{"id":29723,"date":"2012-05-17T02:19:25","date_gmt":"2012-05-17T01:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=29723"},"modified":"2012-05-17T02:19:25","modified_gmt":"2012-05-17T01:19:25","slug":"live-from-the-gtc-day-2-keynote-what-swarming-locusts-fish-birds-and-forum-posters-share-in-common","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/live-from-the-gtc-day-2-keynote-what-swarming-locusts-fish-birds-and-forum-posters-share-in-common\/","title":{"rendered":"Live from the GTC &#8211; Day 2 Keynote &#8211; what swarming locusts, fish, birds, and forum posters share in common"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n                                                               google_ad_client = \"pub-7021221536180758\"; \/* 468x60, created 11\/11\/09 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1949837292\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Professor Iain Couzin of Princeton University Department of Ecology and\u00a0 Evolutionary Biology kicked off the Keynote address of Day 2 at GTC 2012.\u00a0 He is one of the first educators who had the foresight to realize the potential of GPU computing for his line of work and he spent two years porting all of his research tools to CUDA long before it became popular to do so.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/DrC.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-29724\" title=\"DrC\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/DrC.jpg?resize=480%2C229\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/DrC.jpg?resize=480%2C229 800w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/DrC-300x143.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He believes it was\u00a0the best investment in time because he is able to do in minutes what used to take weeks to accomplish on the CPU.\u00a0 He detailed his early years as a researcher beginning with a regular GeForce gaming video card and then migrating to Tesla when he had the money to do so.<\/p>\n<p>What he is looking for is the patterns in nature of collective behavior.\u00a0 He was able to demonstrate the similarity of animal groups &#8211; think of huge flocks of birds in flight or fish in huge schools that function as a sort of &#8220;collective mind&#8221;.\u00a0 There is no &#8220;telepathy&#8221; involved although it was believed to be so not that long ago. Even invading\u00a0cancer cells in a tumor &#8211; or colliding galaxies &#8211; and humans, seem to exhibit similar collective behavior in patterns that can be charted using the GPU.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/3200-fishes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29726\" title=\"3200-fishes\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/3200-fishes.jpg?resize=502%2C278\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/3200-fishes.jpg?resize=502%2C278 502w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/3200-fishes-300x166.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>What GPU computing has allowed Dr. Couzin to do is to simulate thousands of individals in an experimental framework and to track their collective behavior.\u00a0 Dr. Couzin was able to demonstrate how collective behavior and collective action emerges in a wide range of groups &#8211; from fish and birds to plague locusts and even humans crowds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/motion-of-equations.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29725\" title=\"motion-of-equations\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/motion-of-equations.jpg?resize=500%2C284\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/motion-of-equations.jpg?resize=500%2C284 500w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/motion-of-equations-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He explained how important it is for a group to align and yet not collide &#8211; as collision can be fatal in birds.\u00a0 They also need to be able to avoid predators.\u00a0 These are the patterns in nature that are considered models.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Patterns-of-behavior.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29728\" title=\"Patterns-of-behavior\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Patterns-of-behavior.jpg?resize=530%2C345\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Patterns-of-behavior.jpg?resize=530%2C345 530w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Patterns-of-behavior-300x195.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the most interesting findings is that certain individuals that have information (food, perhaps) influence the group that does not have this information.\u00a0 There is an interesting democritization going on that has implications for human behavior.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Human-Social-influence.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29729\" title=\"Human-Social-influence\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Human-Social-influence.jpg?resize=480%2C301\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Human-Social-influence.jpg?resize=480%2C301 480w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Human-Social-influence-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The experiment goes to show how the leaders (informed individuals) influence a group and how their influence is mitigated by uninformed individuals.\u00a0 He again stressed how important CUDA is because they want to\u00a0study thousands of individuals &#8211; not just a few.<\/p>\n<p>This has implications for tech forums.\u00a0\u00a0Professor Couzin\u00a0made a surprising discovery that\u00a0counters conventional wisdom that uninformed humans are more easily influenced by extremists.\u00a0 Instead,\u00a0his findings suggest that the presence of those without strong views increases the odds that a group will go with the majority opinion.\u00a0 Uninformed individuals in a group are very important as they dilute\u00a0a minority\u00a0preference with strongly held preferences and they tend to support the majority.<\/p>\n<p>He gave an interesting example of a person stating on a forum saying that he will buy a Radeon.\u00a0 A person with an strongly held opposite view might interact with this person, suggesting that\u00a0it is a stupid decision.\u00a0 One person may give this individual pause but is unlikely to change his mind.\u00a0 However when two or more individuals suggest it is a bad decision simultaneously, it may have a much stronger effect on the original purchasing decision<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-2peo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-29733\" title=\"adaptive-network-model-2peo\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-2peo.jpg?resize=432%2C246\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-2peo.jpg?resize=432%2C246 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-2peo-300x171.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Of course there is a lot of mathematics involved, but it may be expressed as a chart:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-29734\" title=\"adaptive-network-model-3\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-3.jpg?resize=432%2C241\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-3.jpg?resize=432%2C241 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-3-300x167.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Below a critical density of uninformed individuals, the minority with strongly held opinions can easily win.\u00a0 However, when there is a higher density of uninformed individuals, not much happens until suddenly the situation flips and the majority wins.\u00a0 When there is a sufficient amount of people with no bias, the minority cannot win no matter how intransigent they are as demonstrated in the following model.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-29736\" title=\"adaptive-network-model-4\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-4.jpg?resize=360%2C204\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-4.jpg?resize=360%2C204 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/adaptive-network-model-4-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>According to this research, uninformed individuals tend to promote democracy in animals, and of course this\u00a0suggests further researcher with humans.\u00a0 Professor Couzin went on to suggest that humans interaction is not as complex as we like to think.<\/p>\n<p>There is much more that the Professor presented and he also went on to explain why Locusts migrate to become a plague.\u00a0 You can catch his entire keynote here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/smooth-las-akam.istreamplanet.com\/live\/demo\/nvid4\/player.html\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/smooth-las-akam.istreamplanet.com\/live\/demo\/nvid4\/player.html', 'http:\/\/smooth-las-akam.istreamplanet.com\/live\/demo\/nvid4\/player.html']);\" >http:\/\/smooth-las-akam.istreamplanet.com\/live\/demo\/nvid4\/player.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There is much more information coming about the GTX 2012.\u00a0 Make sure to check the ABT forums for breaking news!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 60px;\">Mark Poppin<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 60px;\">ABT Senior Editor<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px; text-align: left;\">Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Forums<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px; text-align: left;\">Become a Fan on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142', 'Facebook']);\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px; text-align: left;\">Follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech', 'Twitter']);\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px; text-align: left;\">For the latest updates from ABT, please <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?feed=rss2\" target=\"_blank\">join our RSS News Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px; 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