Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts • Hacker News Board

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#31

Post by emodendroket » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:48 PM UTC

tzs wrote: post #24

Johnny555 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobra_effect The term cobra effect originated in an anecdote set at the time of British rule of colonial India. The British government was concerned about the number of venomous cobra snakes in Delhi.[3] The government therefore offered bounty for every dead cobra. Initially this was a successful strategy as large numbers of snakes were killed for the reward. Eventually, however, enterpr…

What did the Delhi residents themselves think about cobras? Were the natives OK with cobras running around and it was just the British that wanted to reduce the population? I'm curious because if everybody disliked wild cobras loose in the city I'd have expected the breeders to kill their stock when the bounty ended, not free it.

Why would you expect that in a world where people dump hazardous waste into rivers to save money?

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#32

Post by ikeboy » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:51 PM UTC

Retric wrote: post #27

ikeboy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a strong correlation between IQ and life expectancy, possibly mostly genetic

It's also likely the other direction, with health growing up resulting in higher IQ.

For insurance purposes if you can learn someone's IQ without learning their health status you still get evidence about their future health

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#33

Post by bluGill » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:54 PM UTC

ikeboy wrote: post #15

xd1936 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Smart people ≠ healthy people

There's a strong correlation between IQ and life expectancy, possibly mostly genetic

My guess is it is childhood. I see poor people eating junk food all the time and feed that to their kids - the kids are fat on empty calories and so the brain doesn't get what it needs to grow smart.

That is just a guess though. I don't have the ability to verify it.

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#34

Post by tedunangst » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:56 PM UTC

emodendroket wrote: post #31

tzs wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did the Delhi residents themselves think about cobras? Were the natives OK with cobras running around and it was just the British that wanted to reduce the population? I'm curious because if everybody disliked wild cobras loose in the city I'd have expected the breeders to kill their stock when the bounty ended, not free it.

Why would you expect that in a world where people dump hazardous waste into rivers to save money?

Because dehazarding waste is more difficult than chopping up a snake?

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#35

Post by acdha » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:56 PM UTC

Retric wrote: post #27

ikeboy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a strong correlation between IQ and life expectancy, possibly mostly genetic

It's also likely the other direction, with health growing up resulting in higher IQ.

IQ historically has had a strong correlation with social status and affluence, which also implies access to healthcare, ability to eat a balanced diet or go to the gym, etc.

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#36

Post by emodendroket » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 9:00 PM UTC

tedunangst wrote: post #34

emodendroket wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you expect that in a world where people dump hazardous waste into rivers to save money?

Because dehazarding waste is more difficult than chopping up a snake?

But letting the snakes go is even easier. Use the example of people littering instead of using a trash can, or not flushing public toilets, if you need a demonstration of how people can't be bothered with even simple tasks.

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#37

Post by rsynnott » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 9:02 PM UTC

ikeboy wrote: post #15

xd1936 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Smart people ≠ healthy people

There's a strong correlation between IQ and life expectancy, possibly mostly genetic

Twin studies have tended to indicate that IQ is quite dependent on socio-economic status (thereby raising the question of what IQ is actually _measuring_, but anyway...). Socio-economic status is also highly relevant to life expectancy.

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#38

Post by acdha » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 9:02 PM UTC

emodendroket wrote: post #29

darkstar999 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why?

Because I dislike the idea of insurance companies nosing in on my private life and telling me how to spend my time. I'm sure someone will object that participation is voluntary, but I expect it to go along the familiar voluntary with perks -> penalties if not participating -> outright mandatory progression.

I also expect that ratchet effect where the goals will increase over time without considering other factors such as whether people are paid enough to afford to have reasonable commute times, access to healthy food, etc.

Software engineers have higher pay and greater ability to walk if management gets too patronizing; a lot of other people are going to get this as the alternative to big insurance increases but not, say, getting a more flexible schedule or paid enough to spend an hour less commuting or be able to afford healthier food at inner city markets where vegetables cost more than at the Whole Foods further out.

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#39

Post by williamscales » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 9:02 PM UTC

saagarjha wrote: post #13

craftyguy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could claim you were on a treadmill

Right, in the middle of a Harbin restaurant where a bunch of other people like to also seem to like "running on the treadmill".

Perhaps there's a gym on the second floor!

Re: Smartphone cradle used to cheat “10k steps/day” health insurance discounts

#40

Post by vanadium » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 9:03 PM UTC

forgueam wrote: post #28

I did something similar in college. A company paid cash for installing software that displayed ads on the bottom of your monitor. It qualified your ad viewing activity based on mouse movement. At night I would open the software, wrap my mouse cord around an oscillating desk fan, then go to bed. Earned myself $50/month

I remember the AllAdvantage.com cheat as well. It became so popular to game that one that not only were novel tactics like yours employed, but automatic mouse hijacking apps for Windows made some headway for those that didn't want to sit and click ads ad nauseum.

I may have made a quick buck on this back in the early 2000s.