The Secret Rules of Modern Living Algorithms

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Summary
The reading materials about codes by Adrian Mackenzie and Friedrich Kittler, as well as “The Secret Rules of Modern Living Algorithms” a visual material showing a documentary about the algorithms in the modern world all present how the technology around us is incorporated in our daily lives, and how we use these to influence the world around us, maybe consciously or not. The codes and modern algorithms have things in common which are the need for a certain method or process to follow rules in order to communicate effectively through the complexity of the system. These informative materials also show the capabilities of codes and algorithms in influencing the electronic toys, gadgets, appliances, etc. that are used by most people all over the world, and another thing that is amazing with all these is that the language that is used is its own kind, not dictated by the languages that we are familiar of.
In the reading material by Adrian Mackenzie, he was able to discuss “Code is a ’solution’, code is a problem” also referring to codes as unstable, troublesome, and problematic, contradictory to the goal of solving a problem, proving the statement of codes both being a solution as well as a problem to be true (Mackenzie). This is further supported by the facts discussed by Friedrich Kittler acknowledging that the own language used in programming and codes are prone to faulty communication. He also mentioned that the word itself meant “displacement” or “transferal” applicable to letter or digit to letter. Even in the language used in coding, there is the presence of interpersonal communications and although programmers construct these, the written code can only be read and fully understood without bugs or errors in its own environment.
In terms of problem-solving, the algorithms provide an efficient way of providing a solution to the problem. A simple example would be solving a sudoku puzzle or a Rubik’s cube to a more complex and serious problem such as traveling salesman’s route to work, or finding a kidney donor amongst all those incompatible organs and competition, in the most efficient way. The possibilities are endless but if ever it is finite, it is still impractical to not use the benefits of modern algorithms. Prior to coming up with the results, it was also discussed how the slow-motion process of how it works, demonstrating various sorting algorithm methods such as merge sort and bubble sort showing its difference in performance, efficiency, and speed. Even with the advantages of the modern algorithm, the documentary still emphasized the importance and presence of order during the process of finding a solution to the goal.
The codes and algorithms itself evolve in its own language in developing its own rules that the designers are not fully capable of fully understanding. In algorithms it is called “machine learning”, and for codes these are those machines equipped with sensors or effectors enabling these to be able to learn from its environment, changing the system through interaction to people as well as the world.
An argument regarding the issues that were discussed
The essays and the documentaries regarding codes and algorithms all have a unique way of stating their key points and main ideas, and it is an enlightening experience to the readers and viewers but also leaves some thoughts to ponder upon regarding the topics that were discussed. The statement in one of the essays, “Ultimately, the dilemma between code and language seems insoluble” is one of thos...