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Showing posts with the label code

Humanity and human judgment are lost when data and predictive modeling become paramount

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This is the PEW report BY LEE RAINIE AND JANNA ANDERSON Code-Dependent: Pros and Cons of the Algorithm Age "Algorithms are aimed at optimizing everything. They can save lives, make things easier and conquer chaos. Still, experts worry they can also put too much control in the hands of corporations and governments, perpetuate bias, create filter bubbles, cut choices, creativity and serendipity, and could result in greater unemployment" Download the full report  Theme 3 is focused on "Humanity and human judgment are lost when data and predictive modeling become paramount"   is excellent - indeed the whole report is.   https://www.pewinternet.org/2017/02/08/theme-3-humanity-and-human-judgment-are-lost-when-data-and-predictive-modeling-become-paramount/

How “nested Else” creates #bias and the impact on automated decision making

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Just read "We Are Data" Algorithms and the Making of Our Digital Selves by John Cheney-Lippold On Page 191 John explores the Else Test ---- At a simple level a nested Python If; Else statement can look like the code below. This is beautiful in its simplicity and offers a repeatable and deterministic way to match a grade to the logical number of the mark obtained.   In each case there is one output;   based on the actual input mark. Happy days if grade >= 90 :     print( "A grade" ) elif grade >= 80 :     print( "B grade" ) elif grade >= 70 :     print( "C grade" ) elif grade >= 65 :     print( "D grade" ) else :     print( "Failing grade" ) Let’s change the case slightly to something which says has more difficult to answer.   “Are you are good parent?”    We can approach the problem in two ways.   The simple way that hides the complexity and based on a score which deter