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PageRank-Type Algorithm From the 1940s Discovered

KentuckyFC writes "The PageRank algorithm (pdf) behind Google's success was developed by Sergey Brin and Larry Page in 1998. It famously judges a page to be important if it is linked to by other important pages. This circular definition is the basis of an iterative mechanism for ranking pages. Now a paper tracing the history of iterative ranking algorithms describes a number of earlier examples. It discusses the famous HITS algorithm for ranking web pages as hubs and authorities developed by Jon Kleinberg a few years before PageRank. It also discusses various approaches from the 1960s and 70s for ranking individuals and journals based on the importance of those that endorse them. But the real surprise is the discovery of a PageRank-type algorithm for ranking sectors of an economy based on the importance of the sectors that supply them, a technique that was developed by the Harvard economist Wassily Leontief in 1941."

8 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Patent? by Jorl17 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you hate Google: Yes. If you don't: No. If you want Bananas: Get them.

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  2. Or there's the number ... by PPH · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... of times one Pharaoh's cartouche was chiseled into the obelisks beloning to other Pharaohs.

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  3. Re:Good advice for all developers by cyphercell · · Score: 5, Funny

    It would have been a pretty exhaustive search without google.

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    Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
  4. Re:Good advice for all developers by pipatron · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can see that you must be young enough never to have used the search engines you list, if you suggest that you would have been able to find anything useful.

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  5. additional ranking algorithm in the 1940s paper by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny

    allowed pages to be ranked and categorized according to whether it was "insightful," "interesting," "informative," "funny," "flamebait," or "troll."

  6. Re:Patent? by mirix · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd better get a rush on a patent for "using pagerank on the internet" then. Take that google.

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  7. Re:Good advice for all developers by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can see that you must be young enough never to have used the search engines you list, if you suggest that you would have been able to find anything useful.

    What are you talking about? I found useful results all the time! I just wish my interest in being a porn connoisseur could be turned into a career.

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    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  8. Re:Good advice for all developers by Ben1220 · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is exactly why I would rather be a Computer Scientist working at a university or industrial research lab then a software developer. Because I want to create real new stuff.