Sunday, August 13, 2006

From Dunbar Number to Mating Desire Lines

Robin Dunbar of the University of Liverpool has made a range of studies that could give us fresh insights on IT-enabled human behavior (Think MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, or Friendster).

Consider 150, and that means "[the] cognitive limit to the number of individuals with whom any one person can maintain stable relationships". Good piece of information in studying the value of Networked Communities of Practice. More of that here.

Then think about the following categories:
  • Attractiveness
  • Commitment
  • Resources
  • Sexiness
  • Social Skills
Dunbar found that Lonely Hearts Columns (Read: Itzamatch.com) are closely linked "with evolutionary preferences". More of the article here. Now that's a good piece of information in studying the value of FOAF.

Perhaps Social Software could help propagate the human species and preserve human civilization.

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