Explaining Heuristics

I frequently hear unfamiliar terms in conversations at work.  Often, I can infer the meaning of what has been said by listening to the context of the conversation.  It is more confusing is when the speaker himself is unsure of the meaning of a word they have used.

This happens a lot in computer or technical discussions.  Big brain trivia contests among geeks are more frequent than surfers comparing testicles.  You might hear something like, “Have you seen my new algorithm dissambiguator?  It parses the umtydoodle deriving a model for snoochie bunch.”

Incorrect or even imprecise language just drives me crazy.  In an effort to stop the madness, I will present a series of posts clarifying the actual meaning of words that geeks try to use when marking their territory as alpha nerds.

Today’s lesson focuses on a recent gem from a meeting I had last week.

Not Heuristics

1. A 7th level spell for clerics.
2. Sweet visualizations for Windows Media Player. (You’re thinking fractals and that isn’t quite right, either.)
3. FDA approved
4. $30 each

Heuristics

This word of Greek origin refers to problem solving or information discovery patterns in which people search for answers to problems that may or may not be answerable.  Many professions use the term to describe a particular technique of investigation as it relates to that field.  For instance, heuristics in psychology may refer a prescribed way for a mental health professional to process to the body of knowledge accrued about a patient and the patient’s condition.  In this example, the mental health professional may need to process through this knowledge to derive a diagnosis.  This is the heuristics of diagnosing a patient.

Detectives undoubtedly use a heuristic approach to solving complex cases. At least they do in the movies I have seen.

As the term related to I.T. and computing, heuristics particularly refers to a method of algorithm derivations wherein we set a computer to solving a small task by processing a larger body data.  A good example of this is the SETI project in which computers comb through terabytes of white noise looking for a single nugget of goodness that will prove we are not alone.  The body of information being processed, the many computers operating on the data, and the techniques by which it is being analyzed combine to define the heuristics of the problem.

As you can see, the definition of the word can be ambiguous in itself.  Frankly, if you are unsure about whether heuristics is an appropriate word to use in your next sentence, it isn’t.