Week 6: Wikipedia Evaluation

It’s been kind of nuts over the past 2 weeks, hence the very random dates on which blog posts are added. I’m up-to-date for now so hopefully I can maintain some consistency from here on =)

This week we are exploring why Wikipedia cannot be relied on as an academic resource. To cite directly from the wikipedia research page:

"It is in the nature of an ever-changing work like Wikipedia that, while some articles are of the highest quality of scholarship, others are admittedly complete rubbish". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:10_things_you_did_not_know_about_Wikipedia)

We also viewed some background information relating to Wikipedia and their guidelines for useful articles;

Background Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Researching_with_Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Why_Wikipedia_is_not_so_great
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Sandbox

Guidelines for Useful Articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About#Wikipedia_content_criteria
Wikipedia content is intended to be factual, notable, verifiable with external sources, and neutrally presented, with external sources cited.
The appropriate policies and guidelines for these are found at:
Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not summarizes what Wikipedia is, and what it is not.
Wikipedia:Neutral point of view Wikipedia's core approach, neutral unbiased article writing.
Wikipedia:No original research what is, and is not, valid information.
Wikipedia:Verifiability what counts as a verifiable source and how a source can be verified.
Wikipedia:Citing sources sources should be cited, and the manner of doing so.
Wikipedia:Manual of Style articles should follow this style guide

Once completing these tasks we selected two topics in fields we are knowledgable and examine the accuracy and construction of the related Wikipedia articles;


Jeans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeans

* Is this an accurate article?
The article is accurate enough in mentioning Levi Strauss and the key role of the Levis Company in the evolution of jeans as we know them today. Unfortunately I don’t have as much knowledge on the history of jeans as I would like, however I do know a great deal about the different fits and styles. Wikipedia is a global resource, however, and the various names given to styles may differ slightly depending on whereabouts in the world the article originated. I was impressed that they mentioned the rise of the jeans towards the end of the article, noting that jeans can sit at various heights on the waist; ranging from high-waited to super low-rise.


* Does it cover all the basic facts that you'd need to understand this topic?
The majority of the links in relation to the range of jean fits either do not exist or lead the user to an unrelated page, which leave a big hole in the information presented on this potentially useful page. While I was hoping to see many diagrams, images and clear explanations of each unique style and how they vary to similar fits, I was grateful when the few functional links actually led to the correct page!

Links to non-existent pages:
- Ankle jeans
- Boycut (or Boyfriend) jeans for women
- Loose Jeans
- Relaxed fit
- Slinkies (never heard of them…?)

Links to unrelated or incorrect pages:
- Baggy Jeans: Directs users back to the original Jeans page
(In other words it refreshes the page, taking users back to the top)
- Bootcut: Leads to the correct page, however the information is simply copied and pasted from the article on “Bell-Bottoms” and is therefore inaccurate. A brief section at the bottom of both pages describes flares AND bootcut but there is nothing in related to bootcut as a unique style.
- “Mom” Jeans: Links to an article about the television show Saturday Night Live…huh?
- Original Jeans: Leads to an article on “originality”
- Saggy Jeans: Link to “sagging” (as a fashion)

Links that WORK!
- Bell-Bottoms / Flares
- Carpenter Jeans (only small explanation with no images)
- Hip Huggers
- Low-Rise Jeans
- Overall
- Phat Pants
- Skinny Jeans
- Wide Leg Jeans
- Jorts (or as ordinary people would call them… Denim Shorts)


* Does this article follow the Wikipedia guidelines for useful articles?
Wikipedia content is intended to be factual, notable, verifiable with external sources, and neutrally presented with external sources cited.

I do feel that more facts need to be included on how the jeans fit and how each style varies… after all, is that not the main information people would be seeking? You do not need to know how the jeans were made when buying a pair or simply learning the terminology; it’s what the jeans are today that is important.

I get the impression that several of the linked pages discussing the jean fits are only a personal description provided by a user with no professional knowledge in the field or the use of external references. The articles on Low-rise Jeans, Hip-Huggers, and Bell-Bottoms (flares) are constructed in a professional manner with links (both within and outside of Wikipedia). Whereas with pages such as the Carpenter Jean, which I have never heard of but it sounds like a good idea, there are minimal links and no images or diagrams to reference; only a brief and basic description.

In conclusion, the article has a neutral nature on its side, however I feel its supposed facts are questionable and more external links are required to regain credibility.


