STUDY ON HOW WEB SERIES INFLUENCE YOUNGSTERS

SUBMITTED FOR THE PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

BCOM DEGREE

UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT

BY

RAHUL P

(EEAVBCM028)

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Mrs NICY BINOD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AND MANAGEMENT

ELIMS COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE PONGANAMKAD,

THRISSUR
(BATCH 2021-2024)
CERTIFICATE
Reg N o: EEAVBC M 028

T h is is to c e rtify th a t th e P ro jec t R e p o rt en titled “ STUDY ON

HOW WEB SERIES INFLUENCE YOUNGSTERS” s u b m itte d b y

RAHUL P is a b o n a fid e w o rk c a rrie d o u t b y h is in p a rtia l

fu lfilm en t o f B .C O M D e g ree o f U n iv e rs ity o f C a lic u t d u rin g th e

y ea r 2 0 2 1 -2 0 2 4

P la c e :

D a te :

Signature of Faculty Guide Signature of Head of

Department
Signature of the External Examiner
 CERTIFICATE

T h is is to c ert ify th a t Mr RAHUL P o f 3 rd B .C o m F in a n c e h a s

done

P ro je c t u n d er t h e g u id a n c e o f Mrs NICY BINOD in th e to p ic o f

“ CONSUMER PREFERENCE TOWARDS COSMETICS

PRODUCTS”

F a c u lty G u id e Head of

D e p a rtm e n t
DECLARATION
 DECLARATION

I RAHUL P h e re b y d ec la re t h a t th e P ro jec t R ep o rt title d “ STUDY

ON HOW WEBSERIES INFLUENCE YOUNSTERS” s u b m itt ed in

p a rt ia l fu lfilm en t fo r th e a w a rd o f D e g ree o f C o m m erc e P ro g ra m

U n d er th e g u id a n c e a nd s u p e rv is io n o f Mrs NICY BINOD

A s s is ta n t P ro fe s s o r, D e p a rt m e n t of C o m m erc e and

M anag e m e nt.

P la c e : P o n g a n a m k a d u

D a te : RAHUL P
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I w o u ld lik e to ta k e th e o p p o rtu n it y t o ex p res s m y s in c e re

g ra t it u d e t o a ll th o s e w h o m a d e m e to c o m p lete th is p ro je c t

s u c c es s fu lly th ro u g h th e ir tim e ly g u id a n c e , h e lp a n d s u p p o rt.

I e xt en d m y s in c e re g ra titu d e to Mrs NICY BINOD A s s is ta n t

P ro fe s s or o f th e D ep a rtm en t o f C o m m e rc e a n d M a n a g e m e n t

s tu d ie s , fo r h e r s in c e re s u p erv is io n a n d g u id a n c e .

I e xte n d m y im m e n s e g ra titu d e to Mr RAJEESH C.K, H e a d o f t h e

D e p a rtm e n t o f C o m m e rc e a n d M a n a g e m en t , fo r h is s in c e re

S u p erv is in g a n d g u id a n c e , E LIM S C o lleg e o f A rts a n d S c ien c e ,

P ongan am ka du.

I e xp res s m y g ra titu d e to Prof. DAVIS K.A, P rin c ip a l E LIM S

C o lleg e o f A rt s a n d S c ie n c e, P o n g a n a m k a d u fo r h is e n tire

s u p p o rt .
RAHUL P
CONTENTS
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION

W e b s e rie s a re s e en rep la c in g t h e T ele v is io n n ow a d a ys . W eb

s e ries a re b ec o m in g th e h e a rt o f th e y o u n g g e n e ra tio n . L ik e

N e tflix, A m a zo n P rim e a n d H o t s ta r a re s o m e o f t h e p o p u la r

a p p s th a t c o n s is t o f w e b s e rie s o r m o v ies . N o w a d a ys p e o p le

e s p ec ia lly th e y o u n g g e n e ra tio n a re c o m p lete ly b o re d w ith th e

d a ily m e lo d ra m a o f S a a s -B a h u s e ria ls a n d m elo d ra m a t ic

s itu a t io n s . S o th e T e le v is io n s erie s a re s e e n in s ta n t ly re p la c e d

b y t h e In te rn e t w e b s erie s w h ic h a re g a in in g p o p u la rity in In d ia .

