Digifesto

This is truly unfortunate.

In one sense, this indicates that the majority of Facebook users have no idea how computers work. Do these Facebook users also know that their use of a word processor, or their web browser, or their Amazon purchases, are all mediated by algorithms? Do they understand that what computers do–more or less all they ever do–is mechanically execute algorithms?

I guess not. This is a massive failure of the education system. Perhaps we should start mandating that students read this well-written HowStuffWorks article, “What is a computer algorithm?” That would clear up a lot of confusion, I think.