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Its an interesting math problem that i'd like to turn into something more real with feedback. Vaccine supply issues are hugely complicated and one could model

Its an interesting math problem that i'd like to turn into something more real with feedback. Vaccine supply issues are hugely complicated and one could model numerous things, including last mile. I focused on the long-haul optimization, but could have focused on last-mile as instead (or as well.) One could also focus on the hand-offs, delays, capacities along the way, etc. I can probably do all these, but curious what the core problems are -- from a total outsider's perspective. I'm not an expert at graph optimization, so the entire effort was a way to force myself to learn some of the approaches and setups possible. Most of the issues are bureaucracy and political, but I ignore that aspect of course.

skybrian 5y ago
Yeah, I don’t know anything, but it seems like understanding the problem well is important, and writing up whatever you learn about your inputs and assumptions (problem formulation) would be valuable.
- TuringNYC 5y ago
  Funny thing is that as we spoke internally about this project (20% time side project), there was a lot of discussion about whether to pick a real problem (vaccine delivery) or a totally fun one (minimize Ubers for a city-wide pub crawl). The resolution was -- even if the objective was just to learn - we should focus on an important problem rather than a fictional/meaningless one. That said, youre right, I think good formulation and assumptions would be critical here. This is the type of feedback I really want - hope to do a slew of commits on Friday.
  - skybrian 5y ago
    Another possibility would be to lightly fictionalize it, so it’s obviously based on COVID supply issues (and that adds interest) but you don’t need to try too hard to be realistic and you can make stuff up wherever necessary. This would be similar to what people do for games where playability is more important than realism, but you want an interesting theme.

skybrian 5y ago

Yeah, I don’t know anything, but it seems like understanding the problem well is important, and writing up whatever you learn about your inputs and assumptions (problem formulation) would be valuable.

TuringNYC 5y ago
Funny thing is that as we spoke internally about this project (20% time side project), there was a lot of discussion about whether to pick a real problem (vaccine delivery) or a totally fun one (minimize Ubers for a city-wide pub crawl). The resolution was -- even if the objective was just to learn - we should focus on an important problem rather than a fictional/meaningless one. That said, youre right, I think good formulation and assumptions would be critical here. This is the type of feedback I really want - hope to do a slew of commits on Friday.
- skybrian 5y ago
  Another possibility would be to lightly fictionalize it, so it’s obviously based on COVID supply issues (and that adds interest) but you don’t need to try too hard to be realistic and you can make stuff up wherever necessary. This would be similar to what people do for games where playability is more important than realism, but you want an interesting theme.