Algorithms are awesome. From procedural generated computer games, to making recommendations on what music I might like, I’m very much a fan of what they do having been exposed to them from a young age. I checked out Reddit which is an interesting algortihm to consider here because the algorithm works in tandem with human input to identify content which is “relevant”. In theory Reddit should provide the level of agency that Gillespie doesn’t think we can achieve. In reality, it usually just ends up with a very american view of the world.
I also wondered why, given the importance of search engines, Google can escape the same levels of ire that media moguls receive. Not that I suggest the Murdoch empire is unfairly criticised. On reflection, perhaps Google has watched and learned the issues faced by print and broadcast media.
I spend a fair bit of my time at work dealing with issues around Turnitin, so I was surprised to see it mentioned so prominently as an algorithm used extensively in Higher Education in one of the core readings. This now vies for my attention on my essay portion of this course’s assessment.
I’ve created my artefact for this week. I tried very hard to “break” the algorithm on Steam, but I think without actually buying and playing a game that I would never normally countenance, there is not much chance of that happening. I found the process of re-running the “queue” to be quite enjoyable. There’s a message of over-consumption in there too which I haven’t addressed in my video.
I also found time to begin the process of tidying up my blog, I’m sticking with this theme now, as it seems to do everything asked of it by IFTTT. I also looked at my earliest posts and started to add the meta information required.
Hello Colin, thanks for your summary here as well as all the other content that has featured in your lifestream this week: you’ve been really busy! Great also to see that you’ve put the pointers from my feedback into action, in the summary as well as more generally across your lifestream.
I thoroughly enjoyed your algorithm video: using screen capture seemed like the perfect way of walking me through your observations as you were able to show me particular examples of games – and the effects of the algorithm – alongside your commentary. Other than dabbling in a bit of Super Mario Cart as a young man I have barely no knowledge of gaming however I feel much better informed as a result of your video. We’ve talked before about finding a medium that you feel comfortable with for your digital assignment at the end of the course: I really felt this worked for you. All-in-all a thoroughly engaging and well delivered piece of work that touched on some of the economic and cultural influences that shape the algorithm (and in turn how they shape the interests and actions of gamer).
‘Algorithms are awesome. From procedural generated computer games, to making recommendations on what music I might like, I’m very much a fan of what they do having been exposed to them from a young age. I checked out Reddit which is an interesting algortihm to consider here because the algorithm works in tandem with human input to identify content which is “relevant”.’
After the discussions around algorithms over the course of the last week I thought your reference to the ‘awesome’ nature of algorithms was going to be followed by a punchline about their adverse impact upon society. Instead, you’ve offered us a healthy reminder that whatever some of the motivations behind the creation or use of algorithms, we shouldn’t forget that they form part of extremely clever, extremely sophisticated systems. In fact, I thought your algorithm video captured this nicely: you were clear that Steam uses algorithms in order to keep gamers gaming (and purchasing products) however if there’s a a financial motivation it is no different from the society of which it is part. At the same time, you seemed to be saying that this was an arrangement that gamers both understood and were happy with, on account of the way that Steam has managed to sustain PC gaming in the face of mobile gaming.
Also significant in your lifestream this week, through blogging and on Twitter, have been your thoughts around plag….originality software. I was really glad to see you picking up on the reference to ‘plagiarism detection’ within the article by Knox. It was bold and critical (in an academic way). Since our exchanges on Twitter earlier today I’ve been thinking about the way that, as I understand it, some universities are moving away from this reference to ‘plagiarism’, for instance referring instead to ‘academic conduct’. Irrespective, there remains a much bigger issue, as Introna and Hayes (2011) point to, about the use of these technologies at all if they lack the sophistication to take into account differences across the student body? You’ve mentioned that you are considering this as a possible assignment topic and I think this could make for a fascinating piece of work. Also, when you get a chance to use watch Ben Williamson’s lecture video (from the week 9 ‘readings’) you’ll find more food for thought. Anyway, something for us to return to after week 10. Meanwhile, I’m really looking forward to seeing what you come up with around learning analytics this week.
Great work, Colin.