Santa Claus, Big Data and Asymmetric Learning

David Eaves:

This Christmas I had a wonderfully simple experience of why asymmetric rates of learning matter so much, and a simple way to explain it to friends and colleagues.

I have a young son. This is his first Christmas where he's really aware of the whole Christmas thing: that there is a Santa Claus, there is a tree, people are being extra nice to one another. He's loving it.

Naturally, part of the ritual is a trip to visit Santa Claus and so the other day, he embarked on his first visit with the big guy. Here's a short version of the transcript:

Santa: "Hello Alec, would you like to talk to Santa?"

Alec: (with somewhat shy smile...) "Yes."

Santa: "So Alec, do you like choo-choo trains?"

Alec: (smile, eyes wide) "Yes."

Santa: "Do you like Thomas the choo-choo train?"

Alec: (practically giggling, eyes super wide) "Yes!"

Posted by Jim Zellmer at December 26, 2013 12:24 AM
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