Week 2 [23.03-29.03] Social challenges of machine learning

              Since the invention of the first computer, the main principles of giving them commands remained unchanged. In traditional coding, you write a very specific set of instructions taking into consideration edge cases and other dependencies. Thanks to that, you knew exactly how the computer is going to react in any given circumstance. However, with the rise of today’s information era, this method started to be too limited. We had to start coding in a completely new way.

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              In this approach, you give the computer a set of inputs and a corresponding set of outputs and let the machine write its own directions to follow. For example, you give the computer 1000 pictures of cats and 1000 pictures of dogs. Then the computer looks at them and tries to build a classification system. This is machine learning. It is the technology that lets us create self-driving cars, facial recognition, and many other brilliant inventions. Google Translate used to be more than 1 million lines of code currently, it is about 500 lines that just call machine learning.

               At the same time, this technology is creating social and legal challenges. Most machine learning algorithms are called “black-boxes”, that means that can’t interpret the way in which they are making their predictions. If the historical data that was used to create a model was biased, it will cause the model to repeat the same bias in its predictions.

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               A recent example is now-retired Amazon’s recruiting engine, which was trained on resumes spanning a 10-year history. Based on the data it was fed, the algorithm learned a distinct male preference. Unfortunately, the team assumed that their historical data was free of bias, which resulted in a perpetuation of inequality and a significant PR disaster.

              Here u can find another interesting example:

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612775/algorithms-criminal-justice-ai/

1.      Have you ever heard about this problem? If yes, from where?

2.      In your opinion, in which applications of machine learning this problem could also occur?

Week 2 [ 23 - 29. 03. 2020 ] Homemade sourdough baking

Baking sourdough breads became my routine as fermentation is a fascinating process and it’s just simply delicious.

The difference between sourdough bread and regular bread is that instead of yeast you use a starter. The sourdough starter is the mix of flour and water which is left to ferment for few days and then it’s used to bake a loaf. Bread made this way tastes so much better, stays fresh for days and fermented gluten is healthier.

During fermentation the starter absorbs wild yeasts from air which together with bacteria, present in the flour, start the fermentation process and feast on the starch. During this process carbon dioxide is produced which lifts the starter, so sometimes it looks as it would like to escape from the container. There is something fascinating in the process of fermentation: you watch how life grows inside of the jar, you need to feed it, keep it warm – just like a pet or a tamagotchi.

Feeding the sourdough starter consist of adding equal amounts of bread and water every day. It’s a nice example of a recursion in the kitchen. Therefore, if you don’t use the starter daily, it will double its quantity after each feeding. This makes the process of making sourdough bread quite engaging: before you know you find yourself with several jars of bubbling starter that takes control over your life and you are just a servant that needs to feed the hungry monster.

The process of making sourdough bread takes about 24 hours. First, you need to activate your starter. Then, mix it with water, add flour and salt. Next step it’s kneading. Each hour you should stretch and fold the dough and repeat it 3 to 5 times to develop strength of gluten which builds the structure of the dough. After that, you leave the dough to prove. Sourdough bread proves in 2 stages: first 12 hours in room temperature and second from 6 to 9 hours in the fridge. After first prove in room temperature you need to shape the bread which is the craftiest part of the process. This video shows how it should be done.

When your loaf is shaped you can put it in the special proofing basket and place it in the fridge for about 6 hours. After this time the dough is ready to bake.

Baking sourdough bread can seem to be overwhelming and complicated, but I recommend trying. Especially now since our outdoor activities are limited due to epidemic prevention measures and lots of people work from home it can keep us busy.

 Thank you for reading, please share if you have any experience with fermentation, baking or if you like cooking at home. What is your recipe to stay home and stay busy? Have you learned something new during this time?

Week 2 [ 23 - 29. 03. 2020 ] Parenting in the XXI century

Parenting in the XXI century

I know that because we are young you may have never thought about having kids. I’ll go one step further and ask you if you’ve ever thought about being a parent and bringing up your child? Each of us has grown in a different home and with different ‘parenting styles’ but in general, we can assume that parents have always tried to do their best. If you think about having kids, I’m pretty sure that you would also like to be the best parent in the world and bring up your child in the best possible way. But the question is, what is the best way nowadays?

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Technology is  omnipresent. For sure there is no way to avoid it and we have to accept that fact and pay attention to it. Sometimes even adult people have problems finding balance between life and technology. We can see families in restaurants and everyone is staring at the phone. Such behaviors  kill true relationships  and may become more harmful to families in the future. Of course, we can’t expect that children will use their smartphones or computers correctly and healthily if their parents aren’t a good example. Remember that for your children you are (or at least you should be) the authority!

