By: A.brain
Ok, I like stats as much if not more than the next guy, and when the usual stat-daddy's unload the most up to date figures on me, I am mega-pumped to check them out. And, like you I have come to expect that not all statistics are 100% accurate. I mean, even Harriet at In The Aquarium tells me that her stat counters for her site don't report the same numbers all the time. So, we have some inconsistency with the stats - ok...I got it. Not freaked out about it, even when I quote stats to someone like the butthole that I am (cause only truly elitist jack-wads use actual statistics in their everyday venacular) I am fairly aware at how empty the percentage points could be.
"Did you know that 44% of all internet hate crimes end with someone having a mouse removed from an orifice in their person?"
But The Portable People Meter could be TOO ACCURATE for me. The pager-sized electronic device clips to your belt. The PPM picks up specially encoded signals coming from televisions and radios. The signals have been "psychoacoustically masked" to render them inaudible to the human ear, and contains the name of the program that the PPM wearer is watching or listening to. The meter keeps a perfect record of all the broadcast media the wearer consumes, making a note of the date, time, and duration of consumption.
The Portable People Meter has a lot going for it. So much, that Arbitron is adding GPS capability to the device so it can tell where its wearer is consuming media.
The reason that is a key feature is that it will enable Arbitron to determine where people are influenced by media. And since they are essentially tracking people, and not advertising, the coming stages of measurable print, and web mediums in the device will be a keystone for them as well in determining how we are exposed to outside influences.
How will they measure the print and web outlets we look at...I mean it's not like the newspaper will put out a psychoacoustically masked signal is it? No, not yet - but consider the Microsoft SenseCam, which can record up to 2000 images a day and would give you an actual "log" of the days activities without so much as a keystroke lifted to record it.
(the SenseCam)
Or how about the Nokia LifeBlog, which makes you ino Jim Carey's character in Truman, having your life recorded - except you'd know about it.
I don't know about you - but NOBODY really wants to see my life played out before them. Hell - I don't want to see my life replayed before me - AND I FIND MYSELF INTERESTING!! I know Arbitron just wants to pimp out the information for fat amounts of cash- but I find it creepy coupled with the idea that Shadow threw on us...one thought...
1984.
Hey G rated punk I comming to take over your block. Look out here comes PIG SUEY PIMP
Posted by: Razorback Jit | 04/06/2004 at 01:24 PM
I wuz wundering if I should get sumptin a lil smallar for my girlz? The rather large low jacks around their ankles are hurtin buisness.... Maybe you can tell me where I could get a couple of those micro chips to implant in the back of their necks. Help Jit out!
Hate the game not the PLAYER
Posted by: G rated Jit | 04/06/2004 at 08:14 AM