Philosophy
Response to Hugh Hart's article in wired.com, "An Injection of Hard Science Boosts TV Shows' Prognosis" on December 5th, is not entirely congruent. Sure, these programs have lots of gadgets, flame, smoke and just like magic a lot of hocus pocus. It may well boost audience viewers and appeal but the science is lacking and quite misrepresentative. Do you really believe that the producers give a damn about the science or science methodology--of course not. Since the local PBS station is on a two week fund drive, I have watched a few of those programs listed...too many instruments that perform instant analysis. But then, accurate science is boring and easily turn a 60 minute program into one of weeks. Funny too how insight can be instantaneous and the criminal caught. Some of the worst offenders are Numb3rs and any of the CSI programs. I watched two Numb3rs episodes and gave thumbs down. Charlie usually drifts off into a visual aside attempting to explain some mathematical model or theory and then applies it to the current situation whereby prediction is employed and the crime solved. Not all human activity is quantified by equations. This is Charlie's downfall and he cannot see beyond his formulas. One episode had to deal with a disastrous train accident where he introduces the philosophy and mathematics of the behavior of congregational robots but when employed all they do is meander around in the wreckage with a remote camera not really justifying the earlier math lesson. These programs are quite popular and are based on character appeal and some questionable science representation despite the efforts of qualified experts that double check what is being told. There is another notion...the ethics of jurisprudence based on such scientific evidence--mistakes do happen.
"An Injection of Hard Science Boosts TV Shows' Prognosis"
Numb3rs
- End Of Physics Degree At Tennessee State University
Well, I suppose this is the smart thing to do and it does affect other programs. "TSU's dumping of physics degree came down to numbers" Program graduated only 23 in 10 years by Jennifer Brooks June 17th, 2011 tennessean.com For Tennessee State...
- "scigirls"...pbs
Something new and gender directional from PBS. "Yes, Those Are Real Girls Doing Icky Science Things" by Neil Genzlinger May 8th, 2010 The New York Times Here’s hoping that one of the delightful young ladies on “SciGirls,” a new series under the...
- Obama Bucks For Science Teaching
A drop in the bucket. Look what could have been spent if two wars were not in progress. "Obama directs $250 million for science and math education" New funding will increase the number of science, technology, engineering, and math teachers. The goal...
- Ai And Indus Valley Civilization
Oh my, the following looks like a scene from Numb3rs...Charlie is standing in front of a transparent chalkboard loaded with impressive mathematical symbols and algorithms falling out of his pockets. Pretty pictures into grammar into no meaning... "Artificial...
- "pbs Science Programs" Poll
Do you watch PBS science programs? Yes...2 No...0 Sometimes...3 PBS is probably the most common source of science programs with free access. For the most part they are informative and thoughtful. Two recent good programs were "Absolute Zero" and "The...
Philosophy
TV shows and science
Response to Hugh Hart's article in wired.com, "An Injection of Hard Science Boosts TV Shows' Prognosis" on December 5th, is not entirely congruent. Sure, these programs have lots of gadgets, flame, smoke and just like magic a lot of hocus pocus. It may well boost audience viewers and appeal but the science is lacking and quite misrepresentative. Do you really believe that the producers give a damn about the science or science methodology--of course not. Since the local PBS station is on a two week fund drive, I have watched a few of those programs listed...too many instruments that perform instant analysis. But then, accurate science is boring and easily turn a 60 minute program into one of weeks. Funny too how insight can be instantaneous and the criminal caught. Some of the worst offenders are Numb3rs and any of the CSI programs. I watched two Numb3rs episodes and gave thumbs down. Charlie usually drifts off into a visual aside attempting to explain some mathematical model or theory and then applies it to the current situation whereby prediction is employed and the crime solved. Not all human activity is quantified by equations. This is Charlie's downfall and he cannot see beyond his formulas. One episode had to deal with a disastrous train accident where he introduces the philosophy and mathematics of the behavior of congregational robots but when employed all they do is meander around in the wreckage with a remote camera not really justifying the earlier math lesson. These programs are quite popular and are based on character appeal and some questionable science representation despite the efforts of qualified experts that double check what is being told. There is another notion...the ethics of jurisprudence based on such scientific evidence--mistakes do happen.
"An Injection of Hard Science Boosts TV Shows' Prognosis"
Numb3rs
- End Of Physics Degree At Tennessee State University
Well, I suppose this is the smart thing to do and it does affect other programs. "TSU's dumping of physics degree came down to numbers" Program graduated only 23 in 10 years by Jennifer Brooks June 17th, 2011 tennessean.com For Tennessee State...
- "scigirls"...pbs
Something new and gender directional from PBS. "Yes, Those Are Real Girls Doing Icky Science Things" by Neil Genzlinger May 8th, 2010 The New York Times Here’s hoping that one of the delightful young ladies on “SciGirls,” a new series under the...
- Obama Bucks For Science Teaching
A drop in the bucket. Look what could have been spent if two wars were not in progress. "Obama directs $250 million for science and math education" New funding will increase the number of science, technology, engineering, and math teachers. The goal...
- Ai And Indus Valley Civilization
Oh my, the following looks like a scene from Numb3rs...Charlie is standing in front of a transparent chalkboard loaded with impressive mathematical symbols and algorithms falling out of his pockets. Pretty pictures into grammar into no meaning... "Artificial...
- "pbs Science Programs" Poll
Do you watch PBS science programs? Yes...2 No...0 Sometimes...3 PBS is probably the most common source of science programs with free access. For the most part they are informative and thoughtful. Two recent good programs were "Absolute Zero" and "The...