Hi, I’m Cat!

I try to de-fuzzy things like vibes, culture, and environments. Currently working on computational deliberation models and gamifying technology un-addiction.

Currently Working On:

Computational Deliberation Models

System 2-style deliberation may use imagination to vicariously trial-and-error between different options. Uncertainty is thought to increase information-seeking behavior, such as deliberation. Putting the two pieces together, I believe that uncertainty may precede deliberative imagination. Historically, this has been difficult to investigate since uncertainty values rely on human self-reports, whereas imagination correlates require neural implants in animals. Computational models offer a solution by inferring uncertainty values, allowing this gap to be bridged.

Gamifying Phone-Off Time

I believe that technology addiction has been catastrophic for mental health, educational outcomes, and political cohesion. However, as someone who has been deeply addicted to social media and gaming in the past, I know how difficult it can be to become un-addicted. I deeply appreciate the work currently being done to address these problems. But, I think there is still a gap for a solution that has less friction - getting off your phone needs to feel fun. Which is why I’m currently working on an app to gamify the experience. Instead of asking people to simply quit an addiction, I’m trying to provide a alternative to replace it with.

Alternative Living

I live a lot of my life looking for overview effects, and I’ve (both intentionally and unintentionally) put myself in many uncomfortable and challenging environments in order to achieve them. One approach I’ve learned a lot from is to challenge the things we take for granted by living in alternative environments. So far, I’ve lived in a wat, an ambulance, and an abandoned laboratory.

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Side Projects

Wellbeing Committee

Mental health has always been close to my heart, and I started a wellbeing committee and psychology club in my high school. With the rest of the committee, we worked on writing practical FAQ-style newsletters addressing questions students may not know they had. For example, how do you know if your therapist is a good fit? How do you comfort a friend? How much studying is too much?

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Religious Exploration

I am a big believer of Pascal’s Wager, but I disagree with Pascal on the self-evident nature of Christianity. In an effort to account for different religions, I regularly attend a diverse set of religious events, from Baha’i gatherings to Pagan rituals. I also sometimes integrate myself for longer periods of times, to try to immerse myself for spiritual experiences.

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