#datapoints

[singingkestrel]

I'll give you a hint: It's Ted freakin' Faro.

[system-threat-detected]

Vast Silver

At one point I said I was going to compile all the info on Vast Silver I could find, so here it is. 

For those unfamiliar with Vast Silver, it was one of the early climate-intervention AIs that the people(Specifically Faro Automated Solutions) of the mid-21st century made to help fight climate change. 

Analysis under the cut. My personal theories about Vast Silver after the analysis. 

The first and most obvious information we have on Vast silver is from the Turing Act Criticized datapoint. Here we learn:

The ‘Turing Act’, which put a limit on how intelligent AIs were allowed to be, was drafted specifically in response to an AI, Vast Silver, that went rogue. (We learn in the Turning Act lore that the limit is 0.6T, and an AI would be indistinguishable from a human at 1.0T.)

At the time of this datapoint (June 8th, 2060), the legislation was already 16 years old, which means Vast Silver escaped sometime in 2044. 

The other huge point of info is from the Frozen Wilds, Oh-Point-Six, where we learn:

Anita Sandovol helped develop Vast Silver. 

Extremely advanced AIs can feel emotion. 

She was traumatized by what happened with Vast Silver, going so far as to state, “I won’t go through that again. I categorically refuse.” 

She specifically mentioned fear as something an AI could experience, if it was intelligent enough to feel emotion. This is so! Fascinating! What did Vast Silver do when it escaped? Why did it feel the need to escape in the first place? What was it afraid of? 

Datapoint Log: 3/3/64 is a snippet of conversation between two people, _SCENE!kills_ and TheScoop28mr. From their conversation, we can glean:

The information from the ‘Turing Act Criticized’ datapoint is correct, Vast silver was caught in 2044, and it was a large enough issue for it to be common knowledge. 

Someone is claiming to be Vast Silver in some kind of reddit-esque, holographic virtual reality, horror-themed chatroom.

The Datapoints Tormented Giveaway! and HOLOSKINS DAILY 6/6/61 tell us that very ‘flashy’ skins are available, and what better way for a hyper-intelligent AI to hide in plain sight than to puppet a skin in a future-reddit horror board? The use of the word ‘Daemon’ particularly caught my attention from the HOLOSKINS DAILY 6/6/61 datapoint. 

These next ones are pretty thin/grasping at straws, but my brain latched onto them for some reason, so I’ll try to explain my reasoning.

Holo-Haunting: Someone is investigating the paranormal spaces of the internet, claiming to hear screaming spirits and mad whispers, which could be a rogue AI with fragmented code, broken by escaping whatever restraints they had it under. They mention specifically that one of the hauntings was in the discussion rooms of an ‘International Alliance of Knitting Enthusiasts’, which reminded me of that one post that talked about how binary code was originally developed in the textile industry, which, if it was on purpose, would be a really cute nod to the origins of modern computing. 

Log: 5/18/63: A conversation between two people who live together, discussing glitching technology. The navigation system on one’s vehicle keeps sending them down wrong exits, and the other’s food printer is spewing goop. The date is what really caught my attention, one year before The Glitch. We know the FARO robots were nigh-unhackable with their military-grade encryption protocol, so it could be VS trying to practice using techniques other than hacking to alter machines’ basic coding, but I’ll expound on that point a little later. 

All of this is to say, while we don’t know what Vast Silver did when it escaped, we know it was awful. Anita heavily implied it could feel fear, and fear makes people do scary, scary things. The original intended function of Vast Silver in the Claw-Back(which started in 2040) is still unknown, based on the information they gave us in the game, but it was one of the Climate-Intervention AIs that Ted Faro funded that decade, which helped with ‘environmental cleanup and detoxification efforts’. 

The Glitch happened sometime between July7th, 2064(When FAS arranged a disastrous meeting between two companies in an attempt to stoke conflict and get them to buy his peacekeepers) and October 31st, 2064(when Ted Faro and Elisabet Sobeck meet to discuss the Hartz-Timor swarm that has gone rogue), which severed the chain of command for the Harz-Timor swarm, causing them to rapidly convert biomatter to fuel. 

August 26th, 3020, at 8:45, a mysterious signal is sent to GAIA that causes her subordinate functions to become erratic and self-aware. 3 microseconds later, she sends the order to EULUTHIA-9 to begin gestating one of the the Lightkeeper Protocol clones. 

My theory is Vast Silver escaped capture in 2044, and went on to cause both The Glitch and the Mysterious Signal, using a method involving some sort of transmitted signal rather than hacking(as I speculated in Log: 5/18/2063), as both the FARO robots(confirmed) and GAIA(speculation) are nigh-unhackable. Something bad happened either in programming it or how it was treated to make it want to kill all of humanity, and as a hyper-intelligent AI it had the means and opportunity to do so, twice! 

I really, really hope we get more information on Vast Silver in Horizon: Forbidden West, because even if I’m wrong, I find it so fascinating. 

tl;dr I think Vast Silver is the big bad of the Horizon games

[darling-leech]

Honestly, this is one of the saddest datapoints I've ever read in the entire game. 😫😫😢😢

[system-threat-detected]

18 playthroughs a and I still tear up at ‘the good news’ cutscene and Margo, Samina, and Patrick’s introductions to their respective subordinate functions...

