Algorithms

This is a long blog and starts with the ancient Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi from whom we get the term algorithm. Strictly speaking an algorithm is a mathematical process whose stages are captured in a template. Rather more generally, the term is used to describe a visual tool also called a Decision Tree.

You’d think from such a serious background, algorithms would only be applied to equally serious topics. Not so as you’ll soon see.

I  have collected a series of algorithms whose topics are light-hearted, superficial, commercial and in one instance downright crude. Let’s see them.

First is my most recent acquisition. It was captured on my iPhone while walking through Southend-on- Sea and is representative of a particular English seaside culture.

Next we have the algorithm that started off this very specific collection. When my daughter was around 12, I caught her reading this surprising teenage magazine: Mizz Flowchart. Yes I know it sounds bizarre … and yes, it had 98 pages of algorithms (known as flowcharts) full of this sort of content.
This focus on self-analysis and life-style is exploited in the next example: an advert masquerading as an article.

Along the same lines, we see this same approach used to create interest in the James Bond films.
Let’s return to adverts. There are two and both are selling cars. The first is fun and easy to read.
While the other car advert is strikingly different. It’s highly complex and supposedly was meant to appeal to more technically minded reader. Unfortunately I didn’t note which car it was advertising.

We’ll finish on a more serious note. The National Health Service often uses algorithms both for its staff and patients. The one below is to educate people about Hepatitis C.

I could go on with more examples but by now you should see just how versatile visual tools are and, consequently, how they are increasingly used to communicate. It’s a visual world out there. But, unfortunately, not yet so in all schools.