The hottest Measurement Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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OSD 330: The rise of sensorship

Open Source Defense • 28 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Sensors Innovation Gadgets Measurement Data Analysis
  1. Sensors help us understand and measure things better. The more accurate our sensors are, the more we can improve our products and practices.
  2. In different fields, the use of sensors is at various stages. Some areas, like competition shooting, are advanced, while others, like non-lethal weapons, have much room for growth.
  3. Using objective measurements can change our understanding of different situations. By having clear data, we can make better decisions and improve our overall knowledge.

Lies, damned lies, and photodiodes

lcamtuf’s thing • 2040 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Electronics Engineering Optics Sensors Measurement
  1. Photodiodes can have a wide range of response speeds, and the advertised specs often don't tell the whole story. It's important to understand how they are tested, as this can affect their performance.
  2. When building precise measurement devices with photodiodes, two types of currents play a role. One is fast, while the other can take much longer to settle down, impacting the overall signal quality.
  3. Using techniques like reverse bias can improve performance, but some effects are inherent to the photodiodes themselves. Understanding these limitations is key for achieving accurate measurements.
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3.0 The Birth of Electromagnetism

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🔬 Science Physics Electromagnetism History Measurement Innovation
  1. Coulomb created the torsion balance, a tool that helped him measure tiny forces between electrically charged objects. This was a big step in understanding electricity and magnetism.
  2. His findings showed that electric forces follow a similar pattern to gravitational forces, which Newton discovered. This means both types of forces can be explained using related mathematical laws.
  3. Coulomb's work laid the foundation for modern electromagnetism, even though he faced challenges during the French Revolution. His contributions are still recognized today, as the unit of electric charge is named after him.

How do we know what 21 degrees C means?

The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything • 452 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🔬 Science Measurement Instruments History
  1. Temperature measurement has a long history and was viewed differently in ancient times.
  2. Gradual advancements in creating reliable thermometers involved changing materials and introducing numerical scales.
  3. The meticulous work of individuals like Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit and Jean-Andr de Luc contributed to establishing standardized temperature scales.

Adventures in Zone 2 Cardio Training | Part 1

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1118 implied HN points • 29 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Training Metabolism Endurance Measurement
  1. Zone 2 cardio training is essential for metabolic health and involves moderate intensity fat-burning exercise that can be sustained for an hour.
  2. Training in Zone 2 can improve endurance, fat oxidation, and lactate clearance in slow-twitch muscle fibers, benefiting overall fitness and potentially impacting fasting tolerance.
  3. Measuring lactate levels using a meter provides precise feedback for optimal training intensity in Zone 2, leading to rapid progress and efficient workouts.

Decoding Developer Productivity

Wisdom over Waves • 79 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Productivity Measurement Value Creativity
  1. Estimating software development work and productivity is tricky due to the unknowns and constant changes in the software development process.
  2. The desire to measure developer productivity stems from the human need for clarity in transactions, like buying software products, despite the complexities and uncertainties involved in software development.
  3. It's time to change the perception of software developers as mere code generators and start recognizing them as creative problem-solvers who bring unique value to the development process.

Measuring distortion

Only Wonder Knows • 58 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🔬 Science Characterization Measurement
  1. When working with non-linear systems, be cautious and pay attention to distortion.
  2. Measuring distortion in systems may require using techniques like injecting two tones.
  3. Characterizing distortion involves understanding how system limitations affect harmonic levels.

You can't escape construct validity

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🚌 Education Research Methods Psychology Measurement
  1. Measuring abstract concepts like happiness is really tough. Researchers need to find good ways to define and measure these big ideas accurately.
  2. Construct validity is important for any type of research claim. It checks if what you're measuring actually reflects the concept you're interested in.
  3. Making decisions, like hiring or choosing a restaurant, involves relying on imperfect measures. It's essential to understand the limitations of these measures to make better choices.

