Comments on: A Physics of Ideas: Measuring The Physical Properties of Memes http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes The Future of the Web, Search Technology, and the Global Brain Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:45:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nova http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-5033 Nova Sun, 17 Jul 2011 05:06:00 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-5033 The importance of an idea can be empirically measured by its distribution in social media. However, if it's advertised a lot, that doesn't mean it matters to anyone, but it certainly means a lot of people will see it, so it will be "on their minds" to some extent. But if we want to really differentiate the what's important (to people) from what is merely visible to them, we might want to pay more attention to cases where people actively participate in spreading a meme, for example by retweeting it or sharing it, citing it, etc. From this sharing we can infer the level of importance of a set of memes (that occur in such shared content). The importance of an idea can be empirically measured by its distribution in social media. However, if it’s advertised a lot, that doesn’t mean it matters to anyone, but it certainly means a lot of people will see it, so it will be “on their minds” to some extent. But if we want to really differentiate the what’s important (to people) from what is merely visible to them, we might want to pay more attention to cases where people actively participate in spreading a meme, for example by retweeting it or sharing it, citing it, etc. From this sharing we can infer the level of importance of a set of memes (that occur in such shared content).

]]> By: euflexxa http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-4877 euflexxa Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:29:23 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-4877 Physical therapy continuing education is distinctive from state to state, based on their requirements and conditions imposed to physical therapists and physical therapists assistants. Should you be prepared to begin a career in this domain, physical therapy continuing education provides major chances, starting with public and private colleges and universities offering health courses. Physical therapy continuing education is distinctive from state to state, based on their requirements and conditions imposed to physical therapists and physical therapists assistants. Should you be prepared to begin a career in this domain, physical therapy continuing education provides major chances, starting with public and private colleges and universities offering health courses.

]]> By: jean paul jacquel http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-4875 jean paul jacquel Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:05:55 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-4875 I find this idea interesting and stimulating but I must confess a problem with analogies. As they're creating a frame for your thinking they're very positive but at a certain point it seems to me that you must no more accept the analogy and after finding where it looks to be the same it's useful to look after where it differs. Else you will be tied to your metaphor. It seems to me that it is the very case here. I agree with the idea of a physics of memes but maybe it could be useful to have a look on biology (darwinism or cell growth) and, like you suggest, fields and waves or nets, etc. (I apologize for my english and expect you've understand what I'm trying to say, sorry) I find this idea interesting and stimulating but I must confess a problem with analogies. As they're creating a frame for your thinking they're very positive but at a certain point it seems to me that you must no more accept the analogy and after finding where it looks to be the same it's useful to look after where it differs. Else you will be tied to your metaphor. It seems to me that it is the very case here. I agree with the idea of a physics of memes but maybe it could be useful to have a look on biology (darwinism or cell growth) and, like you suggest, fields and waves or nets, etc. (I apologize for my english and expect you've understand what I'm trying to say, sorry)

]]> By: mindingtheplanet http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3027 mindingtheplanet Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:38:09 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3027 My latest thinking on this topic is that it may be more accurate to model a meme as a wave or a field, rather than as a classical physical particle. But in any case, I still believe that it is possible to establish a mapping from existing physics to the field of memetics, so that we can apply existing physical theory to measure and predict the behavior of memes on the Web, and out in the world (by inference from what is happening on the Web and correlated data sets). My latest thinking on this topic is that it may be more accurate to model a meme as a wave or a field, rather than as a classical physical particle. But in any case, I still believe that it is possible to establish a mapping from existing physics to the field of memetics, so that we can apply existing physical theory to measure and predict the behavior of memes on the Web, and out in the world (by inference from what is happening on the Web and correlated data sets).

]]> By: Nova Spivack http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-4794 Nova Spivack Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:38:09 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-4794 My latest thinking on this topic is that it may be more accurate to model a meme as a wave or a field, rather than as a classical physical particle. But in any case, I still believe that it is possible to establish a mapping from existing physics to the field of memetics, so that we can apply existing physical theory to measure and predict the behavior of memes on the Web, and out in the world (by inference from what is happening on the Web and correlated data sets). <br><br>As for evidence, the field of memetics is extremely young, and mappings such as those that I have described have to be tried and tested. This is a testable hypothesis -- for example, if we can measure the momenta of individual memes, we should be able to then start to make predictions about their interactions that can be tested experimentally. Once we can establish that our mapping from physics to memetics is working consistently, we can actually say this is experimentally verified. For now it is a hypothesis only, but one which is at least qualitatively seeming to be increasingly likely to be true.<br><br>I agree that we may not want to give every instance of a mention of a meme the same weight. The system would be much more sensitive if we could apply weightings to terms (for example, based on author, or novelty, or popularity of terms, etc.). My latest thinking on this topic is that it may be more accurate to model a meme as a wave or a field, rather than as a classical physical particle. But in any case, I still believe that it is possible to establish a mapping from existing physics to the field of memetics, so that we can apply existing physical theory to measure and predict the behavior of memes on the Web, and out in the world (by inference from what is happening on the Web and correlated data sets).

