Category: Uncategorized

Do we need openness in the internet?

Why do we need openness? What is the point of it? What are the benefits of it?

What is Openness? As defined by Oxford Languages it is a lack of restriction. Openness is not something most of us think about when it comes to the internet outright but it is an important factor. Since it is not regulated as strictly it allow for many opportunities. It permits us to have the following things:

1. Social and Economic Growth- due to the openness of the internet it allows for social and economic growth all over the world and not just in the larger countries. It allows for third world countries as well to benefit from the advantages it allows for.
2. Access to information- this is important because no matter where you are or who you are you can get ahold of the same information as anyone else.
3. Communication- this allows for businesses as well as individuals the ability to communicate and interact globally with no barriers.
4. Innovation- this allows for the development of technological advances such as standards and new policy initiatives.
5. Understanding and Tolerance of Cultures- this allows people globally to be aware and learn of new cultures. This allows for the acknowledgement and understanding of the differences of other cultures all over.
6. Media Ecosystem Protection- having this openness allows for the internet ecosystem to prevent anyone from having a monopoly on the Media Ecosystem.

Why is Accessibility important?

Accessibility to the internet is important because it allow for our society to be able to interact with the world on a global level and it does not restrict us. It does this in many ways that are listed below:

1. It allows for people to be able to become more involved in the world
2. It permits people to be able to express themselves and interact with other like themselves.
3. It saves people time and money.
4. It allows for people to access resources and training to help develop job skills
5. It allows for businesses to grow.
6. It allows people to overcome barriers they may face.
7. It just permits people the ability to do things that would not have ever been possible prior to the internet and the freedom and openness it has given us.

You can refer to some of the following webpages for more information about the importance of internet accessibility and openness:

Accessibility Importance https://accessibility.uncg.edu/for-all/why-important/

Internet Openness https://americancloud.com/blog/what-it-means-to-provide-a-free-and-open-internet-and-why-it-s-important

Openness

Why Openness?

Why is the open internet important? The internet being “open” allows for users of a computer, cellular device, etc. to freely collaborate and share their ideas with others connected to the internet anywhere, anytime. Think about this, how many times have you ever searched “How to…” or “Why is…” on Google? Assumably, plenty of times. Well, you can thank the open internet for having the ability to provide you with plenty of resources to aid you in answering said question. The most common example of this is “How-To” videos on YouTube. Thus, the open internet allows absolutely anyone to have access to the internet, without having their results influenced by select companies.

How Openness?

How is the internet open? The internet’s “openness” allows for several different results to immediately become accessible whenever a user is, “surfing the web”. Websites such as Reddit, Wikipedia, etc. and YouTube video tutorials are examples of this. However, openness is a spectrum. This spectrum allows for certain resources found on the web to be different degrees of “open”. Meaning, that resources may have an open-source software, but has certain requirements for it’s usage. You can find more information about the openness spectrum on the Internet Policy Review website.

Accessibility

Why Accessibility?

Why is internet accessibility important? As previously discussed, “openness” refers to ANYONE being able to make use of the internet. Accessibility helps make sure that those with disabilities and unreliable internet connection refrain from getting lost in that definition – thus, the internet is truly available to everyone. Additionally, accessibility is a legal standard for the large majority of the internet. This is shown through tools such as closed captioning, color contrasting, correct heading structure, alternative text, etc.

How Accessibility?

How is the internet accessible? Internet accessibility is made possible through many concepts – most notably is the “Curb-cut Effect”. This effect refers to features that are created for individuals with disabilities, however, these same tools actually benefit outside communities as well. Using one of the previous examples of closed-captioning on videos, this feature was originally built as an aide for individuals with hearing impairments. However, this tool is beneficial for a much larger audience. For example, individuals with learning disabilities, those learning English as a second language, viewers listening in a noisy environment, etc. You can find more on accessibility and the “Curb-cut Effect” on the Interaction Design Foundation website.

False and Inaccurate Information on the Web

Have you ever paid attention to the number of pages there are when you scroll all the way to the bottom of the first page of search results? Some search engines even make the first blob of words on the screen when you search something “1-20 of 879,000 results,” for example. In a day and age where we have so much information literally at our fingertips, it can be hard to decipher what is correct and true to what isn’t among these hundreds of thousands of search results, especially when its easier than ever for anyone to upload to the web. Without any way to see who is posting what (a good bit of the time), we have no way of knowing or seeing who is behind a screen, knowing their intentions, or any certifications or qualifications they may or may not have. This is why your parents said, “don’t believe everything you see on the internet!” The American Psychological Association does a well job at further breaking down misinformation and disinformation in this article.