Evaluating Team Effectiveness with a Data-first Approach | Bhavini Soneji, Executive Leader (ex-Cruise, Headspace, Microsoft)

platocommunity • 19 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Metrics Team Dynamics Execution Measurement
  1. Empowering people to discover their strengths and amplify their impact is key in leadership.
  2. When measuring team effectiveness, consider the three buckets: what (strategic value), how (execution), and who (team dynamics).
  3. Combining measurement with follow-through techniques is crucial to determine if you're measuring the right things and drive continuous improvement.

A Case for Moderate IQ Skepticism

Tom Thought • 19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🔬 Science Psychology Intelligence Measurement Bias
  1. Performance on cognitive tasks is correlated, so individuals who excel in one area tend to excel in others as well.
  2. IQ tests are useful in predicting various life outcomes, but it's important to recognize that they are not a direct measure of intelligence.
  3. It's crucial to be skeptical of assigning deep meaning to specific IQ scores, especially when comparing across different populations.

Time response of first order systems

Only Wonder Knows • 19 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🔬 Science Physics Experiments Measurement
  1. When measuring a system's response time, make sure to wait for at least five time constants to reach a stable state.
  2. First order systems have a unique time response that can be calculated using simple expressions.
  3. Extracting the time constant of a system involves analyzing data, normalizing measurements, and ensuring a good fit to confirm the system's behavior.

Implicit measures in UX

UX Psychology • 99 implied HN points • 11 Oct 21
🕹 Technology UX Measurement Research Psychology Marketing
  1. Self-report methods like questionnaires and interviews are commonly used in UX research, but they have limitations due to factors like social desirability bias and limited introspection.
  2. To fully understand user experience, it's important to consider unconscious motives like emotions and implicit attitudes, which can be measured using implicit techniques such as the Implicit Associate Test (IAT).
  3. Implicit measures, like the IAT, provide insights into unconscious processes influencing behavior, and can offer additional valuable information in UX research compared to traditional explicit measures like questionnaires.

✅ Monday briefing: Back to the future, AI over claims, sewage clean-up, Labour briefing, news verification, words to axe, and more

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Relations Artificial Intelligence Media Government Measurement
  1. The public relations field is slow to adopt new technology like AI, which limits innovation and effectiveness in the industry.
  2. Many people working in public relations don't fully understand the metrics they use, which can lead to problems in measurement and reporting.
  3. There's a growing focus on cleaning up environmental issues, like pollution from sewage, but some investments are criticized as being mainly for show.

8/36 - Product Logic Model : Input, Output, Outcome

Product Mindset's Newsletter • 17 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💼 Business Management Strategy Measurement Outcomes Product Development
  1. A logic model helps in planning by defining inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of a product.
  2. Understanding outcomes is crucial to determine business objectives and success strategies.
  3. Outcomes are the goals a business aims to achieve, while outputs are the tangible results of activities, and inputs are the resources needed for the results.

DevRel: What to avoid, when to hire, and how to succeed

Developer GTM – by Calyx Consulting • 1 HN point • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Marketing Hiring Measurement Team Building Content creation
  1. DevRel's impact can be measured, but setting up measurement can be costly. Focus on project-level success metrics and 'north star' metrics like Developer NPS and retention through the funnel.
  2. Hire DevRel when existing work like tech writing or evangelizing is becoming overwhelmed due to company scale. DevRel should adapt to the company's changing needs.
  3. DevRel reporting structure varies: in a company with a developer tool, it may report to marketing; for non-core tech, product or engineering. Executive support and understanding the role are key.

The Trouble With Measuring AGEs — Butter and More

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Research Nutrition Measurement
  1. Immunological techniques for measuring AGEs may not provide accurate results because they are like throwing gum at a wall - crude and questionable in terms of specificity and reliability.
  2. Chromatographic methods are a more reliable alternative to measure AGEs, as they allow for precise identification and measurement of individual compounds in a sample.
  3. Critics, including notable researchers like PJ Thornalley and Thomas Henle, emphasize the importance of using chromatographic techniques over immunological methods for accurate quantification of AGEs in food.

