The invention of measurements and perception


This is going to be pretty airy-fairy. Sorry.

Let’s talk about how measurements get invented, and how this limits us.

One of the great works of engineering, science, and data is finding signals in the noise. What matters? Why? How much?

My background is in computer science, and a little in electrical engineering. So the question of what to measure to make systems (audio and computer) "better" is always on my mind.

What’s often missing in measurements is "pleasure" or "satisfaction."

I believe in math. I believe in statistics, but I also understand the limitations. That is, we can measure an attribute, like "interrupts per second" or "inflamatory markers" or Total Harmonic Distortion plus noise (THD+N)

However, measuring them, and understanding outcome and desirability are VERY different. Those companies who can do this excel at creating business value. For instance, like it or not, Bose and Harman excel (in their own ways) at finding this out. What some one will pay for, vs. how low a distortion figure is measured is VERY different.

What is my point?

Specs are good, I like specs, I like measurements, and they keep makers from cheating (more or less) but there must be a link between measurements and listener preferences before we can attribute desirability, listener preference, or economic viability.

What is that link? That link is you. That link is you listening in a chair, free of ideas like price, reviews or buzz. That link is you listening for no one but yourself and buying what you want to listen to the most.

E
erik_squires
All visible colors are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus blue or any color has a range of wavelength and frequency. Even invisible light has a characteristic range of wavelength and frequency. It’s not rocket science. 🚀 By the way the laser in a Blu Ray player isn’t blue. 
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Obviously there can be no colors without someone to see them. We’ve already covered that earlier, actually. Remember? “There can be no subjective reality without a human being there.” Your argument is a Strawman. I suspect you are the only one who doesn’t see that.
Careful, the value of some products totally vanishes in lieu of perception. Perception can be 100% of the battle. GK is right about this one. No wonder his pants are on fire about this.
Liar liar pants on fire. You got the wrong expression, Moops. It’s “hair on fire,” Moops, not pants on fire. Nice try, anyway. You can go back to sleep now.