Computer predicts who dies on death row

[rpm]

Computer predicts who dies on death row

A computer programme designed by US researchers can predict with chilling accuracy the very few men among the thousands on America's Death Row who will actually be executed, according to a new study

 

[Lino]

Holy s#it that is scary, although I must admit if it works out by a persons education then all it is doing is using previous statistics and applying them again. Hence a person could also do it, slower yes but not impossible.

 

[spacemuis]

This doesn't seem like the smartest application of neural nets I've heard of. The first part of the exercise is what they're meant to be used for (i.e. training it on historical data and then using it to predict future outcomes), but the second part (determining the main determining factor) highlights exactly what their main weakness is: explicatory ability. The thing works and predicts well, but it's a black box and can't be used to correlate input factors with outcomes.

Basic statistical methods could have been used instead to find the correlation between the determinants and the outcome.

 

[defcomk]

hum?

SKYNET MAYB

 

[Lino]

Now if we had a computer that could predict crime before it happens. "Goes off to watch SCI-FI movies"

 

[SlappY]

Even basic data mining woulda done the job.

 

[Turiko]

Now if we had a computer that could predict crime before it happens

That would be useful yes... or one that can solve the AIDS problem, or even better, one that can come up with a solution to Africa's long list of problems.

 

[gregmcc]

gives new meaning to BSOD!