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Stereotyping people is not generally considered to be a good thing. And the assumptions made in those stereotypes are often inaccurate.

But what if people's preferences and habits are cataloged and used to predict what other preferences and habits they may have? Is that stereotyping, or is it just 21st Century marketing?

Algorithms are increasingly used online to narrow searches, suggest products, and even predict which news stories we want to read. Are algorithms good for us? This NPR story gets into the topic.

Questions...

•Are algorithms a good thing, a bad thing, or just a thing?

•Are algorithms the same as stereotyping people? How is it different?

•Are algorithms more relevant or less relevant in a long-tail economy?

•How does Amazon use algorithms? How does NetFlicks use them?

•How might Glendale College use them? How might Groupon or the owner of a new restaurant use them?