adaptation in Preventing Ransomware Attacks
On November 7th and 8th in The Woodlands, Texas, a conference on oil and gas cybersecurity was held to outline the key cybersecurity issues the industry faces today and how to tackle those issues and adapt for what the future of cyberattacks may hold. Michael Leigh, the global head of incident response at consultant NCC […]
Bayes Rule and Big Data
Source: http://data-informed.com/applying-bayes-theorem-to-a-big-data-world/ In an increasingly technological world, the collection and utilization of big data is paramount. “Applying Bayes Theorem to a Big Data World” written by Catherine Bernardone and published on DataInformed.com discusses the role of Bayes Theory within the development of machine learning and predictive analytics. In lecture we’ve talked about Bayes Theorem in […]
Preventing the Spread of Disease After a Hurricane
The article discusses the dangers communities can face in the aftermath of hurricanes long after they strike, in the form of infectious disease. The destruction of infrastructure caused by hurricanes often has serious adverse effects on public health; impassable roads and a lack of clean drinking water are just several factors in increasing disease spread. […]
Information cascades in contemporary news
https://www.ft.com/content/6973e6d6-d047-11e7-9dbb-291a884dd8c6 This article discusses the impact of an information cascade in todays news, specifically in the recent sexual assaults from high profile men in Hollywood. Prior to the digital age, information was received from newspapers in articles that were carefully researched by journalists. The information coming to any individual was isolated and the information was […]
Eitan Muller and Diffusion of Innovation
Source: http://knowledge.ckgsb.edu.cn/2014/05/06/china-business-strategy/diffusion-of-innovation-what-sticks-what-doesnt-and-why/ This source is an article that transcribes an interview with Eitan Muller, who is a Professor of Marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business. He has been studying innovation diffusion for many years, and he is essentially talking about what it takes for innovation to spread, the role of consumers, and the […]
How Tight-knit and Individualistic Communities Adopt New Technologies Differently
In this article, titled, “How Tight-knit and Individualistic Communities Adopt New Technologies Differently,” Susan Cosier explores the diffusion of different technologies across the world. The article introduces the idea of diffusion with an anecdote of a dinner table at a restaurant, where someone introduced a new technology (a messaging app called WhatsApp), and everyone at […]
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