Malcolm Gladwell talks about why opinions are often useless

New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell gave a talk at PopTech about a subject in his forthcoming book on human nature. This MP3 file has some great stuff in it about Herman-Miller's Aeron chair (which everyone hated when they first saw it but has gone on to become the best selling office chair and winner of lots of design awards) and Pepsi vs. Coke ("sip tests" are no good because people like sweeter drinks if they're having only a sip, but they prefer less sweet if they are drinking a whole can).

I thought the paradox of the triangle test Gladwell talks about is especially interesting. If you give a person two unmarked glasses, one containing Pepsi and the other containing Coke, they'll have an 80% change of being able to tell which is which. But if you introduce a third glass, containing either Coke or Pepsi, they odds that they'll be able to identify the odd drink is reduced to 33%, or chance.

Lots of excellent stuff in this half-hour talk. I can't wait for the book.