The data looked not too troubling, but this device also had a software algorithm that automatically draws a conclusion from the data.

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Google usually likes to do everything by the algorithm, but in this case that could overload the movie with extras, or throw in questionable content.

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At Smashwords, up until January of this year, our algorithm for best sellers just looked at absolute downloads, but authors gamed that system by offering discounted or free books using the Smashwords coupon tool.

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It does this using Sony's 'Reality Creation' algorithm, which is ironically named but which still does an excellent job of increasing sharpness without creating artifacts.

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"We tested this update extensively and have found that the algorithm is very accurate at detecting site quality, but no algorithm is perfect, " the spokesman says.

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Various anti-spam programs use several techniques to spot and kill junk mail, but IBM believes the Chung-Kwei algorithm to be the only anti-spam tool that uses pattern discovery in this way.

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