Improving on Dijkstra, A* takes into account the direction of your goal. Dr Mike Pound explains.

Correction: At 8min 38secs 'D' should, of course, be 14 not 12. This does not change the result.

Dijkstra's Algorithm:    • Dijkstra's Algorithm - Computerphile  
How GPS Works:    • Satellite Navigation - Computerphile  

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  / computer_phile  

This video was filmed and edited by Sean Riley.

Computer Science at the University of Nottingham: http://bit.ly/nottscomputer

Computerphile is a sister project to Brady Haran's Numberphile. More at http://www.bradyharan.com