Experiments in Entertainment’s Influence
Today, the methods and measures for understanding entertainment’s influence are constantly evolving. HI, a primary resource and incubator for evaluating entertainment’s social value and impact, is concerned with cataloging and innovating around the latest sources of information, and tools that can inform both practitioners and the public, of the power of entertainment.
Goal One of the lab is to engage researchers and entertainment creators in exploring new and innovative approaches to evaluation. Lab partnerships are created with those interested in understanding how entertainment plays a decisive role in framing social and environmental issues for the public.
Goal Two of the lab is to monitor new evaluation methods and measures, along with past and present entertainment projects, through empirical case studies. These reports explore the utility of each method or measure, either in real-time or longitudinally, and present findings on the influence of entertainment projects.
The mission of HI’s Experimental Lab, launched in the summer of 2011, is to deepen an understanding of entertainment’s social influence. A greater depth of understanding in what works, and what doesn’t, allows practitioners to optimize the application of entertainment for social good in the future.
Graham Technology Fellowship
The Graham Technology Fellowship recruits data scientists and/or programmers interested in human behavior, decision-making, and creating or auditing measures and tools that chart public opinion and response. The technology fellow works full-time, in-house, leading the Lab team in achieving HI’s mission and the goals listed above.
Clint Beharry has been chosen as the 2011 Graham Technology Fellow, and began his work at HI in September 2011. Beharry is a creative technologist with a background in art, design, data visualization, and coding. He is a recent MFA Interaction Design graduate from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, where he designed and developed software and hardware prototypes for applications in psychology, sensory immersion, and data visualization. His clients have included Gamelab, The Philip Johnson Glass House, and Maventy Health International. Beharry also has a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Miami.
Lab Leadership
The HI Lab Leadership is comprised of leading minds from data science, online social technology, and quantitative social science. The Lab’s current leadership includes:
Doug Graham, Detroit Technology Ventures
John S. Johnson, Harmony Institute
Cameron Marlow, Facebook
Jonah Peretti, BuzzFeed
Tim Shey, YouTube
Duncan Watts, Yahoo