The Algorithms Affecting Your Everyday Life

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Byline: Mark Prigg

SEARCH It's the algorithm we all rely on pretty much every time we go online but Google's PageRank, the secret to the firm's success, is still a constantly evolving piece of computer code. Google's vast team of engineers makes around 500 changes a year to improve it and to head off the attempts by commercial firms to master its secret and propel themselves up the search listings.

WEATHER The Met Office's weather prediction algorithm has, admittedly, had some notable failures, with forecasters wincing every time you ask them about a "barbecue summer". However, technically at least it's impressive, using one of Britain's most powerful supercomputers, …