Blindspot
The Artistry of Pattern Recognition
NBC’s Blindspot is closing its first season. The show is based on the mysterious Jane Doe, a women whose body is covered in tattoos. Each week, Jane and a small team of FBI agents work to unravel her history and the clues revealed by her unique body art.
While from a distance you might mistake Jane for Kat Von D, Jane’s ink is far more dense, less artistic, and much more random. Her skin is covered in layers of tattoos representing symbols, maps, number ciphers, and even black light messages. Each episode includes a healthy dose of pattern recognition.
Pattern Recognition
These days, pattern recognition is most synonymous with machine learning. Fortunately, at least for the viewers, the writers of Blindspot have chosen to rely more on the cognitive abilities of the various human members of the team. The patterns that are revealed create a complex web that is at the heart of the plot.
Humans, unlike machines, are naturally wired for pattern recognition. It is a talent that appears hardwired into human cognition. Unfortunately, we are also wired to find patterns when none really exist. While the latter fact has occurred a few times in the first season, the main theme of the series is the uncanny ties that Jane’s tattoos have in her world.
As an analyst, pattern recognition is a skill that is essential in data discovery. Finding patterns in the data is not a talent of every analyst, statistician, or data analyst. Some people are just wired more strongly for it. Likewise, the discipline needed to vet those findings is not always tied to the talent required to find them. Blindspot’s FBI team is a fictional model for that reality.
Complexity
Blindspot’s first episode began with the discovery of Jane Doe. It quickly added a convenient plot twist. Jane’s memory has been chemically erased. So while the team attempts to find the hidden meaning of her abundant body art, they also seek to rebuild her past. This adds a layer of complexity to the storyline, one that the writers use to full effect.
Complexity is important to Blindspot. It is the complexity of the storyline, its interweaving plots and intrigue, that creates much of the shows charm. The writers artful develop the character’s backstories along side a deep web of international criminals, government covert operations, and corporate corruption.
In the end, Blindspot is a very enjoyable and engaging series. Its artful use of pattern recognition and complexity create interesting plot lines and allow the writer weave a compelling tale. At a time when computers have overshadowed the human element of this skill, it is nice to see a popular series that reminds us that humans have been doing this much longer (and better) than computers for thousands of years.
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