What is Goon Research?

Goon Research is an experimental R&D lab developing high-performance lubricants and tribological compounds for extended-use scenarios. We’re obsessed with friction, drag, cushion, glide, grip, cling and the countless microtextures of mechanical stimulation. Our goal is to understand what makes physical properties of compounds translate to sensations at a scientific level and then build a predictive system that can design new formulas tailored to your specific preferences. We’re here to study extreme states and build tools for exploring them. That makes you a collaborator in a degenerate feedback loop of sensation and refinement that helps support open science.

What is GoonNet?

GoonNet is a tribological modeling engine. It takes in formula data (ingredient ratios, types, etc.), objective properties (coefficient of friction, tack/adhesion, film strength), user feedback (surveys, rankings, sensory comparisons) and it learns to associate input (formulas and their properties) with output (subjective sensation from survey feedback).

Eventually, you’ll be able to reverse engineer formulations by inputting your desired traits (e.g., “I want a formula that is grippy but not tacky and a moderate amount of slip”) and GoonNet will suggest a formulation. As it improves, you’ll also be able to upload feedback like: “I liked formula A better than B,” and it’ll refine its suggestions for you. In the long term, GoonNet is designed to replace me as the formulator.

Why do you collect data?

That’s how models are built. If you want formulas to improve over time or to one day generate your own, you have to give feedback. No data = no learning = no progress.

Here’s the loop:

  • You buy a product.
  • We use that money to create and send new prototypes.
  • You test them and give us data.
  • We analyze the data to improve the formulas.
  • Then the cycle repeats until GoonNet can generate the best formulas on its own.

Is my data anonymous?

Yes for all meaningful purposes. Your feedback is tied to an anonymous identifier, not your identity. Shipping info stays within our shipping service on the website and survey feedback is stored on our survey service. Participant IDs in the surveys are encrypted such that even if someone had both the raw survey data and managed to get shipping information, it’s still impossible to link the two. And finally, the feedback you give in surveys are only about product performance. We do not ask you personal details about your habits or interests. You can view our example survey to see what kinds of questions are asked when you choose to provide feedback [Example Survey].

Are you going to sell my data?

There is nothing to sell.

The fact of the matter is that the data you provide has no commercial value to anyone besides Goon Research. The data is too specialized and only valuable within this system. All of the research methodology, documentation to make our formulas yourself, and GoonNet will be freely available and open-source. Besides I’m not in this to extract maximum value from you. I’m in this to co-develop something with you.

What is GNSR?

GNSR stands for GoonNet Signal Rating. A dynamic score generated by GoonNet to quantify the quality and predictive usefulness of the data you’re feeding the system. It functions like a reputation system within the Goon Research ecosystem.

You can increase your GNSR by:

  • Completing surveys
  • Submitting high-quality, consistent feedback
  • Participating in challenges and special tests

GoonNet tracks your feedback quality not just quantity. Honest, thoughtful answers are worth more than spammy ones.

Why does GNSR matter?

We can’t reveal everything yet, but having a high GNSR means:

  • Priority access to new prototypes
  • Deeper personalization
  • Exclusive bonuses and drops
  • Future benefits tied to your legacy in the system
  • Helping shape the future of GoonNet

GNSR is about recognition and influence. If you love Goon Research, you’re going to want a high GNSR. It’s how we reward our most valuable contributors.

Why is honest feedback so important?

GoonNet works on pattern recognition. The more consistent and thoughtful your feedback, the better it gets at understanding your preferences and giving you what you actually want. If you’re just rushing through surveys trying to boost your GNSR, it won’t help. GoonNet learns to filter out low-effort noise over time. It notices which responses are reliable and which aren’t. But when you give honest high-quality input, it will get better a predicting which formulations will meet your desired sensory traits. You’re essentially training the model to better serve you.

I like the project but don’t want to do surveys. Can I still be involved?

Absolutely. Goon Research is all about making this weird, wonderful world fun and immersive for everyone. If you love what we’re trying to build here, but you either don’t have the time, energy, or comfort to do feedback surveys, you’re still welcome here.

In the future we may offer a way to get some of the benefits associated with a high GNSR such as a one-time payment to show your support for the research that we do. That way you won’t have to fill out a single survey or share any data and still get access to most of the fun extras like special box content, lore drops, personalization, and deeper immersion into the Goon Research universe. The only thing you won’t get is access to early prototype formulas, since those are sent out specifically to collect feedback and improve GoonNet.

Regardless of your level of involvement with the lab, everyone always receive our most advanced and high quality formulations at the same price.

So… why are we doing this?

Because we’re obsessed. Because we believe extreme sensory states are worth studying and engineering around. Nobody else is doing it and we want to see what happens. We’re here to build something weird, scientific, and ultimately self-defeating: a model so good you won’t need us anymore. You’ll have GoonNet.

Goon Research is a tribute to obsession, ours and yours.

Shopping Cart