See that? Huge spike on the word “internet” in . . . 1903. Natalie Binder explains why Google’s really bad metadata is going to limit the usefulness of the word-hoard it is assembling.
But hey: it’s going to get better.
Text Patterns
December 20, 2010
Says Natalie:
"Computers can’t sound out words. Computers can’t correct typos. Computers don’t know the difference between “rn” and “m,” or a chapter heading and the main text. Computers don’t understand context.
A passage from another few years ago, wondering about using algorithms to parse culture:
"If what I’ve learned from Matt [Cutts] and Danny [Sullivan] and others is correct, robots are decidedly unimpresses by nearly every aspect of language I adore. Robots don’t care about alliteration, simile or metaphor. Robots don’t subvocalize when they read.
Robots don’t cringe at puns. Robots can’t appreciate a well turned phrase. Robots might write poetry, but they don’t read it. They don’t appreciate music, and they don’t appreciate the musicality of words lined up just so.
I am writing for robots, and I hate it.
Thank God I don’t have to make movies for them."
Hammer, nail, you know the rest.