* Is this article fair and balanced, or is it biased towards a particular side or argument?
There isn’t really an argument present in this topic for any bias to form around; however there may be discrepancies in the history of jeans which I’m not currently aware of.

This is where problems arise with Wikipedia; a lot of the time information could be incorrect, but how do we know any different? We use Wikipedia in search of knowledge, if we already knew the truth then we would not need to reference it. Although I work in the area of jeans, I don’t have the knowledge of jean history to criticise anything said in the related articles. Further research could be conducted to confirm the information put forward but due to time restrictions this activity will have to be saved until later.


2007 Rugby World Cup
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Rugby_World_Cup

* Is this an accurate article?
I was at the 2007 World cup finals in Paris; Bronze Final and Grand Final matches so I got to experience the matches described in this article first-hand. Based on my knowledge of this field the article is accurate and also very informative.

* Does it cover all the basic facts that you'd need to understand this topic?
Not only did the accuracy impress me but there is exceptional detail in describing the teams, individual matches and final ladder positions.

* Does this article follow the Wikipedia guidelines for useful articles?
Wikipedia content is intended to be factual, notable, verifiable with external sources, and neutrally presented with external sources cited.
There are plentiful links to other Wikipedia articles and also external web resources – enhancing the credibility of the article itself. As previously concluded, the information presented is factual and thorough. Therefore the article does follow Wikipedia’s guidelines for useful articles.

* Is this article fair and balanced, or is it biased towards a particular side or argument?
No bias towards any particular World Cup team is present within the article.

Week 5: [Mechanical Reproduction][Mechanical Reproduction][Mechanical Reproduction][Mechanical Reproduction][Mechanical Reproduction]

This week we were given several topics to discuss regarding Walter Benjamin’s “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”

How do the ideas from Walter Benjamin's "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" apply to contemporary digital media?

In Walter Benjamin’s ‘The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction’, the role of modern digital media is considered as he discusses the rise of more advanced technologies and how they impacted the evolution of art historically. Art, as described by Walter Benjamin, lost its manual creation to a more technological process. This can be seen through the invention of the camera - which challenges the role of portrait and landscape artists in our society. This “frees” the hand of its artistic functions and is replaces by the eye viewing the world through a lens.

The reproduction of art has always been possible. Replicas of man-made artifacts were made by pupils practicing their skill, by masters distributing their works and by external third parties to benefit themselves. The mechanical aspect of reproducing art is a new element. The Greeks were aware of two methods of reproducing art; stamping and founding. Man-made items such as terra cottas, bronzes and coins could be produced in mass quantities, however all others could not be mechanically reproduced and remained unique.

There was a time when "Art" was made by artists who were skilled professionals. Now that anyone with a computer can create things digitally (music, images, videos, etc), what does that mean for "art"?

Art can broadly be defined as “the products of human creativity” (http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=art).

Under this definition, the human aspect of creating art is not necessary the traditional methods of manually painting, writing or sculpting an artwork; it is the creativity behind each creation. This means that those who prefer to display their creativity through a mechanical technology, such as a computer, can still consider their creations to be art because it is branded by unique human imagination.

My Paradox: If a computer were to be programmed to randomly generate coloured pixels on a screen, and the result was something similar to that of human-inspired art, could this too be considered an artwork? Directly no, because it lacks the element of human creativity. Indirectly however, a person was creative in developing the idea of this art-generating computer, and would have designed the program which the computer uses. So would either the program the computer uses, the art itself, or both indirectly be ‘art’ by definition?

Is a photoshopped image "authentic"?
Technically… no. By duplicating the image before any photo-shopping commences it becomes a replica. The aura and authenticity of the image would be lost at this stage.

Once the image is photoshopped, however, it becomes a completely new image. The authenticity of an artwork is the essence of all that is transmissible from its beginning. While it is no longer authentic in relation to the original image, it is authentic in having been granted a new beginning. This new illustration may also develop its own aura.

Do digital "things" have an "aura" (in Benjamin's terms)?

Walter Benjamin described an aura as a sense of awe and reverence experienced when in the presence of great works of art. This aura is not limited to the object itself, but rather its external attributes which greatly vary to those of digital “things”.

The aura of an artwork is influenced by its known line of ownership, however the ownership of digital creations cannot be passed from one person to the next and often it is difficult to find the original creator or owner of online artworks. Additionally, it is very easy for someone to steal the creations of others and claim them as their own, further taking away from its aura.