As for evidence, the field of memetics is extremely young, and mappings such as those that I have described have to be tried and tested. This is a testable hypothesis — for example, if we can measure the momenta of individual memes, we should be able to then start to make predictions about their interactions that can be tested experimentally. Once we can establish that our mapping from physics to memetics is working consistently, we can actually say this is experimentally verified. For now it is a hypothesis only, but one which is at least qualitatively seeming to be increasingly likely to be true.

I agree that we may not want to give every instance of a mention of a meme the same weight. The system would be much more sensitive if we could apply weightings to terms (for example, based on author, or novelty, or popularity of terms, etc.).

]]> By: drew_freyman http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3025 drew_freyman Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:39:38 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3025 I see two serious issues with your theory:<br>1. Assuming the behavior of ideas is analogous to the behavior of particles in the physical world. There is no evidence that this is true. I would hope social scientists will have learned by this time from the mistakes of economics in trying to apply the principles of physics to the study of social issues<br>2. Giving each instance of an idea the same value. This would give greater value to idea that have been advertised and promoted than those that were not, which is not necessarily true. An idea with a single instance, because of the importance of its meaning, can have more importance than an idea of which their a millions of instances I see two serious issues with your theory:
1. Assuming the behavior of ideas is analogous to the behavior of particles in the physical world. There is no evidence that this is true. I would hope social scientists will have learned by this time from the mistakes of economics in trying to apply the principles of physics to the study of social issues
2. Giving each instance of an idea the same value. This would give greater value to idea that have been advertised and promoted than those that were not, which is not necessarily true. An idea with a single instance, because of the importance of its meaning, can have more importance than an idea of which their a millions of instances

]]> By: drew_freyman http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-4795 drew_freyman Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:39:38 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-4795 I see two serious issues with your theory:<br>1. Assuming the behavior of ideas is analogous to the behavior of particles in the physical world. There is no evidence that this is true. I would hope social scientists will have learned by this time from the mistakes of economics in trying to apply the principles of physics to the study of social issues<br>2. Giving each instance of an idea the same value. This would give greater value to idea that have been advertised and promoted than those that were not, which is not necessarily true. An idea with a single instance, because of the importance of its meaning, can have more importance than an idea of which their a millions of instances I see two serious issues with your theory:
1. Assuming the behavior of ideas is analogous to the behavior of particles in the physical world. There is no evidence that this is true. I would hope social scientists will have learned by this time from the mistakes of economics in trying to apply the principles of physics to the study of social issues
2. Giving each instance of an idea the same value. This would give greater value to idea that have been advertised and promoted than those that were not, which is not necessarily true. An idea with a single instance, because of the importance of its meaning, can have more importance than an idea of which their a millions of instances

]]> By: Nova http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3026 Nova Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:21:31 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3026 My latest thinking on the idea is that it is probably better to represent memes as waves or fields, rather than as classical particles. But the general analogy still holds. My latest thinking on the idea is that it is probably better to represent memes as waves or fields, rather than as classical particles. But the general analogy still holds.

]]> By: The Global Brain is about to Wake Up « Nova Spivack – Minding the Planet http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3024 The Global Brain is about to Wake Up « Nova Spivack – Minding the Planet Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:44:15 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3024 [...] by how timely, influential, and “hot” they are now. See my article from years ago on “A Physics of Ideas” for more about that. Real-time search companies should think of themselves as real-time monitoring [...] [...] by how timely, influential, and “hot” they are now. See my article from years ago on “A Physics of Ideas” for more about that. Real-time search companies should think of themselves as real-time monitoring [...]