T h e w eb s e ries fo rm a t h a s b e c o m e th e n e w fa v ou rite , e s p ec ia lly

a m o n g s t th e yo u th . T h e e n try o f R elia n c e J io g a v e a b ig p u s h to

th e a d v e n t o f s o c ia l a n d d ig ita l m e d ia a n d s in g le -h a n d e d ly

c h a n g e d th e v id e o c o n s u m p tio n s c en a rio in In d ia . M a jo r O T T

p la y ers lik e N e tflix In d ia a n d A m a zo n P rim e h a v e e v e n s ta rt ed

p ro d u c in g o rig in a l w eb s erie s w ith th e In d ia n a u d ien c e in m in d .

"C lo s e to 7 0 p e rc e n t o f th e In d ia n p o p u la tio n is y o u n g , a n d a b u lk

o f t h e m is o n lin e . T h e In t ern et h a s b ec o m e th e t re n d o f th e

y o u n g g en era tio n . T h e p h a s e o f t h e y o u n g s t ers is s e e n to b e

s o c ia l m e d ia a d d ic ts a n d s o w e b s erie s a re e a s ily ru n n in g a n d

g a in in g p o p u la rity a m o n g s t In d ia . T h e s eria l o n th e T e lev is io n

g o es o n fo r ye a rs a n d y e a rs b u t th e w eb s e rie s a re s m a ll a n d
h a v e n ew c o n c e p ts w ith th e n e w c re a tiv ity . It h a s U n p re d ic ta b le

p lo ts a n d s h o w s th e c u rre n t s itu a tio n m u c h tim e . A ls o W e b

s e ries h a v e n o tim e -b o u n d y o u c a n w a tc h it a n y w h ere a n d a t a n y

p o in t in t im e. W eb s erie s c rea te a n y k in d o f in te re s t to w a tc h t h e

n e xt e p is o d e . W e b s e rie s a re ta k in g ris e in In d ia b e c a u s e p e o p le

c a n w a tc h a s erie s of th eir in te res t s a n d th e ir t yp e . W e b s e ries

p ro v id e a ll ty p es o f e n t ert a in m e n t a n d t h e m a jo rity of th e s e rie s

a t th e e n d le a v e b a c k s o m e m o ra l fo r th e v ie w e rs

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

F ilm s a n d th e te le v is io n in d u s try h a v e a lw a y s b e en s ig n ific a n t

s o u rc e s o f in fo ta in m en t a n d en terta in m en t fo r th e p e o p le in

In d ia . A ls o , th ey h a v e b ee n o n e o f th e es s e n t ia l s o u rc e s t o

in flu en c e th o u g h ts , a ttitu d e s , b e h a v io u r, a n d b e lie f. It is g e n e ra lly

s e en th a t th e y ou th , es p e c ia lly k id s a n d te en s , te n d to le a rn t h e

in s ta n c e s , d ia lo g u e s , s o n g s fro m m o v ies , a n d la te r it s t a y s in

th eir m in d fo r a n ex te n d e d p e rio d . A n d a s a re s u lt, p a ren ts

a lw a y s p re fe rre d s t rea m in g th o s e c h a n n e ls o r m o v ies , w h ic h

h a v e p o s itiv ity , a n d d o n 't c o n t a in a n y u n fa v o u ra b le c o n te n t.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

T h is re s e a rc h fo c u s es s p ec ific a lly o n u n d e rg ra d u a te c o lleg e

s tu d e n t s a n d a im s to p ro v id e in s ig h ts in to t h e ir w eb s e ries

v ie w in g h a b its . T h e s t u d y e n c o m p a s s es a d iv ers e ra n g e o f w e b

s e ries g en re s a n d p la t fo rm s to c a p t u re a c o m p reh en s iv e

u n d e rs t a n d in g o f th e p re feren c e s a n d b e h a v io u rs w ith in t h is

d e m o g ra p h ic . T h e re s e a rc h p erio d w ill e xte n d o v e r [s p e c ify tim e

fra m e ], e n s u rin g a t h o ro u g h a n a lys is o f th e s u b je c t m a tt er.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1 . T o id en tify th e p refe rre d g en res o f w e b s e rie s a m o n g c o lle g e

s tu d e n t s .

2 . T o a n a lys e s b in g e -w a t c h in g p a t tern s a n d fre qu en c y .

