3 ms·
I think we forget how old the term algorithm is. We started this journey trying to automate human tasks by divide and conquer, not computers. Merge sort is sup
by hinkley 1y ago
I think we forget how old the term algorithm is. We started this journey trying to automate human tasks by divide and conquer, not computers.
Merge sort is supposedly invented in 1950, it’s more likely it was invented in 1050 than 1950. Sort a room full of documents for me. You have three minions, go.
- adgjlsfhk1 1y agoI think humans generally use some form of bucket/radix sorting (or selection sort for small collections)
- hinkley 1y agoA human is different than “humans” a human with a stack may sort it into four stacks and then sort amongst them, yes. But a room of five clerks all taking tasks off a pile and then sorting their own piles is merge sort at the end of the day. Literally, and figuratively.
- larodi 1y ago> I think we forget how old the term algorithm is. given Al Kwarizimi lived ~12 century (if memory serves right) it is a fairly old term in this regard. when was it that modern people started using the word, I'd bet beginning of 20th century, but this is a wild guess. when did everyone started calling algorithms "ai", well perhaps ~1960 ?