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I can see the value in this, it's the same value that agencies get from metadata. I might be sending a "yo" cos I'm home, I might be sending a "yo" because I'm

by eterm 12y ago

I can see the value in this, it's the same value that agencies get from metadata. I might be sending a "yo" cos I'm home, I might be sending a "yo" because I'm out of weed, I might be receiving a "yo" because my pizza is about to arrive. In all these cases it's the metadata that matters, I can infer the rest from that.

gedrap 12y ago
Oh God... I hope it's some sort of joke I didn't get? HNers are talking that they can't like favourite artists on FB because they are afraid to be affiliated with gangs. Or that liking something might help to detect that the user is gay (I didn't make that up). I mean, yeah privacy is serious. But if you think someone actually cares and tries to find some meaning in a teenage kid saying 'yo'...
- vezzy-fnord 12y ago
  But if you think someone actually cares and tries to find some meaning in a teenage kid saying 'yo'... Yeah, they do. And they can. In fact, in Snowden's most recent interview, he explained how even something as benign as searching for football game scores on their smartphone can lead to lots of information being revealed about that person, simply from all the metadata web applications, protocols and phones emit. It may sound ridiculous to you, but it isn't. Data is precious.
minimaxir 12y ago
You can't derive context from just a "yo." (to clarify: you can't derive context from this app alone, since all you can do is send "yo"s. There isn't enough information to formulate a why. Facebook/Twitter, of course, could make more use out of the "yo"s, but they already have that data.)
- eterm 12y ago
  You derive the context from the metadata. Unless you think metadata collection is harmless because it doesn't provide information? Anyone worried about metadata collection should see the merit of this app, it is pure metadata-only communication.
- alttab 12y ago
  You can if there is a pre-arrangement, or at least the sender and the recipient. Its essentially a contextual "ping" that only the sender and receiver understand, usually from a different channel. It being easier allows people to drive, spend less time texting when meeting up, etc. Silly use case? Sure. But look at the install base. I can't believe I hated on Slingshot, but am actually giving this credit.
  - cruise02 12y ago
    > You can if there is a pre-arrangement, or at least the sender and the recipient. That's the point. My dealer and I have that context. The police don't. (Hypothetically speaking, of course.)
    - alttab 12y ago
      Yeah, even collecting the "intent and time of contact" with those involved can be used when paired with other metadata about both people.
- paxtonab 12y ago
  If you are waiting for someone (at a physical location, for a call, for an email, etc.) a well timed "yo" would be a good reminder.
rokhayakebe 12y ago
I think "Yo" is very powerful. But you also need some kind of response. Like "Yo"<->"No," or "Yo"<->"Aight."

by eterm 12y ago

gedrap 12y ago

Oh God... I hope it's some sort of joke I didn't get? HNers are talking that they can't like favourite artists on FB because they are afraid to be affiliated with gangs. Or that liking something might help to detect that the user is gay (I didn't make that up). I mean, yeah privacy is serious. But if you think someone actually cares and tries to find some meaning in a teenage kid saying 'yo'...

vezzy-fnord 12y ago
But if you think someone actually cares and tries to find some meaning in a teenage kid saying 'yo'... Yeah, they do. And they can. In fact, in Snowden's most recent interview, he explained how even something as benign as searching for football game scores on their smartphone can lead to lots of information being revealed about that person, simply from all the metadata web applications, protocols and phones emit. It may sound ridiculous to you, but it isn't. Data is precious.

minimaxir 12y ago

You can't derive context from just a "yo." (to clarify: you can't derive context from this app alone, since all you can do is send "yo"s. There isn't enough information to formulate a why. Facebook/Twitter, of course, could make more use out of the "yo"s, but they already have that data.)

eterm 12y ago
You derive the context from the metadata. Unless you think metadata collection is harmless because it doesn't provide information? Anyone worried about metadata collection should see the merit of this app, it is pure metadata-only communication.
alttab 12y ago
You can if there is a pre-arrangement, or at least the sender and the recipient. Its essentially a contextual "ping" that only the sender and receiver understand, usually from a different channel. It being easier allows people to drive, spend less time texting when meeting up, etc. Silly use case? Sure. But look at the install base. I can't believe I hated on Slingshot, but am actually giving this credit.
- cruise02 12y ago
  > You can if there is a pre-arrangement, or at least the sender and the recipient. That's the point. My dealer and I have that context. The police don't. (Hypothetically speaking, of course.)
  - alttab 12y ago
    Yeah, even collecting the "intent and time of contact" with those involved can be used when paired with other metadata about both people.
paxtonab 12y ago
If you are waiting for someone (at a physical location, for a call, for an email, etc.) a well timed "yo" would be a good reminder.

rokhayakebe 12y ago

I think "Yo" is very powerful. But you also need some kind of response. Like "Yo"<->"No," or "Yo"<->"Aight."