3 . T o d e te rm in e th e p rim a ry p la tfo rm s u s e d fo r v ie w in g w e b

s e ries .
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research is a procedure of logical and systematic application of the

fundamentals of science to the general and over all questions of a
study and scientific technique which provides precise tools, specific
procedure and technical rather than philosophical means for getting
and ordering the data prior to their logical analyses and
manipulation. Different types of research designs is available
depending upon the nature of research project.
COLLECTION OF DATA

PRIMARY DATA

The study is mainly based on primary data. The primary data are to
be collected from the consumers

SECONDARY DATA

The secondary data are to be collected from various articles, study

reports of various cosmetics brand and from different websites

Tools for Data Collection

Structured interview schedules were used for the collection of

primary data and articles, study reports internet sources are used for
the secondary data collection.

Sampling

The primary data were collected from a sample of 50 persons

watching web series.

Tools for Data Analysis

The collected data were presented in table, graph for the purpose of
analysis by using various statistical tools.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

1. Lack of cooperation from some respondents

2. Lack of knowledge of some respondents

3. Many of the respondents denied filling the questionnaire

4. External factors, such as shifts in market trends or audience

preferences, may render certain aspects of the project review
outdated or less relevant.

5. Time Constraints: Conducting an in-depth study for your web

series project may be limited by time constraints, affecting the
depth of your research and analysis.
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The institutionalization of YouTube: From user-generated

content to professionally generated content, Jin Kim, The

College of Saint Rose, USA

T h is a rtic le e xp lo re s t h e in s titu tion a liz a tio n o f Y o u T u b e : its

tra n s fo rm a tio n fro m u s e r g en era te d c o n te n t (U G C )- o rie n t ed a s a

v irt u a l v illa g e in t o a p ro fe s s io n a lly g en e ra te d c o n te n t (P G C )

v id e o s ite , e s p ec ia lly a fte r b ein g p u rc h a s e d b y G o o g le . Y o u T u b e

h a s in flu e n c ed th e tra d itio n a l m e d ia en v iro n m e n t , b u t a t t h e

s a m e tim e th is n e w m ed iu m im ita te s th e ru le s o f th e o ld m ed ia ,

in c lu d in g leg a lly m a n a g ed d is t rib u tio n o f b ro a d c a s t in g c o n te n t

a n d s m o o th lin k s b e tw ee n c o n ten t a n d c o m m e rc ia ls . Y o u T u b e

c o n s titu t es a n e v o lu tio n o f th e p re s e n t m e d ia m ilie u , ra th e r th a n

a re v o lu tio n . O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e d o m in a n c e o f m a in s tre a m

m ed ia is , to a d eg re e , s till c o m p ro m is e d in U G C c u lt u re . T h e

e m a n c ip a to ry d im e n s io n o f U G C m e d ia (e .g . a s d e m o c ra tic ,

c re a tiv e o u tlet w it h h ig h a c c e s s ib ilit y a n d o n lin e lib ra ry p o ten tia l)

is d is c u s s e d in th e c o n c lu s io n , n o t lo s in g s ig h t o f th e
te c h n o lo g ic a l- ec o n o m ic lim it a tio n s p la c e d o n its c o n tin u in g

p ro m is e .
Online Networks and the Pursuit of Legacy Media, Aymar Jean

Christian

T ele v is io n 's p e rc eiv e d w e a k n e s s a t th e tu rn of th e c en t u ry

o p en ed a rh e to ric a l a n d ec o n o m ic s p a c e fo r e n t rep ren eu r's

e a g er t o c u ra te a n d d is trib u t e w eb p ro g ra m s . T h es e c o m p a n ie s

in tro d u c e d v a rio u s fo rm s o f ex p erim en ta tio n th e y a s s o c ia te d

w it h th e a d v a n ta g e s o f d ig ita l te c h n o log ie s , b u t th ey a ls o

m a in ta in e d c o n t in u it y w it h te le v is io n 's b u s in es s p ra c tic es . T h is

d ia lec tie b e tw ee n o ld a n d n e w , c o n tin u ity a n d c h a n g e , in s id e rs

a n d o u t s id e rs , refle c te d th e in s ta b ility o f te lev is io n a s a c o n c e p t

a n d th e p ro m is e o f th e w eb a s a n a lte rn a tiv e . U s in g a rtic le s in

th e tra d e p re s s , th is e s s a y e xp lo re s t h e h is to ry o f e p is o d ic w e b

p ro g ra m m in g v a rio u s ly c a lle d w e b s e rie s , w eb is o d es , b it c o m s ,

w eb te le v is io n a n d , in its e a rlie s t fo rm , c yb e r s o a p s a s n ew

m ed ia n e tw ork e xe c u tiv e s . h o p e d to re p lic a te b u t a ls o

d iffe re n tia t e th e m s elv e s fro m leg a c y m e d ia .

