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Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by birdyrooster on Monday July 19, 2021 @02:23PM (#27885736)
I guess if you don't even feel comfortable sharing the identity of any of the parties, we really have no chance to identify bad actors from good as a community.
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by javajosh on Monday July 19, 2021 @02:31PM (#27885817)
"Naming and shaming" comes with risk - probably a lot more risk than upside. The risk is that the parties get something actionable, kind of like "probable cause" in criminal cases. The upside is maybe a small effect on a few HN minds that might remember this when considering this Uni's reputation.

The other risk is that it's an act that can easily be abused. It is very easy to level charges against someone without proof; somehow we tend to believe the first salvo (myself included). In this case it sounds relatively straight-forward, but it really is irresponsible to take a stranger's word for it.

So, if you really care, you might reach out to the OP and get the details. That eliminates the downside risk to the OP and acts as a shibboleth that ensure only people that actually care enough to look into it know the details.

Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by birdyrooster on Monday July 19, 2021 @02:42PM (#27885939)
Yes, that is why you would expect their claim to be corroborated with (even circumstantial) evidence when dropping names.
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by dcow on Monday July 19, 2021 @09:24PM (#27889190)
It also might potentially identify the person posting the comments which if pseudonymity is important might contribute to the calculus.
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by birdyrooster on Tuesday July 20, 2021 @06:51PM (#27900297)
For a second I considered that I was arguing the same as a spook trying to unmask
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by injidup on Monday July 19, 2021 @02:25PM (#27885760)
https://shop.powerinsole.com/en/blogs/news/doppelblindstudie...

I actually bought one of the devices and took it apart on video. There is nothing inside except 4 magnets and a plastic printed card. No active circuits and no power source and no components such as resistors or capacitors and certainly there is no microchip inside.

edit below are links to pictures of the device and accompanying text as originally on facebook posted

=======================================

Hi Powerinsole I ordered one of your power chip devices and took a detailed look at it. My analyses is as follows. 1. There is no battery and no system for harvesting energy. All electronic circuits require an energy source and a lack of an obvious system for powering the device is a problem. 2. There are no components such as integrated circuits, transistors, capacitors, diodes or inductive devices that would be required to create a "circuit" or "chip". A "chip" is not just a random configuration of tracks. The tracks are there to transfer electricity between components that shape and switch the electric current according to purpose but given that there are no components what are the tracks for? 3. There are 4 magnets. Probably neodymium. They produce a constant magnetic field. They do not generate "frequencies". The device sticks to a metal wall like a fridge magnet and doesn't vibrate. 5. The tracks are configured in such a way that even if components were attached at the "solder points" nothing would happen because the tracks are all shorted together. Electricity always takes the easiest path. If all the tracks are are shorted then the components will receive no energy input. 6. After testing with a multimeter I found that the tracks on the "circuit board" do not conduct electricity. If the tracks do not conduct electricity there is no possibility of transferring energy to components. ( there are no components ) 7. The magnets are isolated from the "tracks" and each other by a plastic layer and glue. It is not clear what the relationship the position of the magnets to the tracks might be. 8. There is no NVRAM, magnetic storage, optical storage, ROMs or other known systems for storing information. So claims from PowerInsole that they load information onto the device is difficult to comprehend. 9. There is no crystal or LC circuit to drive an oscillator. Even if there was there is no battery to drive it and the tracks are all shorted and the tracks do not conduct electricity. Given the above observations I find it difficult to believe that the device can function as advertised. What you essentially have is 4 small magnets on a printed card in a gel cushion for 69 euros. If I am wrong about any of the above I would be happy to have a respectful and open discussion about your technology.

https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/163585013_1...

https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/163740448_1...

https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/164072709_1...

https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/164005668_1...

https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/164045289_1...

Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by yarcob on Monday July 19, 2021 @03:41PM (#27886527)
Somehow I'm not surprised the University of Salzburg is involved. I remember a "less than stellar" experience with them that I was tangentially involved with.

It involved a research project that they stopped funding, but didn't want to let go. The only researcher who continued to work on the project wanted to take the project to a different institution where the project could get funding, but Uni Salzburg refused and said it's their project. They would rather have the project be abandoned than let it thrive somewhere else. If their name wasn't on the project anymore, they would rather have it die.

And not to forget, Uni Salzburg was also home to our most famous case of scientific misconduct where Robert Schwarzenbacher fabricated measurements using simulation software. The handling of that case was also interesting (they terminated his employment after verifying the accusations of fraud, but one guy from the union tried to convince someone from HR to delay some paperwork so they could later challenge the termination... crazy stuff)

Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by uhhyeahdude on Monday July 19, 2021 @02:36PM (#27885871)
Thank you. What a load of infomercial buzzword nonsense. The last part about some “further research and experience” showing even better results if the product is worn all the time is especially galling.
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by injidup on Monday July 19, 2021 @02:50PM (#27886015)
But one should look into Darsch Scientific if you want to get deeper into how this is all organised. https://www.dartsch-scientific.com/en/ they have produced papers for powerinsole and are used by other companies in the magnetic magic industry to provide a veneer of scientific credibility. For example https://waveguard.com/en/studies/
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by janekm on Monday July 19, 2021 @04:11PM (#27886782)
Kind of hilarious how they submitted what looks like a passive coil for FCC certification ;)
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by ineedasername on Monday July 19, 2021 @03:38PM (#27886495)
They had me at the work "power insole". Though I guess not in a good way. I expect a fairly meticulous definition of terms. If a piece of research sets off my marketing-BS sensors this early, it's usually all downhill from there.
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by bserge on Monday July 19, 2021 @04:44PM (#27887069)
You probably just created a winning class action suit. Hell, the founders could go to jail for this level of fraud. Or at least, I hope so.
Re:Time to assume that health research is fraudulent until p... by inasio on Monday July 19, 2021 @06:55PM (#27888226)
I love how the error bars on the plots go only on one direction, and conveniently the opposing ones between the two curves, definitely not scammy...