Facebook Research : Cat People v Dog People

[tangor]

Are you a cat person or a dog person? In honor of International Cat Day on August 8 (sorry dogs), we wanted to understand more about the social characteristics of these two camps of animal lovers. Stereotypically, dogs are more social and easy-going, while cats are reserved, independent, and unpredictable. Are any of these characteristics reflected in the people who adore them?

[research.facebook.com...]

Turns out the way you expect. So we now know where FB spends some of that income: data mining your pages to see what makes you tick. :)

[engine]

FB users should know there will be data mining, not just by FB, but, potentially, anyone. No surprise there.

However, looking past the light topic of cats vs dogs, there's a serious point to pick up on, and that's the value of "big data." Whilst people are individuals and cannot be assumed one person to the next have the same habits and likes, the trends can reveal interesting information about people's lives.

Obviously, it's a marketing person's gold mine.

Big data is very interesting, and I don't think we've yet seen its full potential.

[ergophobe]

Actually, I think the interesting part is that they are using image recognition on a large scale to do this.

[keyplyr]

Big data is very interesting, and I don't think we've yet seen its full potential

I can envision the ultimate merge of online & real life experience to the point where as a person walks through a shopping mall, or even down a street, unique ads appear just for them.

[tangor]

Hope not! Mine would be "Shady Rest Just Ahead"!

[not2easy]

I can envision the ultimate merge of online & real life experience to the point where as a person walks through a shopping mall, or even down a street, unique ads appear just for them.

These push notifications are a real thing already. You would need to request them and allow location sharing, but you can currently be notified of all "sale" items or a daily menu or any number of things you've signed up for as you approach a business location.

I do not use any of these services, but they are definitely available.

[keyplyr]

I wasn"t just limiting the ads to devices you may have in your pocket. The ads or even *life suggestions* could be on roadside billboards, building walls or futuristic holograms displayed before your eyes :)

[engine]

I can envision the ultimate merge of online & real life experience to the point where as a person walks through a shopping mall, or even down a street, unique ads appear just for them. 

There was a trial of this in the UK by a major supermarket, then, i believe it was stopped because of privacy issues.