From homemade to store bought: Annoying Orange and the

Professionalization of YouTube, Joanne Morreale

T h is a rtic le e xa m in e s t h e c u ltu re o f Y ou T u b e in o rd er to illu s t ra te

th e w a y th a t v a lu e g en era te d b y Y o u T u b e p ro s u m e rs b e c o m e s
u t ilize d b y c a p ita l, w h ile a ls o in d ic a t in g th e d is s olu t io n o f th e

b o u n d a ries b et w e e n m e d ia p la tfo rm s a s Y o u T u b e e v o lv e s in t o a

c o m m erc ia lly d riv e n m e d iu m . T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f A n n o y in g

O ra n g e fro m "a m a t eu r" c o n ten t to t ele v is io n s e ries a n d c u ltu ra l

p h e n o m en o n e xe m p lifie s th e p ro c e s s e s , w h e reb y ev eryd a y u s e r-

g e n era te d c o n t en t o n Y o u T u b e b ec o m e s fo d d e r fo r c o rp o ra te

m ed ia . A lth o u g h B o ed ig h e im er p res e n te d h im s e lf a s a n a m a te u r,

b e h in d t h e s c e n es h e m a d e s tro n g e ffo rts to p u b lic iz e th e

A n n o y in g O ra n g e v id e o s , w h ic h re s u lte d in m o re th a n a m illio n

v ie w s in 3 w e ek s a n d m o re th a n 5 0 m illio n v iew s in 6 m o n t h s .

A n n o y in g O ra n g e is c u rren tly th e 4 6 th m o s t s u b s c rib e d c h a n n e l

o n Y o u T u b e a n d th e 2 4 th m o s t v iew e d o f a ll tim e, w ith m o re

th a n 1 b illio n Y o u T u b e v ie w s .

Fandom as industrial response: Producing identity in an

independent Web series, Aymar Jean Christian hu

I fra m e th e d e v e lo p m en t, p ro d u c tio n , a n d d is trib u tio n o f a W e b

s e ries , T h e R e a l G irl's G u id e t o E v ery th in g E ls e, a s a fa n -d riv en

re s p o n s e t o a n in d u s tria l p rod u c t , S ex a n d t h e C it y. A s

in te rm it ten t p a rtic ip a n ts in t h e H olly w o o d in d u s try , t h e s e rie s

c re a to rs , a d iv ers e g ro u p o f le s b ia n , b is ex u a l, a n d s tra ig h t

w o m e n o f v a rio u s et h n ic itie s , p o s ition ed th e ir s erie s a s a m a rk et

o rien te d p ro d u c t in te n d e d t o re fo rm t h e in d u s t ry fro m its

m a rg in s a n d p a rtic ip a te in a g ro w in g n e w m e d ia e c o n o m y .

E xp a n d ed n o tio n s o f fa n p ro d u c t io n a n d in d u s try a re n ee d ed , a s

a re fre s h fra m e w o rk s for a n a ly s in g th e e ffe c ts o f d ig it a l

d is trib u tio n , es p e c ia lly fo r c o m m u n ities , o f w o m e n , a n d o f s e xu a l .

T h e o p e n in g s c e n e s o f th e W eb S erie s th e R ea l G irl's G u id e to

E v e ry th in g E ls e re fle c t w h a t h a s b ec o m e a c o n v e n tio n in

w o m a n -c en tered te le v is io n a n d film : fo u r y o u n g g irlfrie n d s

s ittin g c h a ttin g c a s u a lly a t b ru n c h . "T h e re w e re d e fin it ely s o m e

o v e rt n o d s w e w a n te d to m a k e to S e x a n d th e C ity , fro m a s c rip t

p e rs p ec tiv e a n d fro m a s ty le p ers p ec tiv e ," th e s e rie s ' w rite r a n d

e xe c u tiv e p ro d u c e r to ld m e in a n in te rv ie w . Y e t th e s c e n e a lm o s t

im m ed ia te ly d e v ia te s fro m H B O 's tita n o f w o m en 's p rog ra m m in g .