Restricted exhibition also increases a work of art’s aura. Digital designs are no way restricted; if anything they are available on the internet to increase the number of people who can easily view them. It is possible to restrict traffic to websites by creating a password system, but it is uncommon for users to place items on the internet if they didn’t want the world to see them.

The authenticity of a “thing” is the essence of all that is transmissible from its beginning, ranging from its substantive duration to its testimony to the history which it has experienced. Publicizing authenticity upholds the aura of a work of art.

Cultural Value is too a determent of aura according to Walter Benjamin. With early recognised artworks, such as paintings and sculptures, a great influence of the culture and time can be seen. The online community which influences digital “things” is a merger of internet users worldwide and has its own culture. Although the culture of the person responsible for the construction of the digital item may be present, other users of the internet would most likely value the online culture which influences digital artworks.

Original works of art were dependant on ritual, meaning there was an association with location, influential sources of power and religious ritual. This originality is eliminated with the development of new types of artwork such as digital creations and therefore the aura is shattered. Bejamin wrote "For the first time in world history, mechanical reproduction emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual."

Although Walter Benjamin suggests that digital forms of artwork do not consist of an aura, in rebuttal digital representations of artwork or unique digital creations still maintain an evolved cultural value; however the known line of leadership, reach of its exhibition and authenticity dilute this aura. In general, the overall impact, or aura, is lessened but still exists. For example, when we watch the news on television we regularly see shocking scenes, and even though we are not experiencing these events for ourselves in real life the video of them still stirs similar yet lessened emotions within us. As with art, even if we view the piece via a digital source we still experience the same feelings towards it but the aura is weakened. With the technologies available to us today, it is understandable that the way in which we view and react to art has evolved.

Week 4: Search Engine Scavenger Hunt

This week we are required to answer a few basic questions without the assistance of Google or Wikipedia.

My first reaction to this task was something along the lines of “There are hundreds of other search engines on the internet; I’ll just use one of them instead!” In doing so, I will still be expanding my knowledge of internet content and improve my ability to locate information.


1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
ANSWER: Onel de Guzman, 24, a computer school student in the Phillipines, was the creator of the “lovebug” virus and he admitted to writing the password-stealing program as a school project.

Search Engine: HotBot (http://www.hotbot.com/)
Search Criteria: lovebug AND virus AND creator

Source: CNN
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/29/philippines.lovebug.02/index.html

Is the source reliable?
CNN is a worldwide provider of news and has a name and reputation to uphold. The article referring the lovebug virus contains no bias or opinion, and therefore it can be assumed the source is genuine.


2. Who invented the paper clip?
ANSWER: Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian, has been identified as the inventor of the paper clip

Search Engine: Yahoo
Search Criteria: paper clip inventor

Source: About.com
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpaperclip.htm

Is the source reliable?
About.com is a neighbourhood of experts sharing their knowledge online. Unlike Wikipedia, not everyone can contribute to the website and therefore the information displayed is restricted to the wisdom of those with expertise in the field. This collection of information is not only useful but most likely truthful.


3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
ANSWER: The Ebola Virus, found in Africa and the Western Pacific, was named after the region of Congo (Kinshasa) where it was first identified in 1976.

Search Engine: Answers (www.answers.com)
Search Criteria: dictionary: ebola virus

Source: Answers (excerpt from the Colombian Encyclopedia)
http://www.answers.com/topic/ebola?cat=health

Is the source reliable?
“Answers” is a renowned search engine but the use of excerpts from various encyclopedias, including the Columbian encyclopedia, ensures its reliability as a source.


4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
ANSWER: The only earthquake in the 20th Century to reach or exceed 9 on the Richter Scale was the May 1960 earthquake in Chile, which registered 9.5. The greatest loss of life, however, came from the 8.2 quake which struck China in July 1976, killing nearly 250,000 people.

Search Engine: Open Directory (http://dmoz.org/)
Search Criteria: earthquakes

Source: TLC - Dicovery
http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/quakes/articles/tremortech_08.html

Is the source reliable?
This website represents the Discovery channel – available on pay TV. Although the site itself has no credibility in the field of seismic activity, it presents information from documentaries compiled by known experts in the field.


5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
ANSWER: 1 Terabyte is equal to 1073741824 kilobytes

Search Engine: A9 (http://www.a9.com/)
Search Criteria: kilobyte AND terabyte

Source: Byte Converter - File Size Calculator
http://www.t1shopper.com/tools/calculate/byteconverter.shtml

Is the source reliable?
T1 shopper is an internet service provider so they have experience in the field of computers and technology. Their “Byte Convertor” is based on mathematics and therefore is most likely more accurate than any estimates which can be offered by an actual person.