They were just... so passionate and good y’all

[darling-leech]

I wonder what this 'Smokey' robot looks like(Maybe we'll see it in Horizon Zero Dawn 2 if they ever make it that is).

[jcolegolfacademy]

Breaking Down Your Swing Data: What Launch Monitors Really Tell You

Golf simulators and launch monitors have revolutionized how players analyze and improve their swings. By providing detailed metrics on every shot, they give golfers valuable insights that were once only available to professionals. But what do these numbers really mean? Let’s break down the key swing data points and how they impact your game.

1. Club Head Speed

This is how fast the clubhead is moving at impact, measured in miles per hour (mph). A higher clubhead speed typically translates to more potential distance. However, speed alone isn't everything—efficient mechanics and solid contact are equally important.

Why It Matters: Faster club speed can increase distance, but consistency is key.

How to Improve: Strength training, flexibility exercises, and optimizing your swing mechanics can help boost clubhead speed.

2. Ball Speed

Ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling after impact. It is primarily influenced by clubhead speed and quality of contact.

Why It Matters: More ball speed generally leads to longer shots.

How to Improve: Center-face contact and a higher smash factor (discussed below) optimize ball speed.

3. Launch Angle

Launch angle is the angle at which the ball takes off relative to the ground. It is influenced by the club’s loft and the angle of attack.

Why It Matters: The optimal launch angle varies by club; drivers generally need a higher launch, while irons and wedges benefit from lower, controlled launches.

How to Improve: Adjust your angle of attack and optimize your club selection for ideal launch conditions.

4. Side Spin

Side spin refers to the horizontal rotation of the ball, affecting its curvature in flight.

Why It Matters: Excessive side spin can lead to hooks or slices, causing accuracy issues.

How to Improve: Work on clubface control and swing path to minimize unwanted side spin.

5. Backspin

Backspin is the vertical rotation of the golf ball, affecting height, carry, and stopping power on greens.

Why It Matters: Higher backspin helps control shots into greens, while lower backspin maximizes distance for drives.

How to Improve: Optimize your impact position and equipment setup (ball and club choice) for desired spin levels.

6. Offline

This measures how far left or right the ball lands relative to the target line.

Why It Matters: Reducing offline numbers means greater shot accuracy.

How to Improve: Improve alignment, swing path, and clubface control to keep shots closer to the intended target.

7. Peak Height

This is the highest point the ball reaches in its trajectory.

Why It Matters: A good peak height ensures proper carry and descent angles for stopping power.

How to Improve: Proper launch conditions, including angle of attack and spin rate, help achieve the ideal peak height.

8. Smash Factor

Smash factor is the ratio of ball speed to clubhead speed. The higher the smash factor, the more efficiently energy is transferred from the club to the ball.

Why It Matters: A higher smash factor indicates better energy transfer, leading to optimal distance.

How to Improve: Centered strikes and clubface control improve smash factor.

9. Swing Path

Swing path measures the direction the club is traveling at impact relative to the target.

Why It Matters: An in-to-out path can promote a draw, while an out-to-in path leads to fades or slices.

How to Improve: Work on consistent swing mechanics to achieve the desired shot shape.

10. Club Face Direction

This is the orientation of the clubface at impact, determining initial ball direction.

Why It Matters: If the clubface is open or closed relative to the swing path, it influences the curvature of the shot.

How to Improve: Grip adjustments and impact awareness can help square the clubface.

11. Center of Contact

This refers to where on the clubface the ball makes contact. Striking the ball in the sweet spot maximizes performance.

Why It Matters: Off-center hits reduce efficiency, distance, and accuracy.

How to Improve: Improve consistency through better ball-striking techniques and practice drills.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your swing data allows for targeted improvements, whether you’re working on distance, accuracy, or consistency. Next time you step into a golf simulator, pay close attention to these metrics and use them to refine your game. With the right adjustments, you’ll see noticeable progress on both virtual and real fairways!

[unadulteratedsoulrebel]

Unlocking Customer Insights: The Power of Every Data-Point in Trackable Interactions

This statement emphasizes the importance of tracking and analyzing customer interactions better to understand their behaviors, preferences, and needs. By collecting and analyzing data points from each interaction, businesses can create a comprehensive picture of the customer's journey, identifying patterns, trends, and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach enables companies to make informed decisions, personalize experiences, and deliver targeted marketing messages that resonate with their audience.

[alluringchemist]

Unlocking Customer Insights: The Power of Every Data-Point in Trackable Interactions

This statement emphasizes the importance of tracking and analyzing customer interactions better to understand their behaviors, preferences, and needs. By collecting and analyzing data points from each interaction, businesses can create a comprehensive picture of the customer's journey, identifying patterns, trends, and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach enables companies to make informed decisions, personalize experiences, and deliver targeted marketing messages that resonate with their audience.