T h e c a m e ra firs t fo c u s es o n ea c h w o m a n 's s h o e s , a d iv e rs e

a s s o rt m e n t in c lu d in g a p a ir o f d o w d y d o c to r s n e a k e rs , s tra p p y

h e e ls , w o rk b o o ts , a n d b a re fe e t.

Lost on the web: does web distribution stimulate or depress

television viewing, Joel Waldfogel.

In t h e p a s t fe w y ea rs , Y o u T u b e a n d o th er s ite s fo r s h a rin g v id e o

file s ov er t h e In te rn e t h a v e v a u lte d fro m o b s c u rity to p la c e s o f

c en tra lity in th e m e d ia la n d s c a p e. T h e files a v a ila b le a t Y o u T u b e

in c lu d e a m ix o f u s er-g e n era te d v id e o a n d c lip s from n e tw o rk

te lev is io n s h o w s . N e tw o rk s fe a r th a t a v a ila b ilit y o f th e ir c lip s o n

Y o u T u b e w ill d ep res s te le v is io n v iew in g . B u t u n a u th o riz ed c lip s

a re a ls o free a d v e rtis in g fo r te lev is io n s h o w s . A s Y o u T u b e h a s

g ro w n q u ic k ly , m a jo r n e tw o rk s h a v e re s p o n d ed b y m a k in g th e ir

c o n te n t a v a ila b le a t th e ir o w n s ites . T h is p a p er e xa m in e s t h e

e ffe c ts o f a u th o rize d a n d u n a u th o riz ed w eb d is t rib u tio n on

te lev is io n v iew in g b et w e en 2 0 0 5 a n d 2 0 0 7 u s in g a s u rv e y o f

P en n s tu d e n ts o n th e ir te n d en c ie s t o w a tc h te le v is io n s erie s o n

te lev is io n a s w e ll a s o n th e w e b . T h e re s u lts p ro v id e a g lim p s e o f

th e w a y y o u n g , In t ern et -c o n n e c t ed p eo p le u s e Y o u T u b e a n d

re la te d s ite s . W h ile I fin d s o m e e v id en c e o f s u b s t it u tio n o f w eb

v ie w in g fo r c o n v en tio n a l tele v is io n v ie w in g , tim e s p en t v iew in g

p ro g ra m m in g o n th e w eb -- 4 h o u rs p e r w e e k -- fa r ex c e e d s th e

re d u c tio n in w ee k ly tra d itio n a l t ele v is io n v ie w in g o f a b o u t 2 5

m in u te s . O v era ll tim e s p en t o n n et w o rk -c o n tro lle d v iew in g

(te le v is io n p lu s n etw o rk w eb s ite s ) in c re a s e d b y 1 .5 h o u rs p er

w ee k .

The Netflix Prize, James Bennett Stan Lanning

In O c to b er, 2 0 0 6 N et flix re lea s e d a d a ta s e t c o n ta in in g 1 0 0

m illio n a n o n y m o u s m ov ie ra t in g s a n d c h a llen g ed th e d a ta
m in in g , m a c h in e le a rn in g a n d c o m p u te r s c ie n c e c om m u n ities to

d e v e lo p s ys t em s th a t c o u ld b e a t th e a c c u ra c y o f its

re c om m e n d a tion s y s te m , C in e m a tic . W e b riefly d e s c rib e th e

c h a llen g e it s elf, rev ie w re la te d w o rk a n d e ffo rts , a n d s u m m a rize

v is ib le p ro g re s s to d a te . O th e r p o te n tia l u s es o f th e d a ta a re

o u tlin e d , in c lu d in g its a p p lic a tio n to th e K D D C u p 2 0 0 7 .

