What makes an algorithm

Without common sense, it will be difficult to build adaptable and unsupervised NLP systems in an increasingly digital and mobile world. Though there is still a long way to go, common-sense reasoning will continue to evolve rapidly in the coming years and the technology is stable enough to be in business use today. It holds significant advantages over existing ontology and rule-based systems, or systems based simply on machine learning.

Algorithms can make systems smarter, but without adding a little common sense into the equation they can still produce some pretty bizarre results. Stephen F. Skip Article Header. Skip to: Start of Article. Originally posted by:. Stephen DeAngelis. View original post. Skip Social. Skip to: Latest News. Share Share Tweet Comment Email. Skip Comments. Skip to: Footer. View comments. The input leads to steps and questions that need handling in order.

When each section of the flowchart is completed, the generated result is the output. That sounds straightforward enough so far, but what is an algorithm used for? The truth is decidedly broad. Algorithms are used throughout all areas of IT and computing. They can manipulate and process data and perform calculations or actions in various ways. A great example of algorithms in action is with automation software. This is because automation works by following set rules to complete tasks.

Those rules form an algorithm. For example, one of your automated tasks requires your automation software to take all billing information received by email and put it into a spreadsheet. To do this, you set up a series of rules and conditions for the program to follow — an algorithm. In this instance, the input is every incoming email. Each of these emails are then put through each step — or rule — to complete the task. To a computer, output is usually more data, just like input.

It allows computers to string algorithms together in complex fashions to produce more algorithms. However, output can also involve presenting information, for example putting words on a screen, producing auditory cues or some other form of communication.

So after getting dressed you step out into the world, ready for the elements and the gazes of the people around you. Maybe you even take a selfie and put it on Instagram to strut your stuff.

Machine learning is commonplace for things like recommendations, predictions and looking up information. For our getting-dressed example, a machine learning algorithm would be the equivalent of your remembering past decisions about what to wear, knowing how comfortable you feel wearing each item, and maybe which selfies got the most likes, and using that information to make better choices.

So, an algorithm is the process a computer uses to transform input data into output data. A simple concept, and yet every piece of technology that you touch involves many algorithms. Maybe the next time you grab your phone, see a Hollywood movie or check your email, you can ponder what sort of complex set of algorithms is behind the scenes.

Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in.