Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans • Hacker News Board

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#11

Post by 3mpach3r » Tue, Jul 03, 2012, 11:42 PM UTC

CapybaraWarrior wrote: post #8

Never quite understood the draw of headlines like this: "Human With Tool Outperforms Human Without Tool" Yep. That's what humans do. Now, if you really want to catch my attention, give me a headline like this: "Humans Without Tool Completely Fail To Freak Out When New Tool Appears".

A valid point. Though, there's something to be said for having the right tool. Give me the headline "Human with shovel outperforms human without shovel at predicting crimes" and we'll talk.

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#12

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 03, 2012, 11:50 PM UTC

ronnier wrote: post #7

wmf wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would people complain that the police are or aren't visiting their neighborhood?

Oddly enough, both.

[deleted]

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#13

Post by imchris » Tue, Jul 03, 2012, 11:51 PM UTC

jere wrote: post #10

wmf wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case, I've got an even cheaper and faster solution: Pick some points on the map randomly. Now that I think about it, this could be used as a control.

That would actually have the added benefit of avoiding profiling.

Why is that a benefit?

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#14

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 03, 2012, 11:51 PM UTC

jere wrote: post #10

wmf wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case, I've got an even cheaper and faster solution: Pick some points on the map randomly. Now that I think about it, this could be used as a control.

That would actually have the added benefit of avoiding profiling.

[deleted]

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#15

Post by lambdaphage » Tue, Jul 03, 2012, 11:53 PM UTC

ronnier wrote: post #7

wmf wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would people complain that the police are or aren't visiting their neighborhood?

Oddly enough, both.

This is not so unreasonable. In many neighborhoods, underprovision of actual police services (cf Public" rel="nofollow">http://www.publicenemy.com/index.php?page=page5&item=3&#... Enemy) is as big a problem as getting hassled for no reason.

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#16

Post by bigiain » Tue, Jul 03, 2012, 11:56 PM UTC

I wonder how log it'll be until "the bad guys" start stealing/sniffing/hacking/buying each days map from the cops, so they know where it's relatively safer to commit crime?

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#17

Post by jere » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 12:11 AM UTC

imchris wrote: post #13

jere wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would actually have the added benefit of avoiding profiling.

Why is that a benefit?

Assuming both methods are equally effective, then it prevents bad PR.

Re: Crime-Predicting Algorithm Outperforms Humans

#18

Post by 0range » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 12:20 AM UTC

I wonder what the guy who police stopped from breaking into the empty house will do? Let's say the guy stopped from a burglary for some time. He doing it by choice for a reason (has no job, hungry, does not want a job, can't find one - could be many reasons). What he will do next? Will he go into different area or try something new like killing someone? The question is will this technology applied from only one side shift the crime distribution on the map or shift it on the type of crime distribution? The real problem is not addressed. Someone just try to make some money by providing symptomatic cure.