An algorithm is a self-contained step-by-step set of operations that perform calculation, data processing and reasoning. Algorithms are prevalent in computer science and mathematics, but are also important in psychology and used in everyday human thinking. Every day, we wake up and carry out our routine, which may vary because we are all different from one another. Here is a breakdown of my cleaning routine:
A. Shower
1. Turn on music. 2. Enter shower naked and rinse with warm or hot water. 3. Apply shampoo/conditioner to hair and body wash to body. 4. Rinse off cleaning product with warm or hot water. 5. Repeat 2-3 until clean. 6. Exit shower and dry with towel. 7. Turn off music. B. Brush teeth. 1. Wash off toothbrush bristles. 2. Apply toothpaste to brush. 3. Brush teeth in a circular motion. a. Brush lower row of teeth; front, top, and back and left to right. b. Brush upper row of teeth; front, top, and back and left to right. 4. Spit out toothpaste/saliva. 5. Brush tongue. a. If gag reflex is strong, take care in brushing deeper back. 6. Spit again and wash out mouth with water. 7. Wash off toothbrush. 8. Sip a small amount of mouthwash (DO NOT SWALLOW). 9. Swish mouthwash around in mouth for 10 seconds. 10. Gargle with mouthwash for another 10 seconds, slowly going deeper to rinse throat. 11. Spit out mouthwash. C. Apply deodorant. 1. Take deodorant stick in right hand. 2. Remove top of deodorant stick. 3. Raise left arm and apply deodorant to left armpit. 4. Lower arm and switch the deodorant off to the other hand. 5. Repeat step 3 with other arm. D. Get dressed. 1. Put on underwear. 2. Put on pants/shorts. 3. Put on undershirt and tuck into pants/shorts. 4. Put on shirt (only tuck in outer shirt when wearing Wildcat polo and Khakis or other formal wear). 5. Put on socks and shoes. 6. Spray body spray onto self and inside shirt. 7. Look in the mirror to make sure everything looks good.
Algorithms in human beings are different from computers. My everyday routine varies in several different variables, such as time and amount of shampoo or toothpaste used. I don't take a shower for exactly 4 minutes each and every day, even though I have been able to every now and then. A computer would very much be able to compute and carry out this algorithm, with some minor tweaking in the specifics. Since we are human beings, we cannot do something perfect or exactly the same each and every time. That is where a computer comes in; being able to take the steps and parameters of those steps and completing them in time every time is what they do.
There are variables that we sometimes cannot account for, at least easily. What would the computer program do once there isn't any shampoo? Or conditioner? That would involve countless variables and "If Statements" to be able to run the algorithm smoothly and have little error. As humans, we can think much faster and account for these variables as they come in a timely and efficient manner.
"Algorithm." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 21 Sept. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm>.
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