Patriot Realm

In an era where technology dictates much of our daily lives, algorithms have become the unseen force steering everything from the power flowing through electrical substations to the posts we scroll through on social media. Or even how we may be persuaded to vote.

These complex yet often hidden formulas... used for everything from balancing power grids to deciding what content we see... are more than just calculations; they are the modern-day decision-makers.

But what exactly are algorithms, how have they evolved, and why do we need both the precision of machines and the wisdom of human judgment to ensure they serve us best? 

That is the question I wanted to answer and here is how it all started with a chance chat with my Mum...

Last night I was chatting with Redhead. ( Mum to those of you who are unfamiliar with this blog. She is 92 years young )  and we were talking about algorithms and how people say they are so important.

Flashback time:

My late Dad was an electrician and he got a promotion to be 2nd in charge at an electrical substation in New Zealand. This was back in the 1950's. Over 70 years ago. He got the job as long as he could learn algorithms. Of course, this was in the days before computers so everything had to be done manually: no Artificial Intelligence mate, no backup, no " phone a friend.".  It was one man in one place making decisions that could keep the grid working... or not. 

When he first got his promotion, Dad would head off each night to learn these algorithm thingies.  and he went on to become the operator in charge of the biggest switching station in the country.

And so it was that Mum and I were talking and we both said that we had no idea what algorithms are or why he needed them. Well, of course I had no bloody idea why Dad had to learn about these strange things called algorithms.  So who should I call? Ghostbusters? No, that didn't make sense. Instead, I went to have a chat with AI. Within a few minutes, I had the answers Mum and I had been seeking. AI thoughts in italics and indented. 

At its simplest, an algorithm is just a set of step-by-step instructions for solving a problem or doing a task. Think of it like a recipe in a cookbook. The recipe tells you what ingredients you need and what steps to follow, in what order, to make a meal. Algorithms work the same way—but instead of cooking, they might be used for making decisions, solving maths problems, running machines, or sorting out how a computer program should behave.

Why your father needed algorithms at the substation

In the 1950s, electrical substations were becoming more complex, especially large ones that managed power flow across wide areas. Your dad, as an operator, had to:

• Predict and respond to demand: Algorithms would help calculate what to do if part of the grid suddenly needed more or less electricity.

• Switch and route power efficiently: He had to decide what switches to turn on or off to route electricity safely. Algorithms would guide those decisions.

• Prevent overloads or blackouts: If one part of the grid failed, algorithms helped operators know what steps to take to protect the rest of the system.

Back then, these would have been manual or paper-based algorithms—flowcharts, logic steps, calculation methods. But they still followed the same idea: a systematic, logical method to solve problems or make decisions under pressure.

Dad would have learned applied mathematics, and elements of logic, systems analysis, and engineering problem-solving.

Lucky Dad.

One of my memories of Dad's work was of watching him with big eyedroppers ( I was about 4 or 5 years old ) in the switch room and he would test batteries. I do remember him telling me that it was a very important part of his job. It seems that those “big eye dropper things” he used were likely hydrometers, a common tool in substations and with large lead-acid batteries. It seems that in electrical substations (especially in the mid-20th century), large lead-acid batteries were crucial. They served as backup power for vital controls and switching systems. If the main power failed, these batteries made sure the substation could still operate critical systems safely.

According to my " mate " at AI" 

So what was he doing with the dropper?

He was likely:

• Checking the electrolyte level (a mix of sulfuric acid and water).

• Measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte using a hydrometer.

What is specific gravity and why does it matter?

Specific gravity tells you how much acid is in the water solution inside the battery.

• If the reading is too low, the battery is discharged or the electrolyte is weak.

• If it's too high, the battery might be overcharged or the acid too strong.

• Right balance = battery in good health.

Testing this ensured the batteries were healthy, charged, and ready to go in case of an emergency. It was essential preventive maintenance.

Dad was literally testing the heartbeat of the backup system that kept the substation and the region’s power flowing in a crisis.

• He’d need to calculate loads, currents, voltages.

• For example, using Ohm’s Law or formulas like:

  • $P=VI$ (Power = Voltage × Current)

• These helped him calculate safe levels, redirect power, or balance systems.

4. Electrical Circuit Theory

• Understanding how electricity flows through series and parallel circuits, and how switching affects the entire grid.

• Algorithms in this field often show how to safely move power from one line to another without overloading anything.

5. Time-Based Control Systems

• Some algorithms are triggered after delays or time limits.

• For example: "If a circuit trips and doesn’t reset within 10 seconds, initiate backup sequence."

6. Emergency Procedures (Manual Algorithms)

• Many substations used manual flowcharts or procedure books, which were early forms of algorithms.

• Operators had to memorize these—or quickly interpret and follow them under pressure.

I rang Redhead this morning and told her about my chat with my new chum. We started thinking about the recent outages in Spain, Portugal and now Bali. 

We came to the conclusion that automated systems follow rules. But humans bring judgment . We can weigh the bigger picture, assess unusual situations, and consider consequences that a machine might miss. For example, if a wildfire is heading toward a transmission line, a human might decide to shut power early .... even if the algorithm hasn’t triggered yet. When systems fail,  like during a widespread outage ;  it’s trained humans who restore order. 

In Spain and Portugal’s recent outage, operators would’ve had to manually reroute power, inspect substations, and diagnose cascading failures.... jobs no AI can handle alone right now. 

Humans can ask: Who needs power first? A hospital? A water treatment plant? Algorithms don’t weigh human needs .... they optimise based on programmed priorities. 

The engineers, electricians, and planners design the logic that automation runs on. The smarter the human input, the safer and more reliable the automation. Like Dad did all those years ago without a computer. 

The ideal is not humans vs automation ....  it’s humans working with automation: Computers handle the speed and repetition. But humans bring foresight, flexibility, and empathy.

Think of it like aviation: autopilot flies the plane, but you still want a trained pilot in the cockpit.

Once upon a time, like my Dad at the substation, we used algorithms to observe, predict, and respond to the physical world; to keep the lights on, to balance power, to prepare for what might go wrong.

Today, algorithms don’t just interpret reality; they can distort it, filter it, and even guide our choices before we realise we’ve made them. Weather will still be weather, and viruses will still be viruses, but when algorithms become gatekeepers of thought, emotion, and public opinion, we enter new territory.

The difference now is that these systems don’t just model the world....they try to model us. And so, more than ever, we need the human touch: the capacity to override, to interpret, to question, and, when needed, to pull the plug. Reality still wins in the end. The question is whether we arrive at it freely… or guided quietly by code.

Is Albo Rhythm the new Algorithm?

Heaven help us.

Dad?  Can you hear me? We need help!