Comments on: I like Neil Diamond! Is that private data? http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:07:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Samrobb http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2275 Samrobb Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:38:22 +0000 http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2275 ... and, now, the iPhone finally has an SDK coming, so something like this may actually be doable. … and, now, the iPhone finally has an SDK coming, so something like this may actually be doable.

]]> By: Samrobb http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2272 Samrobb Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:14:13 +0000 http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2272 This a current project, or just speculative thinking? This a current project, or just speculative thinking?

]]> By: Bryan Mills http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2251 Bryan Mills Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:44:46 +0000 http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2251 Its interesting that Samrobb would mention cell phones because you could envision this aggregation actually occurring as the data travels through a multi-hop network. If you did this you could actually ensure the privacy of the data as it travels through the network. Its interesting that Samrobb would mention cell phones because you could envision this aggregation actually occurring as the data travels through a multi-hop network. If you did this you could actually ensure the privacy of the data as it travels through the network.

]]> By: Samrobb http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2203 Samrobb Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:54:12 +0000 http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2203 Gene & I were talking about something similar to this at one point - the idea would be to do personal data mining and correlation based on data flow in a smart phone (OK, iPhone :-) Part of the problem is that you'd want to keep it from becoming the ultimate spyware app. I want my machine / phone / whatever to build a profile that *I* can use to find stuff I might be interested in, not that *others* can use to figure out how to spam me with advertisements. BTW, Bryan, you're one of the top Google hits for "Apple Store Pittsburgh" :-) Gene & I were talking about something similar to this at one point - the idea would be to do personal data mining and correlation based on data flow in a smart phone (OK, iPhone :-) Part of the problem is that you’d want to keep it from becoming the ultimate spyware app. I want my machine / phone / whatever to build a profile that *I* can use to find stuff I might be interested in, not that *others* can use to figure out how to spam me with advertisements.

BTW, Bryan, you’re one of the top Google hits for “Apple Store Pittsburgh” :-)

]]> By: Bryan Mills http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2198 Bryan Mills Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:00:10 +0000 http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2198 Absolutely, this is much more difficult than I suggest. The general idea I presented has several major problems. We assumed you have some secure communications channel, otherwise a person overhearing many requests/responses can determine what people "like". If people "gossip" they can determine who "likes" what. As Doctor What pointed out the system I proposed assumed you trust everyones suggestions. One way to solve this is to vote on suggestions, so instead of just blindly accepting a suggestion you can put it to vote using a similar protocol of asking your friends. Some of the problems with these types of schemes have been solved but there are still plenty of open questions surrounding this problem. -bryan Absolutely, this is much more difficult than I suggest. The general idea I presented has several major problems.

We assumed you have some secure communications channel, otherwise a person overhearing many requests/responses can determine what people “like”.

If people “gossip” they can determine who “likes” what.

As Doctor What pointed out the system I proposed assumed you trust everyones suggestions. One way to solve this is to vote on suggestions, so instead of just blindly accepting a suggestion you can put it to vote using a similar protocol of asking your friends.

Some of the problems with these types of schemes have been solved but there are still plenty of open questions surrounding this problem.

-bryan

]]> By: The Doctor What http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2189 The Doctor What Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:15:19 +0000 http://bryanmills.net/archives/2007/10/i-like-neil-diamond-is-that-private-data/#comment-2189 Yeah, but if you know someone who likes Neil Diamond, that's *also* information. Besides, there may be lots of information that might correlate for a suggestion as well. People who buy less than $20 worth of cds might like Neil Diamond. Do you share that information? What if it gets you a better suggestion? If you share too much of the sort of info you can blame on the friend you're buying for, they can identify your "friend" as well! It's sort of like the derivative of data. I think it's even more complicated than you suggest. Ciao! Yeah, but if you know someone who likes Neil Diamond, that’s *also* information.

Besides, there may be lots of information that might correlate for a suggestion as well. People who buy less than $20 worth of cds might like Neil Diamond. Do you share that information? What if it gets you a better suggestion?

If you share too much of the sort of info you can blame on the friend you’re buying for, they can identify your “friend” as well!

It’s sort of like the derivative of data.

I think it’s even more complicated than you suggest.

Ciao!

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