The goldfish principle and objective benchmarking

Probable Wisdom • 0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Measurement Context Benchmarking
  1. The Goldfish Principle emphasizes managing context like a goldfish's limited memory, crucial for LLM application development and innovation.
  2. Objective Benchmarking involves setting up evaluation criteria to measure progress effectively, vital for tasks with uncertain outcomes like LLM application development and innovation.
  3. Embracing the Goldfish Principle and Objective Benchmarking helps navigate uncertain opportunities successfully, supporting teams and organizations to thrive in unpredictable environments.

Shattering Childhood with Measurement

Variations on a Theme • 0 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Childhood Measurement Air Quality Responsibility Risks
  1. Measurement can alter the childhood experience by cancelling events based on alerts, impacting the fun kids could have had.
  2. The ability to measure is valuable but should be accompanied by understanding and context to avoid unnecessary alerts and cancellations.
  3. There is a balance needed between caution for the vulnerable and allowing those not affected to enjoy life without unnecessary restrictions.

Abstract paths

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Abstraction Measurement Science Time Value
  1. Abstractions, like time and money, help us connect different stories and experiences. They give us a way to understand and compare things in our lives.
  2. Fungible measurements, or quanta, are tools that allow us to compare different items, like the price of a house and tuna. They show that all things can be understood in similar ways.
  3. Using units of measurement helps compare experiences across cultures and stories, like relating a day in Harry Potter to a day in the Bible. This shows how universal these concepts are.

How to Measure Anything

TeamCraft • 0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🚌 Education Measurement Uncertainty Observation Data
  1. The ability to measure anything can greatly increase your ability to estimate ROI on data initiatives and reduce uncertainty for informed decision-making.
  2. Rethink measurement by understanding that you only need to reduce uncertainty to a manageable level, not eliminate it completely.
  3. Techniques like the Rule of Five, decomposition, and challenging false assumptions about data can help in measuring intangible aspects effectively.

RDEL #5: Software Engineering Productivity: How do you define it? (Part I)

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Productivity Research Measurement
  1. Software engineering productivity is challenging to define due to the complexity of human input in the software development process.
  2. Productivity in software engineering involves a balance of efficiency, effectiveness, and quality.
  3. Measuring a team's productivity requires evaluating both the efficiency of input and the effectiveness (including quality) of output.

Measurement noise: when 1000*1000 isn't a million

filterwizard • 0 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Electronics Engineering Measurement Data Analysis Signal Processing
  1. Measurement noise can make it seem like you need very high accuracy to get correct results, but you might actually need less than you think.
  2. For measuring small signals accurately, the required dynamic range isn't as extreme as multiplying the signal by itself; practical calculations can simplify this.
  3. For specific accuracy requirements in noisy environments, using embedded microcontroller ADCs can be a good solution to achieve realistic signal-to-noise ratios.

Best Way to Measure Your Fitness (That Doesn’t Involve Wearables)

Austin's Analects • 0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Measurement Challenges
  1. Fitness is about being able to handle any physical task that comes your way, not just collecting data from wearables.
  2. The best measure of fitness is the ability to take on challenges like rescuing someone, going on a long bike tour, or pushing a car out of a snow bank.
  3. Fitness is personalized and not just about specific metrics; it's about having the capability to tackle unexpected physical challenges as they arise in your life.

Growth Is Not Gross

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 16
💼 Business Growth Execution Metrics Measurement Scaling
  1. Continuously growing your business is crucial. If you're not growing, address the issues and keep moving forward.
  2. Focus on tracking one single, relevant metric to ensure growth. It's essential for progress and success.
  3. Measure growth accurately on a compound basis, either weekly or monthly. Understanding the impact of growth is vital for business development.