6. Who is the creator of email?
ANSWER: Ray Tomlinson

Search Engine: Yahoo
Search Criteria: “creator of email”

Source: TechDirt
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20011206/0140215.shtml

Is the source reliable?
Techdirt employs a team of analysts with a broad range of experience and their mission statement is to “get the right information to the right people at the right time.” From this we can assume the information they provide is accurate and correct.


7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
ANSWER: Storm Worm is a Trojan which infects computers through a seemingly innocent email and initiates large amounts of spam email to be sent from these systems. The infected computers form a network and communicate with each other, with the email addresses stored on each station being harvested. As of January 22 2007, five days after its initial appearance, the storm worm accounted for 8% of all infections worldwide. Storm is estimated to comprise of 1 – 10 million PCs worldwide.

Search Engine: AltaVista
Search Criteria: “storm worm”

Source: About.com – Antivirus Software
http://antivirus.about.com/od/virusdescriptions/a/stormworm.htm

Is the source reliable?
About.com is a neighbourhood of experts sharing their knowledge online. Unlike Wikipedia, not everyone can contribute to the website and therefore the information displayed is restricted to the wisdom of those with expertise in the field. This collection of information is not only useful but most likely truthful.


8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of Australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
ANSWER: There are many various methods of contacting PM Kevin Rudd displayed on the official Labour Party website. Some include:
- Parliament House:
o Tel (02) 6277 7700
o Fax (02) 6273 4100
- Griffith Electorate House:
o Tel (07) 3899 4031
o (07) 3899 5755
- Postal Address: PO Box 476A, Morningside, QLD, 4170

Search Engine: Yahoo (www.yahoo.com)
Search Criteria: contact Kevin Rudd

Source: Official Website of the Australian Labour Party
http://www.alp.org.au/people/qld/rudd_kevin.php

Is the source reliable?
This is the official page for PM Kevin Rudd on the Labour Party’s website so wee can therefore assume this information is genuine.


9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
ANSWER: the Black Assassins

Search Engine: Yahoo
Search Criteria: Stephen Stockwell Band

Source: Dr Stephen Stockwell
http://live-wirez.gu.edu.au/Staff/Stephen/default.html

Is the source reliable?
This page is created by / dedicated to Stephen Stockwell… it doesn’t get much more accurate than that!


10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
ANSWER: Web 2.0 is the term given to a second generation of the World Wide Web which advances on HTML code to improve user-focused applications and open sharing of information.

Search Engine: Yahoo
Search Criteria: define: web2.0

Source: Webopedia
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_2_point_0.html

Is the source reliable?
Webopedia is an online encyclopedia dedicated to computer technology. With its reputation based upon accuracy, the source is presumably reliable.



This exercise was beneficial to me because I feel I rely on Google and Wikipedia a great deal when locating information. Even if I need to confirm a definition or locate a city that was referred to I usually jump straight to Google of Wikipedia; simply because its quick and I have familiarised myself with these two sites. Wikipedia is not very reliable however, because the content can be altered by any user and therefore may not be accurate.

• How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
Firstly, web spiders form a list of words and/or phrases found on web pages so that search engines have a database to search. This process is known as web crawling.

The web pages found by search engines are then ranked by relevance. Not even search engines can get it right every time however, and non-relevant pages can potentially be displayed.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/search-engine1.htm


• Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
Crawler-based search engines determine relevancy (or usefulness) based on a set of rules known as an algorithm. The main rule of a ranking algorithm is the location and frequency of keywords. Individual search engines vary their results to those of a rival search engine by indexing more or less web pages. Websites may be penalised if search engine spamming is detected. The web crawling process ensures that different search engines return unique results.
http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2167961


• What are some of your favourite search engines? Why do you like one more than others?
Personally, I prefer to use Google or Wikipedia simply because they are easy to use and return the most relevant results with minimal criteria. Although Wikipedia may not provide guaranteed accuracy, I find it is a great reference point to gain basic information on unfamiliar topics. Google is then used to confirm the claims made by Wikipedia with more reliable information. These two search engines excel above the others because (in my opinion) they are easier to use and more concise than their competitiors.


‘Guess the Google’
http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google/

I really enjoyed this game. It reminds of a traditional “spot the differences”- type game… only the opposite by having to spot the similarities. ‘Guess the Google’ highlights how important it is to be specific when searching for text or images as any broad variety of (potentially unrelated) results could be returned.