African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data • Hacker News Board

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#21

Post by someJunkName » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

stedaniels wrote: post #12

Is anyone else slightly annoyed that there is no imagery to show this data on a map? That's all I was actually looking for when I clicked the link. Had a quick look for it and can't see anything. Can anyone else help with a link for the lazy?

Yes, the article is essentially disappointing without an image of a map showing the current bus routes versus traffic/cell data versus proposed. Are they trying to promote interest in this project by creating a little buzz?

Wake me when there is one.

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#22

Post by kbenson » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 3:35 PM UTC

criley wrote: post #17

trailfox wrote: post #11

Why not "Ivory Coast Bus Routes Redrawn using Cell-Phone Data" ? As someone living in an African country I find this headline beyond ridiculous. If this was in Lebanon would we be reading "Asian Bus Routes Redrawn using Cell-Phone Data"?

Because the headline is written according to the expected understanding of the American reader. "Ivory Coast" is about as descriptive to an American audience as "Africa". I would be shocked if more than a tiny minority of Americans could tell you where the Ivory Coast was outside of "Africa", and I bet many wouldn't even know to place it in Africa, thinking maybe it's in India or SE Asia or something. It's written li…

It depends on the cultural consciousness, and whether that region has been subject to major news for recent generations. The Middle East and much of North-east Africa has has had the (mis)fortune of being in the US media for some time. For example, most US residents will know at least generally where Afghanistan is (some will know REALLY well), while I expect most don't really know where Luxembourg or Belarus are.

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#23

Post by Zigurd » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 3:46 PM UTC

delinka wrote: post #10

16s wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read yesterday that more people in India have access to a cell phone than to a toilet or running water. I assume they are very poor since they have to poop outside on the street, but they do have cell phones.

"Access to" and "owning it oneself" are not necessarily equivalent. If a household of seven has a single cell phone, seven people have "access to" a cell phone.

Mobile phones and internet access via mobile phones is a pretty high priority, even if the other items on the list are a toilet, a scooter, or a stove. The rationale is that the phone and internet enables you to earn more and get the other items.

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#24

Post by eru » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 3:49 PM UTC

TheAnimus wrote: post #15

trailfox wrote: post #11

Why not "Ivory Coast Bus Routes Redrawn using Cell-Phone Data" ? As someone living in an African country I find this headline beyond ridiculous. If this was in Lebanon would we be reading "Asian Bus Routes Redrawn using Cell-Phone Data"?

Same way with many news sources America is the USA. Or Vilnius is Europe, yet St. Petersburg isn't.

Why? You mean St. Petersburg, Florida, or you mean that the Russian St. Petersburg is not part of Europe in the common American conception of it?

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#25

Post by freehunter » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 3:57 PM UTC

trailfox wrote: post #18

criley wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the headline is written according to the expected understanding of the American reader. "Ivory Coast" is about as descriptive to an American audience as "Africa". I would be shocked if more than a tiny minority of Americans could tell you where the Ivory Coast was outside of "Africa", and I bet many wouldn't even know to place it in Africa, thinking maybe it's in India or SE Asia or something. It's written li…

>Because the headline is written according to the expected understanding of the American reader. Not exactly a high bar it seems...

Can you tell me where every country in the world is?

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#26

Post by stephenhuey » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:05 PM UTC

freehunter wrote: post #25

trailfox wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Because the headline is written according to the expected understanding of the American reader. Not exactly a high bar it seems...

Can you tell me where every country in the world is?

Can you use Google? :) Not meaning to offend! As someone who grew up in an African nation, I will easily concede to some of the parents in this thread that it's often just easier to get people's attention if you use something recognizable in a news headline. That being said, it is odd to me that it's the MIT Technology Review doing it in an age when anyone can double-click a string of text in the browser, e.g. Ivory Coast, and use the right-click menu to search with Google. Or copy and paste into their favorite search engine and instantly find out where the place is located with a string of search results and a map embedded into the page...

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#27

Post by trailfox » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:09 PM UTC

freehunter wrote: post #25

trailfox wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Because the headline is written according to the expected understanding of the American reader. Not exactly a high bar it seems...

Can you tell me where every country in the world is?

Most of them, yes. Most 12 year olds from my country are taught the names of all countries in the world and where to find them on a map and the names of the capital cities.

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#28

Post by freehunter » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:10 PM UTC

stephenhuey wrote: post #26

freehunter wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you tell me where every country in the world is?

Can you use Google? :) Not meaning to offend! As someone who grew up in an African nation, I will easily concede to some of the parents in this thread that it's often just easier to get people's attention if you use something recognizable in a news headline. That being said, it is odd to me that it's the MIT Technology Review doing it in an age when anyone can double-click a string of text in the browser, e.g. Ivory…

Here's the real kicker: if I don't know where the country is, why would I care enough to google it? "Africa" in this situation gives me more info than the name of the country would.

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#29

Post by freehunter » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:14 PM UTC

trailfox wrote: post #27

freehunter wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you tell me where every country in the world is?

Most of them, yes. Most 12 year olds from my country are taught the names of all countries in the world and where to find them on a map and the names of the capital cities.

The I guess I'm less intelligent than most of the 12 year old kids in your country, because to be honest there's more relevant things I still have yet to learn before I get around to memorizing the name, location, and capital city of all 195(?) nations in the world and keep this information updated in my mind when, for example, a regime change in Central Africa means the name of the country is now different or what was one country is now two.

I should have your middle schoolers tutor me.

Re: African Bus Routes Redrawn Using Cell-Phone Data

#30

Post by geetee » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 6:05 PM UTC

trailfox wrote: post #11

Why not "Ivory Coast Bus Routes Redrawn using Cell-Phone Data" ? As someone living in an African country I find this headline beyond ridiculous. If this was in Lebanon would we be reading "Asian Bus Routes Redrawn using Cell-Phone Data"?

Please, tell us more about how article headlines ruin your day.