This BBC story based on a book by Eli Pariser 'The Filter Bubble', is interesting in how it explores the way algorithms affect our lives in unpredictable ways. An important example of this is the way so much financial trading is done by algorithms with no human interaction, with unpredictable consequences -
When algorithms control the world - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14306146.
23 August 2011
By Jane Wakefield
Technology reporter
"If you were expecting some kind warning when computers finally get smarter than us, then think again.
There will be no soothing HAL 9000-type voice informing us that our human services are now surplus to requirements.
In reality, our electronic overlords are already taking control, and they are doing it in a far more subtle way than science fiction would have us believe.
Their weapon of choice - the algorithm."
This blog is about my PhD research (now finished) at University of the West of England into User Driven Modelling. This is to make it possible for people who are not programmers to create software. I create software that converts visual trees into computer code. My web site is http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~phale/. I'm continuing this research and the blog. My PhD is at http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/ and a journal paper at http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/.
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