Referring to Vries (2010) I reflect
on how algorithms are increasingly impacting our lives, online and offline.
By Nicole Frances Clark,
University of Canberra Australia
Vries (2010) extensively discusses the pragmatic use of
algorithms in today’s society. He argues
that, the structure and definition of ‘the self’, and contentions about the
validity of self, are understood as being both conjunctive and disjunctive-
where identity is terminalised as being united and separated and concluded at
being ‘I’ and ‘we’. Therefore, to conceives one’s self is to understand and validate contextual
placement of one’s self in society. Vries (2010) explains-such contextual
placement is solidified by the arbitrary constants of algorithmic calculations.
He argues we can deduce from these calculations, indistinct representations of
ourselves to both our peers and to the notion of ‘the self’ concept.
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In light of this, I notice significant parallels towards my
own life, where I too can observe algorithmic calculations making informed and
explicit decisions about my own identity and the preferences I continue to
make. In hindsight, this paper will
therefore reflect how the use of algorithms impact daily life in both an online
and offline setting.
Algorithms exist in the form of ambient intelligence and
such technology is rampant in a networked setting. In an online environment
mathematical and computer generated responses profile according to an input of
past data of an individual’s behaviour- which ultimately determines a user
appropriate preference (Bohn et al, 2004).
For instance, certain programs on my smart phone computer make
suggestions about my previous online selections. Crammer et al, (2006) describes, algorithms
in an online setting make predictions about an individual’s preferences and
receive constant feedback that indicate a perceived correct outcome. For example, my preferential behaviour in an
online setting where I am purchasing documentaries on Ebay, has lead to
algorithms suggesting that I purchase items of similar and or equal value to
the ones I have browsed or purchased previously. Kaci and Torre (2005), agree that by doing
this, an algorithm has calculated a suggestion based on a previous preferential
basis.
Algorithms, likely impact the offline setting too.
Individuals are aware of the things they like and dislike and therefore are on
a daily basis, bombarded with anticipations towards mathematically derived
preferences. Hence, algorithms also
considerably effect individual decisions in an offline setting. Vries (2010), emphasises, algorithms are
everywhere and they determine predisposed outcomes of a mathematical nature in
many avenues of daily life. The choices that individuals face impact daily
life. For instance, if I want to vacuum my house I can choose to do so, however
due to the magnitude of choice and technology in today’s society- a
mathematically derived system implanted into the mechanics of a robot allows me
to change the dynamics of choice. That
is, a robotic system is able to configure multiple outcomes in distinct
mathematical sequences that map junctures in my living room to both vacuum and
avoid obstructions (such as ledges), simultaneously, (Wong and McDonald, 2003).
Forlizzie (2007), explains through a sequence of events, a robotic vacuum
determines the spatial indifference between the environment in which it
operates and the obstacles present. She argues, in this way, robotic vacuums
have influenced the dynamics of human life-social behaviour and choice. In this
way, we can emphasize the clear compounding influence that algorithms are contributing
to everyday life- specifically within the offline setting.
To conclude, the prevalence and the use of algorithms in
modern day society influence the choices of us
as humans. It can be concluded that, algorithms significantly contribute to
various aspects in human life and their availability transcends to many
avenues, each dependent on the decisions made by the ‘self’. They are numerous,
as well as being attributable to many aspects of human life- indefinitely
impacting an online and offline environment.
Crammer, K., Dekel, O., Keshet, J., Shalev-Shwartz, S.,
Singer, Y.: Online passive aggressive algorithms. Journal of Machine Learning
Research , (2006)
Forlizzi, Jodi, "How Robotic Products Become Social
Products: An Ethnographic Study of Cleaning in the House" (2007).
HumanComputer Interaction Institute.Paper 40
J. Bohn, V. Coroama, M. Langheinrich, F. Mattern, and M.
Rohs. Social, economic and ethical implications of ambient intelligence and
ubiquitous computing. In W. Weber, J. Rabaey, and E. Aarts, editors, Ambient
Intelligence, pages 5{29. Springer, 2005.
Kaci, S. & Van der Torre, L.
2005, "Algorithms for a Nonmonotonic Logic of Preferences", Centre
de Recherche en Informatique de Lens, vol. Rue de l’Universite.
S. Wong and B. MacDonald, “A topological coverage algorithm
for mobile robots,” in Proc. IEEE/RSJ Int. Conf. Intelligent Robots and
Systems, Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 2003, p.2.
*Notice*, The text and images in this post is the property of Nicole Clark- all work written and edited.
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