Algo trading is certainly about speed too though, but it's not HFT which is literally only a out speed and scalping spreads. It's about the speed of recognizing trends and reacting too them before everyone else realizes the same trend and thus altering the trend.

It's a lot like quantum mechanics or whatever it is that makes the observation of a photon changes. Except with the caveat that the first to recognize the trend can direct it's change (for profit).