Wednesday 15 September 2010

Gamers make faster decisions than nongamers, just as accurate

Gamers make faster decisions than nongamers, just as accurate:

very interesting indeed!

maybe I should not have given up on my copy of half life then..
good excuse to get back on some proper gaming. ;-)



"There's a significant controversy over the value of games that are designed to improve people's mental faculties, as some studies have indicated that brain training only helps prepare you for similar tasks, while others indicate that general improvements are possible. But there turns out to be a type of game that is known to boost a variety of skills, from decision making to tracking multiple objects: standard action games. A study, released today by Current Biology attempts to explain how these video games can produce such wide-ranging improvements."

Thursday 9 September 2010

potential eBay privacy concerns from my limited experience. eBay help pls!?

This is a very special week for me, in my eBay user history.

After having an eBay account since May 2001, I finally sold a couple of my old HiFi kits..

despite my multiple social network profiles, I am a rather private person (outside of business).

I am firm believer on the eBay/paypal model (I used paypal for a while and having been in gaming/finance sectors since 2001, totally respect the KYC procedures of paypal being one of the best).. but I noticed a potential eBay "privacy flaw" that could be exploited by unscrupulous vendors of smaller ticket items.. {for argument sake}.

That is, the transparency of previous bids/sales' feedback. (as the amount of trust is a proxy of the number of positive feedback, or just feedback of a person's previous transactions.. ), it might be one step too far for me.. try it yourself:

If you go to: http://myworld.ebay.com/[YOUR own eBay ID]

I have observed by looking at what the winners of my two hifi items (now I have got their addresses, as winning bidder), I can also see what they have purchased in the past years, and what they like, what they can afford (some expensive £2,000+ jewellery) .. and now I have their contact details, and know he/she will be collecting from me, surely this could be a major security risks!?

Is there an option that I anonymise/make private my previous bidding histories, not that I have any.. but I would like to start using eBay (when I have time) but only if I have such an option.

Signed, a curious long term member but first time user!

or am I paranoid!?

@GarethWong

potential eBay privacy concerns from my limited experience. eBay help pls!

This is a very special week for me, in my eBay user history.

After having an eBay account since May 2001, I finally sold a couple of my old HiFi kits..

despite my multiple social network profiles, I am a rather private person (outside of business).

I am firm believer on the eBay/paypal model (I used paypal for a while and having been in gaming/finance sectors since 2001, totally respect the KYC procedures of paypal being one of the best).. but I noticed a potential eBay "privacy flaw" that could be exploited by unscrupulous vendors of smaller ticket items.. {for argument sake}.

That is, the transparency of previous bids/sales' feedback. (as the amount of trust is a proxy of the number of positive feedback, or just feedback of a person's previous transactions.. ), it might be one step too far for me.. try it yourself:

If you go to: http://myworld.ebay.com/[YOUR own eBay ID]

I have observed by looking at what the winners of my two hifi items (now I have got their addresses, as winning bidder), I can also see what they have purchased in the past years, and what they like, what they can afford (some expensive £2,000+ jewellery) .. and now I have their contact details, and know he/she will be collecting from me, surely this could be a major security risks!?

Is there an option that I anonymise/make private my previous bidding histories, not that I have any.. but I would like to start using eBay (when I have time) but only if I have such an option.

Signed, a curious long term member but first time user!

@GarethWong

potential eBay privacy concerns from my limited experience. eBay help pls!

This is a very special week for me, in my eBay user history.

After having an eBay account since May 2001, I finally sold a couple of my old HiFi kits..

despite my multiple social network profiles, I am a rather private person (outside of business).

I am firm believer on the eBay/paypal model (I used paypal for a while and having been in gaming/finance sectors since 2001, totally respect the KYC procedures of paypal being one of the best).. but I noticed a potential eBay "privacy flaw" that could be exploited by unscrupulous vendors of smaller ticket items.. {for argument sake}.

That is, the transparency of previous bids/sales' feedback. (as the amount of trust is a proxy of the number of positive feedback, or just feedback of a person's previous transactions.. ), it might be one step too far for me.. try it yourself:

If you go to: http://myworld.ebay.com/[YOUR own eBay ID]

I have observed by looking at what the winners of my two hifi items (now I have got their addresses, as winning bidder), I can also see what they have purchased in the past years, and what they like, what they can afford (some expensive £2,000+ jewellery) .. and now I have their contact details, and know he/she will be collecting from me, surely this could be a major security risks!?

Is there an option that I anonymise/make private my previous bidding histories, not that I have any.. but I would like to start using eBay (when I have time) but only if I have such an option.

Signed, a curious long term member but first time user!

@GarethWong

end of Digital or normal SLR?? if Point & Shot camera can do fantastic picture like this??

just come across Ben's photo on Flickr..

wow!

Does it mean the days which Point & Shoot guys can compete AND win the SLR/DSLR guys?

I wonder, and is there any competitions to help decide??

short comments & my favourite, essentially 1-2-1 marketing! & same as 'customerLife'! Mastercom viral marketing and viral video campaigns

Mastercom viral marketing and viral video campaigns

Great virals.. but my personal favourite, which concurrent to 'customerlife' my long term vision (since 1999, but not yet executed, as I need help!) is to bring ultimate customisation of products by acquiring pre-qualified perceived and real product/services requirements..

results 'might become like below's SNCF video'.. but of course at a much more economical and less dramatical approach!




suggest you check out above link for other viral videos ( have only gone up to the SNCF one sadly..)

Wednesday 8 September 2010

best information portals/tools for those that use public transport in London


Online & mobile tools I use frequently for my london travel:

Online:

Streetview of google maps http://maps.google.co.uk (esp. street view)
UK government's Transport for london: http://tfl.gov.uk

mobile:

TubeBuddy for blackberry
DLR London - mobile portal

hope this helps,

anything else I missed?


Monday 6 September 2010

short comments, slightly misguided kneejerk reaction again.. Foreign student numbers to be cut under new visa regime - Telegraph

Foreign student numbers to be cut under new visa regime - Telegraph

surely key is to:

1.) monitor & cut out bad 'colleges' that abuse the system? or increase monitoring/accreditation of them..

2.) ensure quality of students are high (rather than just learning A-level languages & hanging around on high streets, we have seen it many times and everywhere!)

as cutting visa may in fact decreased much needed revenue for legitimate colleges and universities (even toffs boarding schools!)..

guess, politicians has to make some controversial decisions.. sadly this might just affect the future of educational system (as majority of even good universities rely on funds from foreign students!).

Oh well... life and system does not have to make sense, I guess!


Wednesday 1 September 2010

YouTube - Shin Seung Hun - I Believe (My Sassy Girl 엽기적인 그녀 theme)

YouTube - Shin Seung Hun - I Believe (My Sassy Girl theme):
""

one of the best film from Korea..

RT @GarethWong World cinema recommendation, all time Korean comedy ever (so far), @IMDb My Sassy Girl 엽기적인 그녀 http://imdb.to/Y9pwF (or am I wrong?)