Category: Ethnographic Methods

  • Innerscope and Affectiva apply biometric and anthropometric techniques to consumer behavior

    A basic principle of behavioral science (actually originally from anthropology) is that subjective measures of behavior such as surveys or interviews are almost always fraught with inaccuracies because people’s words and behaviors do not always align. Now,with the emergence of both the massive online data collection made possibly by the internet and also new biometric…

    Read article →

  • Bugs are the new sushi: Bug eating break throughs

    A number of bug food related ventures from small dinners to larger mail order businesses are popping up in the NY and Rhode Island areas. Take http://www.smallstockfoods.com/  a company providing bug food consulting and catering. Buggy fare has been featured at the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans and at events like BugFest at the North Carolina Museum…

    Read article →

  • You are not a gadget: Considering the social side of new technologies

    A good critique of some of the risks and issues of today’s exploding use of online social media. Jaron Lanier argues it is creating a wealth of fake, fragmented social relationships, endlessly rehashed content and demeaning true human talents. And this is coming from a hardcore techie who developed VR. However his parents relocated to New…

    Read article →

  • EvoFIT: Evolutionary science and anthropometrics applied to criminal facial recognition software

    For a long time the process of identifying suspects in criminal cases was a rather frighteningly imprecise one of line ups relying on human’s often variable ability to remember specific facial features. Now, using evolutionary and anthropometric sciences, this article shows how new software can allow identification using a gradual process of increased recognition more…

    Read article →

  • Biological Anthropologists search for Stress Vaccine

    Robert Sapolsky a bio anthropologist is leading the search for a stress vaccine using evolutionary science. Under Pressure: The Search for a Stress Vaccine | Wired Magazine | Wired.com. Related articles Researchers create needle-free vaccine out of sugar (itv.com) Vaccine effectiveness tied to sleep habits (time4sleep.com) NaturalNews – FDA Approves First GMO Flu Vaccine Containing Reprogrammed…

    Read article →

  • Globe Trekker on breakfasts of the world

    I rather like this show. In particular the breakfasts consumed around the world consist of foods that Starbucks sugar addled American brains would shudder to think. Most are well rounded meals high in protein, fiber, beneficial fats, probiotics, and micro nutrients such as pickled veggies and fish washed down with a beer (Thailand). The official…

    Read article →

  • Sleep apnea treatment through ancient medicine

    Tired of uncomfortable and ineffective Western treatments for the disease, some patients are turning to alternatives including playing of the Didgeridoo developed by Australian aborigines which is shown to reduce symptoms of sleep apnea. Relief of Sleep Apnea can be found using CPAP devices, but compliance is low – WSJ.com.

    Read article →

  • Supernormal Stimuli: evolutionary basis of human behavior

    Book Review: Supernormal Stimuli – WSJ.com. Awesome new book on evolutionary anthropological basis of behavior Related articles How Technology is Like Bug Sex (psychologytoday.com) Nir Eyal: How Technology Is Like Bug Sex (huffingtonpost.com)

    Read article →

  • The end of the office… and the future of work

    www.boston.com So recently I’ve been taking a look at new forms of work including elance, odesk and of course well known micro-commerce sites like threadless, etsy, and those periodic sales on ebay… What is interesting is how this article shows these are all part of a larger shift in the way we work which encourages…

    Read article →

  • In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits | Magazine

    via www.wired.com An interesting new article in Wired on the way that social networking, crowdsourcing and software driven, personal manufacturing is transforming the manufacturing of every type of good. Indeed the worlds of bit and atoms are merging at a rapid clip. Related articles Innovation Lessons From 3-D Printing (sloanreview.mit.edu) Bits of Atoms (farisyakob.typepad.com) Robots Will…

    Read article →

  • Avatar Anthropology

    via news.discovery.com A number of discussions have charted the peculiar syndrome that is accompanying the thousands of people worldwide who have seen the new film Avatar. Apparently the film’s extremely realistic yet idealistic environment and culture painstaking created by digital animators working closely with anthropologists, linguists and biologists hired by Cameron has resulted in a number…

    Read article →