Smart cow problem
The Smart Cow Problem describes the method by which a group of individuals, faced with a technically difficult task, only requires one of their number to solve the problem. When the problem has been solved once, an easily repeatable method may be developed, allowing the less technically proficient members of the group to accomplish the task.
The term Smart Cow Problem is thought to be derived from the expression: "It only takes one smart cow to open the latch of the gate, and then all the other cows follow." [1]
This has recently been applied to Digital Rights Management (DRM), where, due to the rapid spread of information on the internet, it only takes one individual to defeat a DRM scheme to render the method obsolete. [2]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.wired.com/news/business/1,60901-0.html Buck a Song, or Buccaneer? , retrieved 2007-02-13
- ^ http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,67556,00.html Give Your DVD Player the Finger, retrieved 2007-02-13