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The Positive Impact of the Internet on Society pg1

The Positive Impact of the Internet on Society

  • The Internet has significantly transformed society, predominantly in positive ways.

    • Extended social interactions beyond what previous generations experienced.

Crowdsourcing

  • Definition: Crowdsourcing refers to solving a problem or achieving a goal by combining contributions from a large, unconstrained volunteer population.

    • Example: Wikipedia

    • Aims to create a comprehensive database of knowledge.

    • Crowdsourced information can be superior to traditional encyclopedias like the Encyclopedia Britannica.

    • Advantage: Rapid generation of entries following major events.

Reliability of Crowdsourced Information

  • Not all Wikipedia entries possess the same reliability as traditional resources.

  • Critical Evaluation: Users must critically evaluate the information to determine its credibility.

Be a Martian Project

  • Description: Volunteers assist NASA by tagging images from Mars rovers.

    • Advantages of Crowdsourcing:

    • Increases number of people working on a project (Benefit for project leaders)

    • Brings together a diverse range of skills to improve efficiency and solutions.

    • Conclusion: The crowd can often perform tasks faster and with potentially better outcomes, as illustrated by Wikipedia.

Incentives for Participation

  • Participants in crowdsourcing projects have varied motivations:

    • Earning points or prizes.

    • Gaining recognition.

    • Contributing to larger goals gives a sense of satisfaction.

  • Some projects require skills that challenge traditional leisure activities.

Foldit: Crowdsourcing in Science

  • Description: Foldit is a gaming program where teams compete to fold proteins.

    • Importance of Proteins:

    • Proteins manage essential life activities and are composed of amino acids.

    • Their folded structure is crucial for their functionality.

  • Scientific Context:

    • Medical understanding of proteins depends on knowing their folded forms.

    • Foldit addresses the folding of proteins significant to research in

    • AIDS

    • Cancer

    • Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Example Achievement:

    • Scientists struggled to determine the folding of the HIV protease protein for a decade.

    • Foldit participants solved its structure in three weeks using a crowd-sourced approach.

Freerice: Learning and Donating Simultaneously

  • Description: Freerice.com combines gaming with philanthropy.

    • Mechanics of the Game:

    • Players answer questions (e.g., vocabulary) with multiple-choice options.

    • Correct answers result in donations of 10 grains of rice.

    • Impact:

    • Encourages learning while contributing to the United Nations’ World Food Program.

    • Millions engage with the platform for both educational and charitable purposes.

Kickstarter: Community-funded Creativity

  • Description: Kickstarter.com allows individuals to fund creative projects.

    • Basic Functionality:

    • Project creators pitch ideas detailing the nature of their project and the funding required.

    • Donors contribute varying amounts towards projects.

    • Outcomes:

    • If sufficient funds are raised, the project is funded; if not, donors receive a refund.

    • Social Benefits:

    • Harnesses community interest and generosity to support significant societal initiatives.

  • Crowdsourcing exemplifies how the Web has the potential to enrich society and foster collaborative efforts.