Then, in the mid-20th century, machines began to take on the bulk of computing work, and the definition of “computer” changed. A computer was no longer just a human reckoner.

Chetan Jaiswal, Quinnipiac University (THE CONVERSATION) Whether you’re streaming a show, paying bills online or sending an email, each of these actions relies on computer programs ... or complex data ...

In his book The Master Algorithm, Pedro Domingos offers a masterfully simple definition: “An algorithm is,” Domingos writes, “a sequence of instructions telling a computer what to do.” ...