]]> By: dan http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3017 dan Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:13:11 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3017 Another application that comes to mind is eliminating bias. I have noticed that different people extrapolate very different trends based on their differing experiences. Each person recieves a non-representative sample of the whole, creating a bias. This bias then feeds on itself in a feedback loop as it affects how new information is absorbed. An algorithm like yours could resolve many disputes. Other people that might be interested in your idea are artificial intelligence researchers. This is quite possibly the most interesting thing I have read on memetics since memetics itself. I am going to link to this from my blog as soon as I get around to it. Another application that comes to mind is eliminating bias. I have noticed that different people extrapolate very different trends based on their differing experiences. Each person recieves a non-representative sample of the whole, creating a bias. This bias then feeds on itself in a feedback loop as it affects how new information is absorbed. An algorithm like yours could resolve many disputes.
Other people that might be interested in your idea are artificial intelligence researchers.
This is quite possibly the most interesting thing I have read on memetics since memetics itself. I am going to link to this from my blog as soon as I get around to it.

]]> By: Alex Barnett blog http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3018 Alex Barnett blog Wed, 11 Jan 2006 08:19:22 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3018 <strong>Multiples and mashups</strong> I've had the good fortune of meeting Matt McAlister of Yahoo, great thinker, really nice guy. For some... Multiples and mashups

I’ve had the good fortune of meeting Matt McAlister of Yahoo, great thinker, really nice guy.
For some…

]]> By: Alex Barnett blog http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3019 Alex Barnett blog Wed, 11 Jan 2006 07:35:59 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3019 <strong>Multiples and mashups</strong> I've had the good fortune of meeting Matt McAlister of Yahoo, great thinker, really nice guy. For some... Multiples and mashups

I’ve had the good fortune of meeting Matt McAlister of Yahoo, great thinker, really nice guy.
For some…

]]> By: Contentious Weblog http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3020 Contentious Weblog Sat, 28 Aug 2004 23:01:34 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3020 <strong>Ripples in the Blogosphere</strong> Earlier this year, blogger <b>Nova Spivack</b> undertook a very cool, original, and potentially useful project: his <a href="http://novaspivack.typepad.com/nova_spivacks_weblog/2004/08/a_sonar_ping_of.html" rel="nofollow"><b>blog meme propagation experiment</b></a>. ... Ripples in the Blogosphere

Earlier this year, blogger Nova Spivack undertook a very cool, original, and potentially useful project: his blog meme propagation experiment. …

]]> By: pinseri http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3021 pinseri Thu, 15 Jul 2004 00:46:02 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3021 <strong>Sadepäivän linkkejä</strong> Vihje Movable Typeä käyttäville bloggaajille: jos kommenttispammi alkaa muodostua haitaksi, kokeile estää suora pääsy mt-comments.cgi -tiedostoon Apachen RewriteEnginellä. Valokuvausta harrastaville linkkivinkke... Sadepäivän linkkejä

Vihje Movable Typeä käyttäville bloggaajille: jos kommenttispammi alkaa muodostua haitaksi, kokeile estää suora pääsy mt-comments.cgi -tiedostoon Apachen RewriteEnginellä. Valokuvausta harrastaville linkkivinkke…

]]> By: pinseri http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3022 pinseri Wed, 14 Jul 2004 21:06:06 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3022 <strong>Sadepäivän linkkejä</strong> Vihje Movable Typeä käyttäville bloggaajille: jos kommenttispammi alkaa muodostua haitaksi, kokeile estää suora pääsy mt-comments.cgi -tiedostoon Apachen RewriteEnginellä. Valokuvausta harrastaville linkkivinkkei... Sadepäivän linkkejä

Vihje Movable Typeä käyttäville bloggaajille: jos kommenttispammi alkaa muodostua haitaksi, kokeile estää suora pääsy mt-comments.cgi -tiedostoon Apachen RewriteEnginellä. Valokuvausta harrastaville linkkivinkkei…

]]> By: pinseri http://www.novaspivack.com/science/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes/comment-page-1#comment-3023 pinseri Wed, 14 Jul 2004 21:02:49 +0000 http://www.novaspivack.com/uncategorized/a-physics-of-ideas-measuring-the-physical-properties-of-memes#comment-3023 <strong>Sadepäivän linkkejä</strong> Vihje Movable Typeä käyttäville bloggaajille: jos kommenttispammi alkaa muodostua haitaksi, kokeile estää suora pääsy mt-comments.cgi -tiedostoon Apachen RewriteEnginellä. Valokuvausta harrastaville linkkivinkkei... Sadepäivän linkkejä

Vihje Movable Typeä käyttäville bloggaajille: jos kommenttispammi alkaa muodostua haitaksi, kokeile estää suora pääsy mt-comments.cgi -tiedostoon Apachen RewriteEnginellä. Valokuvausta harrastaville linkkivinkkei…

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