Data-Sifting For Timely Intelligence Still an Elusive Goal 131
Posted
by
timothy
from the even-if-you-like-all-the-sifting dept.
from the even-if-you-like-all-the-sifting dept.
gyrogeerloose writes "Although there was evidence to suggest that the Japanese navy was up to something in December 1941, that information was scant and came too late. Today's intelligence agencies have another problem altogether — more information than they can deal with, and computers aren't helping as much as one might expect for reasons that will be familiar to Slashdot readers: computers can crunch numbers faster and more accurately than humans, but they're still easily baffled by language as it is commonly used in the real world. Metaphor, slang and simple figures of speech can confuse the best algorithm and, as quoted in the linked article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, 'A system that takes a week to discover a bombing that will occur in a day isn't very useful.'"
Feed it Monty Python (Score:5, Funny)
Squadron Leader: "Top hole. Bally Jerry pranged his kite right in the how's your father. Hairy blighter dicky-birded, feathered back on his Sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harper's and caught his can in the Bertie."
Computer: WTF?
Pilot: "Bunch of monkeys on your ceiling, sir! Grab your egg and fours and let's get the bacon delivered."
Computer: (explodes)
Obviously... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Obviously... (Score:5, Funny)
That depends upon what the meaning of "is" is.
This is why... (Score:1, Funny)
... I've been answering the phone with "Assassinate the vice-president" the last five years. I figure when I finally do commit some hideous act of terror upon the American people, they'll have been ignoring me as a potential threat because of obfuscation.
Re:For example (Score:3, Funny)
You think that is fun, Try doing a commercial shoot with a team at an airport.
"Ok, we need to set up there and there. we can start shooting when the 12:30 planes arrive to get good coverage as the most people will be here."
Homeland security and TSA people are very dumb and can not understand Film or TV jargon. Nothing like having your entire team detained past the shooting time because the morons refuse to call to administration to clear things up.
Re:The problem is misunderstoood... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:America forced Japan's hand (Score:3, Funny)
Granted, this was from the movie, but leaving planes out on the airfield and lots of shore leave for the sailors on the ships docked at Pearl Harbor is not what I'd call being on alert.
Planes were out on the field because they thought the biggest threat was from Japanese spys laying bombs in the hangers. They put them all together so they'd be easier to guard. To their credit, not one plane was lost due to a Japanese spy.
It's an interesting case of a defense against one form of attack making you more vulnerable against another.