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We Need an FDA For Algorithms

posted by Fnord666 on Monday November 19 2018, @07:42AM   Printer-friendly
from the who-watches-the-watchers dept.

upstart writes:

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

We Need an FDA For Algorithms

In the introduction to her new book, Hannah Fry points out something interesting about the phrase "Hello World." It's never been quite clear, she says, whether the phrase—which is frequently the entire output of a student's first computer program—is supposed to be attributed to the program, awakening for the first time, or to the programmer, announcing their triumphant first creation.

Perhaps for this reason, "Hello World" calls to mind a dialogue between human and machine, one which has never been more relevant than it is today. Her book, called Hello World, published in September, walks us through a rapidly computerizing world. Fry is both optimistic and excited—along with her Ph.D. students at the University of College, London, she has worked on many algorithms herself—and cautious. In conversation and in her book, she issues a call to arms: We need to make algorithms transparent, regulated, and forgiving of the flawed creatures that converse with them.

I reached her by telephone while she was on a book tour in New York City.

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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by SemperOSS on Monday November 19 2018, @11:18AM (4 children)

    by SemperOSS (5072) on Monday November 19 2018, @11:18AM (#763845)

    The obvious name for this new administration would be ADA, Algorithm and Data Administration!

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    I don't need a signature to draw attention to myself.
    Maybe I should add a sarcasm warning now and again?
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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @06:17PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @06:17PM (#763951)

    For those who miss the joke, ADA is a programming language developed by DOD specifically to address software quality by building it into the language.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_(programming_language) [wikipedia.org]

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday November 19 2018, @07:19PM

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday November 19 2018, @07:19PM (#763976) Journal

    ADA:
    * American Dental Association
    * Americans with Disabilities Act

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    The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.

  • (Score: 2) by Bot on Monday November 19 2018, @10:12PM

    by Bot (3902) on Monday November 19 2018, @10:12PM (#764035) Journal

    Software
    Correctness
    Active
    Mentoring

    is doublespeaky enough for me.

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    Account abandoned.