R e c o m m e n d a tio n s y s te m s s u g g e s t item s o f in te re s t a n d

e n jo y m e n t to p eo p le b a s e d o n th e ir p re fe ren c e s . T h e y h a v e b e en

u n d e r d e v e lo p m en t s in c e t h e e a rly 1 9 9 0 s . T h e s e s y s te m s p la y

a n im p o rta n t ro le in m a n y e-c o m m e rc e s ites , n o ta b ly A m a zo n ,

M u s ic S t ra n d s , P a n d o ra , Y a h o o !, a n d N e tflix . N e tflix , a n o n -lin e

m ov ie s u b s c rip t io n ren t a l s e rv ic e , a llo w s p eo p le t o re n t m o v ies

fo r a fix ed m o n th ly fe e, m a in ta in in g a p rio ritize d lis t o f m o v ie s

th ey w is h to v iew

Unreeling Netflix: Understanding and Improving Multi-CDN

Movie Delivery, Vijay Kumar Adhikari, Yang Guo, Fang Hao,

Matteo Varvello, Volker Hilt, Moritz Steiner and Zhi-Li Zhang

N e tflix is th e le a d in g p ro v id e r o f o n -d e m a n d In t ern et v id e o

s tre a m in g in th e U S a n d C a n a d a , a c c o u n tin g for 2 9 .7 % o f th e

p e a k d o w n s t rea m tra ffic in U S . U n d ers ta n d in g th e N e tflix

a rc h ite c tu re a n d its p e rfo rm a n c e c a n s h ed lig h t o n h o w to b e s t

o p tim ize it s d e s ig n a s w e ll a s o n th e d e s ig n o f s im ila r

o n -d e m a n d s tre a m in g s e rv ic es . In th is p a p er, w e p e rfo rm a

m ea s u re m e n t s tu d y o f N et flix to u n c o v e r it s a rc h it ec tu re a n d

s e rv ic e s tra te g y . W e fin d th a t N e tflix e m p lo y s a b le n d of d a ta

c en tre s a n d C o n te n t D eliv e ry N et w o rk s (C D N s ) fo r c o n ten t

d is trib u tio n . W e a ls o p e rfo rm a c tiv e m e a s u rem en ts o f th e th ree

C D N s e m p lo ye d b y N e tflix to q u a n tify t h e v id e o d e liv ery

b a n d w id th a v a ila b le t o u s e rs a c ro s s th e U S . F in a lly, a s

im p ro v em en ts to N e tflix’ s c u rre n t C D N a s s ig n m e n t s tra teg y ,

w e p ro p o s e a m ea s u re m e n t-b a s e d a d a p tiv e C D N s e lec tio n

s tra te g y a n d a m u ltip le -C D N -b a s e d v id e o d e liv ery s tra te g y , a n d

d e m o n s t ra te th e ir p o te n t ia ls in s ig n ific a n tly in c re a s in g u s er’ s

a v era g e b a n d w id th .
The BellKor Solution to the Netflix Grand Prize, Yehuda Koren

T h is a rtic le d e s c rib e s p a rt o f o u r c o n t rib u tio n to t h e “ B e llK o r’ s

P ra g m a tic C h a o s ” fin a l s o lu t io n , w h ic h w o n th e N e tflix G ra n d

P rize . T h e o th e r p o rtio n o f t h e c o n trib u t io n w a s c rea ted w h ile

w o rk in g a t A T & T w ith R o b e rt B e ll a n d C h ris V o lin s k y, a s re p o rte d

in o u r 2 0 0 8 P ro g re s s P riz e re p o rt. T h e fin a l s o lu tio n in c lu d e s a ll

th e p re d ic to rs d e s c rib e d th ere. In th is a rtic le w e d e s c rib e o n ly

th e n e w e r p re d ic to rs . S o w h a t is n e w o v er la s t y ea r’ s s o lu tio n ?

F irs t w e fu rth e r im p ro v e d t h e b a s elin e p re d ic to rs (S ec . III). T h is

in tu rn im p ro v e s o u r o t h e r m o d els , w h ic h in c o rp o ra te t h o s e

p re d ic to rs , lik e th e m a trix fa c to riz a tio n m o d e l (S ec . IV ). In

a d d itio n , a n ex ten s io n o f th e n e ig h b o rh o o d m o d el th a t

a d d re s s e s t em p o ra l d y n a m ic s w a s in tro d u c e d (S ec . V ). O n t h e

R e s tric te d B o ltzm a n n M a c h in e s (R B M ) fro n t, w e u s e a n e w R B M

m od e l w ith s u p e rio r a c c u ra c y b y c o n d itio n in g t h e v is ib le u n its .

T h e fin a l a d d it io n is th e in t ro d u c tion o f a n e w b len d in g a lg o rith m ,

w h ic h is b a s e d o n g ra d ien t b o o s te d d ec is io n tree s .