Behavioral Inference across Cultures: Using Telephones as a Cultural Lens

Abstract. The majority of humans today carry mobile telephones. These phones automatically capture behavioral data from virtually every human society, stored in service provider databases around the world. This article discusses the different types of data captured and how they can be used to provide insight into human cultures. Examples are provided from a variety of cultures and hundreds of millions of individuals, illustrating how phones can be used as a cultural lens, improving our understanding of a particular cultures pace of life, reactions to outlier events, and social networks.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: EXPERT
• Authors: Nathan Eagle
• Keywords: Behavioral Data, EXPERT 2008, Mobile Telephones, Particular Cultures Pace