Posted on

Quantcast Proprietary Pixel Query for WordPress.com

This morning, I posted a support query in the deep and authentic WordPress.com Support Forum concerning previous discussions of the “Quantcast Pixel” that is loaded for each WordPress.com blog.  It seems that if you visit the Quantcast site, anyone can get information on your WordPress.com blog just by entering your blog name at the end of the Quantcast URL.  Here’s the text of my support inquiry — I have added the screenshots for this article:

Continue reading → Quantcast Proprietary Pixel Query for WordPress.com

Posted on

Anticipatory GPS Behavior Models and NYC Taxi Data

GPS is a wonderful technology and the New York City Taxi and Limousine
have been requiring mandatory GPS devices in taxis to track yellow cab
migration and “hot spots” during various points in the day.  In the
example below, the red hotspots are the best places for hailing a cab at
11pm on a Saturday.

Continue reading → Anticipatory GPS Behavior Models and NYC Taxi Data

Posted on

NYPD Knows You Are Your Cellphone

You are your cellphone and the New York Police Department
knows your phone identifies you better than a fingerprint or an identity card because you can be marked and tracked throughout your life in real time and the breadcrumbs of your history in movement and communication can be recorded, saved, and used against you for future prosecution — and it may not be legal.

Continue reading → NYPD Knows You Are Your Cellphone

Posted on

Brussels Bluetooth Bloodhounding

We love Bluetooth technology as it passively assists us in our everyday needs; but what happens when Bluetooth is turned against us?  How do we feel about being bloodhounded by a technology that forms us instead of serving us?

Continue reading → Brussels Bluetooth Bloodhounding

Posted on

Your MetroCard is Watching You

The more technology seems to advance, the harder it is to get away from its watchful eye.  We cannot escape.  We cannot hide.  Every time you make a transaction at an ATM, the machine records that your account was accessed, at the exact time, at the exact place, with uncanny precision.  At a bank 100 years ago, do you imagine for a moment that the tellers were keeping track of every single transaction down to the second?  The New York City subway advertisements remind us that by buying a 30-day MetroCard, we are effectively paying less for using the subway now than we did in 1986.

Continue reading → Your MetroCard is Watching You

Posted on

Google Reader Trends Knows

Do you read news and blogs on the web via an RSS client? If yes, what RSS reader do you use?

I use Google Reader to watch my information because it is easy to use, it integrates with my iGoogle start page really well, and it beats the pants off every other RSS reader I’ve tried and I’ve tried them all.
Which sites do you read every day?

How many articles do you read per week? Do you share with others what you find? We know Google follows our Web History and knows our Search Wants — but are you aware if you use Google Reader you are also able to see how Google tracks your RSS trends? 

Continue reading → Google Reader Trends Knows

Posted on

Google Web History Knows Your Wants

We all know Google knows everything about us.

How do you feel about that fact?

If you are logged into your Google account, do you know you can have Google show you a Web History of all your Google searches?

It’s a little creepy. It tells you a lot. Google Web History is a newish feature that isn’t getting a lot of play yet.

Google can remember all your web searches and provide context and analysis of who you are and what you needed. Google Web History can provide a scary look back in time over the course of who you are and what your searches want. You need to be logged into your Google account in order for your Web History to be recorded.

Continue reading → Google Web History Knows Your Wants