I'm assuming you mean given name - why would this be included in the data set in the first place? Is there some significant correlation between names and movie preferences?
This post, which is linked from the ARS article states a given birthdate, gender, and zip code can uniquely identify most Americans. So, while the parent should probably specify birthdate instead of age, a name is definitely not needed.
Ah, birthdate makes much more sense. My confusion stemmed from misreading the comment as "using these properties: [given age](?), [gender], [zip code]" instead of "given these properties: [age], [gender], [zip code]".
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I'm assuming you mean given name - why would this be included in the data set in the first place? Is there some significant correlation between names and movie preferences?
http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/paul/netflixs-impendin...
This post, which is linked from the ARS article states a given birthdate, gender, and zip code can uniquely identify most Americans. So, while the parent should probably specify birthdate instead of age, a name is definitely not needed.
Ah, birthdate makes much more sense. My confusion stemmed from misreading the comment as "using these properties: [given age](?), [gender], [zip code]" instead of "given these properties: [age], [gender], [zip code]".