Algorithm apocalypse
Digital Planet18 Elo 2020

Algorithm apocalypse

The UK government used a statistical algorithm to alter children’s grades for exams missed in lockdown. But critics have argued that this algorithm, which used old data on school performance, unfairly stigmatised pupils from poorer backgrounds. Stian Westlake from Britain’s Royal Statistical Society speaks to Gareth and Bill about the challenges of creating such an algorithm and where the government went wrong.

The Language of Trolls What is it like to work as a Twitter troll? Researcher Sergei Monakhov, from the Friedrich Schiller University in Germany, used this question to discover how the language used by trolls is different from that used by regular users. He discusses how these patterns can be used to spot troll’s social media posts much more quickly.

Saving lives with data in Africa A digital tool-kit has been designed to help governments and health organisations in Africa tackle the spread of Covid-19. Dr. Sema Sgaier, executive director of the Surgo Foundation describes the Africa Covid-19 Community Vulnerability Index, which maps regional data on health, economic, and social robustness to find where Covid might hit hardest.

(Photo: Student protesters hold up banners. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA) Producer: Julian Siddle

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(193)

Tech Life

Tech Life

How is technology changing our lives? Search for Tech Life wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe or follow if you can.

5 Touko 202334s

Digital Planet says goodbye

Digital Planet says goodbye

On Digital Planet’s final ever show we discuss the legacy of Gordon Moore, the father of transistors and creator of Moore’s law.Special guests this week are Angelica Mari and Ghislaine Boddington.The ...

28 Maalis 202352min

3D printed food – what’s cooking?

3D printed food – what’s cooking?

Could 3D-printing be serving us up a tasty food revolution, or is it the ultimate in gimmicky processed foods taking us yet further away from natural eating? In the kitchen, a 3D-printer builds up cus...

21 Maalis 202352min

Jimmy Wales on bots and blockages

Jimmy Wales on bots and blockages

Digital Planet caught up with Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. In the first of two interviews with Gareth, Jimmy explains why Wikipedia was restricted in Pakistan recently and how they overcame the bloc...

14 Maalis 202351min

Digital identity: Where are we now?

Digital identity: Where are we now?

It may seem that in some countries surveillance cameras are everywhere – recording almost our every move. We are using fingerprints and facial recognition to get access to our banking, work emails and...

7 Maalis 202338min

Ukraine’s drone spotting app

Ukraine’s drone spotting app

As Ukraine enters the second year of the full-scale Russian invasion, we hear about an app through which citizens can help alert defence authorities of air attacks. To help prevent future attacks, the...

28 Helmi 202342min

Data in disaster zones

Data in disaster zones

After the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Northern Syria, how do you collate data to aid those coordinating the disaster response? Cecilia Utas from DEEP (Data Entry and Exploration Platform) exp...

21 Helmi 202346min

Internet shutdowns around the world

Internet shutdowns around the world

Within hours of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake across Turkey and northern Syria, the internet in Turkey was partially shutdown. And it wasn’t just because of damage to network infrastructure from the qu...

14 Helmi 202335min