Not only technology may be harmful, but it has great potential and may be very helpful in children's growth. The only thing that parents have to do is to keep an eye on it and introduce rigor. Many computer games can develop children's brains and send their creativity to high levels. There are also many different apps for smartphones that help to learn. As a parent, you simply have to show your children how to use technology and to see the difference between real life and the one on the computer.

   

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Maybe some of you think that you will try to protect your children from technology as long as it will be possible and you won’t have this problem. Trust me that firstly it’s almost impossible because sooner or later you will give up and to get 30 minutes of peace you will give your child a smartphone to play a game. Secondly, in most cases trying to protect children from technology may even give the opposite effect and that’s why it’s better to introduce your children to the technology world.

Please tell me in comments:

•  What is your opinion on kids growing up among modern technologies?
•  Have you ever thought about having kids and being a parent?
•  Do you have some assumptions which you will try to introduce when being a parent in the future?

Week 1 [ 09 - 15. 03. 2020. ] Adventurer

Hi guys,

The brief for this blog is to share each other our passions, stories and interesting stuff.

One of my proffesions is photography, so I would like to show you some of my pictures that I took during my stay in Taiwan and tell you the story behind them.

In 2017 I packed my stuff and moved from Warsaw to Taipei for certain time (didn’t know for how much in this time). I wanted to change something in my life and this travel helped me to discover what I love and what is important for me. So I stayed in Taiwan for about 3 months.  

Taiwan is still undiscovered for Europeans - they know Thailand, Philippines, China and several Asian countries but never heard about Taiwan – "Isn’t called THAILAND?" some of them said ;)

That’s why I wanted to see this country. Taiwan is one of the most wonderful places I've seen. The culture is so different than European. So many things were stunning and even extraordinary for me. I felt like a child. (It was my first time in Asia.)

One of the biggest nightmarkets in the city - Raohe Street

Nighttime in Taipei - it's a rush hours

Nightlife in Taipei I mesmerizing! Nightmarkets was totally my thing - with all this colors, rush and smells. I have spend so many nights walking around the hood and making pictures of people on the streets. I have met really nice people there!

The second thing that made a big impact on me were beliefs and related to them - temples, devotions, monks. Everything covered by the intense smoke. Taiwanese beliefs are Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism - mixed in various ways, and merged in enormous temples. 

Tiger and Dragon Pagoda in Kaoshiung

A dense jungle of Qingtiangang

Surfers from Yilan 

Yehliu geopark

 I have countless stories about my life on this island, illustrated by numerous pictures.

If you want to know more about that and see more shots here are the links to my SoMe:

Instagram and Behance

You can also read more stories at The China Post

The China Post is now releasing featured stories about my photo projects. There will be also a book - a Taiwan travel guide with my photographs. You can find more information on their website. 

Adventures like this are life changers. Being all alone 15.000 km away from what you call home can show you what is really important (and what is not so)and who and what makes you happy. And the views are cool also :) 

I would like to know about your trips and adventures. Where you like to go? What kind of destinations do you prefer? And what is the most incredible place you've been yet?

Of course comments to my pictures and questions to my trips are more than welcome :)

Cheers!
Przemek

Week 1 [09-15.03.20] Mind uploading

Read the presentation at

https://konwersatorium1-ms-pjwstk.blogspot.com/2020/01/mind-uploading.html

and discuss/comment on it here. 

Week 1 [ 09-15.03.2020] Inside mind

Read the presentation at

https://konwersatorium1-ms-pjwstk.blogspot.com/2020/02/inside-mind-of-ice-man-wim-hof_12.html

 and discuss/comment on it here. 

List of blog moderators

Put your name on the list of blog moderators (choose a week when you would like to do it). Remember, blog moderation is an obligatory part of the course.

What do you do as a moderator? Choose some theme for your week. Put on the blog links to interesting articles, films, presentations, etc. Comment on them and encourage your group to discuss them with you and other course participants.

1.   09-15.03.20 Przemek K.,
2.   23-29.03.20 Lukasz M., Magda Op., Małgorzata Os., Jakub Ma.,
3.   20-26.04.20 Justyna Ś., Karol K., Jakub J., Grzegorz Kosak, Dominik Seroczyński
4.   04-10.05.20 Zuza G., Tomasz R., Tomasz M., Anna Nowacka, Jakub Brzostek,
5.   18-24.05.20 Mateusz G., Jakub Sz., Apoń Joanna, Aleksander Lis, Piotr Wasylkowski
6.   01-07.06.20 Magda Janicka. , Magda Russak., Mykola Sh, Lukasz Piwowarski, Jamorski Kamil,
7.   15-21.06.20 Karolina K., , Lukasz An. , Piotr Gr., Agnieszka L., Kinga Micun,