Algoreithms?

SCIENCE Gary Larsen                                                                                  Algoreithms? “ TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading." I've watched several TEDs without know who TED is, so I looked it up.  Okay.  That's good.  But any group saying they want to disseminate "ideas worth spreading" — ahem.    Past presenters include Bill Clinton,  Al Gore, Gordon Brown, and  Richard Dawkins.  We  know too well what these people think is worthwhile, so caveat emptor.  Still, it's always a good thing to know what the arguments are, and last night I watched Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world .   A spell binding performance in my view; your's may differ. The "Algo Trading" section made me quite sit up. Specifically, the 9/18/08 market crash (that "buckled the economy 'til the Banks pancaked into the rising dust ... " ).    Slavin suggests that two competing algorithms colliding sent the system out of control.  There is in my mind every reason to fear this sort of thing, even expect it.  But I can't help noticing how timely this events was for one Mr. Barack Obama.  There was no better moment in time for his then floundering campaign.  This opportunity for the DNC (that they seized immediately!) to make him the face of the Democrat Party's solution for a financial disaster.  A disaster they blamed, with media spin, on the stupid, reckless George Bush policies.   I propose that if programmers can create those trading algorithms, they can also create timely collisions.  Watch the 18 minute presentation.  It's beautifully presented by Slavin, with a  twinkle in his eye. ”