Comments on: Austin-Based Thoof Launches Private Beta http://www.austinstartup.com/2007/06/austin-based-thoof-launches-private-beta/ Austin Technology News, Events, Opinions Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:46:40 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Zack McCoy http://www.austinstartup.com/2007/06/austin-based-thoof-launches-private-beta/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Zack McCoy Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:03:23 +0000 http://72.167.125.157/2007/06/21/austin-based-thoof-launches-private-beta/#comment-5 These suggestion algorithms are notoriously difficult, especially when you're trying to make them fast enough to calculate millions of suggestions. The problem isn't really the algorithm Netflix uses, it's the fact that people are boring. Netflix can only suggest things based on statistical trends they discover. The fact that they recommend every Julia Roberts movie after you rate one of them 3 stars is only because other people that see one Julia Roberts movie always watch (and like) all the others too. Maybe if you were more boring too... PS. If you want to win a million dollars, improve the algorithm at www.netflixprize.com. These suggestion algorithms are notoriously difficult, especially when you’re trying to make them fast enough to calculate millions of suggestions. The problem isn’t really the algorithm Netflix uses, it’s the fact that people are boring. Netflix can only suggest things based on statistical trends they discover. The fact that they recommend every Julia Roberts movie after you rate one of them 3 stars is only because other people that see one Julia Roberts movie always watch (and like) all the others too. Maybe if you were more boring too…

PS. If you want to win a million dollars, improve the algorithm at http://www.netflixprize.com.

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