AI and Misinformation and Disinformation on the Web

It’s 2022 and your roommate just asked you if you’ve heard about that new artificial intelligence chat bot, “ChatGPT.” You look quite literally flabbergasted as she describes what it is and even pulls it up to show you on her phone in two seconds. Conveniently enough, you happen to be in the middle of writing a paper for class. You can’t wait to use this new tool to help you. You give it your paper prompt, ask it for some talking points, and hit enter. You’re surprised to see that most of what it gave you was…less than stellar.

It’s crucial to remember that AI tools do not “think” or have any real understanding (or however Professor Cartland said it), they generate responses by mimicking patterns from their training data. When a text AI like the ChatGPT I was using receives a prompt, it produces responses based on patterns found in similar texts, such as articles and web searches. While these responses may appear accurate, they can sometimes be false, outdated, or nonsensical, a phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” like the result it gave me that day. Good thing I fact checked!

Copilot Interaction

Me:

i have an assignment, heres the prompt: Write a post reflecting on the question "What is real on the internet?" Include a link to at least one online source that supports your take. Don't use any sources I shared or assigned. Use at least two sections divided by headings One section should talk about some reasons behind false and inaccurate information on the web the title i came up with for the assignment is "why the internet is two faced." could you give me some more title options please?

Copilot: Sure, I’d be happy to help! Here are some alternative title options for your assignment:

“The Dual Nature of the Internet: Truth and Deception”

“Navigating Reality in the Digital Age”

“The Internet’s Double-Edged Sword: Fact vs. Fiction”

“Unmasking the Internet: What’s Real and What’s Not”

“The Internet’s Mirage: Distinguishing Truth from Lies”

“Digital Realities: The Battle Between Fact and Fabrication”

“The Internet’s Illusions: Understanding Online Authenticity”

“Truth in the Web: Separating Reality from Deception”

“The Internet’s Facade: Exploring Online Truths and Falsehoods”

“Virtual Veracity: The Quest for Truth on the Internet”

Feel free to choose any of these or mix and match elements to create a title that best fits your vision for the assignment! If you need further assistance with the content, just let me know.

Me: these are so good! thank you so much

Copilot: You’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked them. If you need any more help with your assignment or anything else, feel free to ask. Good luck with your writing! 😊

Why this title?

Openness

Why?

Making content open and accessible allows for greater reach and impact. The web’s openness allows for collaboration, which increases the overall quality of any information or creation. Individuals can also look to others for inspiration to create their own work. The internet’s ability to share and learn increases collaboration and inspiration, enhancing users’ knowledge and creative works.

How?

There are a few ways to make the Internet more collaborative. One example includes using Open-Source Code. This code allows anyone with a computer to edit or add information to make an article more inclusive or correct any wrong information. This means that no special qualifications or access are required to contribute. Wikipedia is famous for using Open-Source Code, you can see it in action in this Wikipedia article about Cats

Accessibility

Why?

Providing accessible content is morally right because it makes the Internet more inclusive and easier to use. Making content accessible also ensures that people with disabilities can access and understand the information, which allows for a more inclusive and diverse audience reach. Lastly, many countries have laws requiring web accessibility to prevent ableism.

How?

Accessibility on the Internet takes many forms. One example is adding closed captions to movies, episodes, and YouTube videos, such as the picture above. Another example includes color contrast, which ensures that text is easy to read for people with vision impairments. Both of these examples not only make the Internet more accessible but also improve the user experience for everyone.

Openness

Why?

The open web is important because it can start a chain of ideas as anyone is able to see what is posted and build off of it. It creates a collaboration factor that allows people to view anything and become inspired from it, creating their own ideas based off of it.

How?

Openness can be achieved through public posts such as Wikipedia articles, recipes from a blog post, or restaurant reviews. Through these public posts, viewers are able to take the information into consideration when writing a paper, or making dinner, or choosing where to go out to lunch. For example, see if you would want to eat here with this Restaurant Review of Rey Azteca.

Accessibility

Why?

Accessibility is important to ensure that each individual is able to view the content. Making information accessible for all promotes an equality factor, that allows those with disabilities to have the same abilities as those without. Providing accessibility is not only just the right thing to do, but it is also mandatory according to the law in some countries.

How?

Ways to make content accessible can vary from headings and subheadings, to the use of subtitles on videos, descriptive link texts, colors for graphics and more. There is no way a person can make content 100% accessible, however there is always something that can be added in order to allow a higher accessibility level. While those with disabilities will benefit greatly from these tools, others will also find them useful as it is an extra way to gather information needed.

Openness

Why?

The open web was and is a pioneering discovery of our time. It invented the ability to connect with anyone from anywhere at anytime and share anything- a truly remarkable creation! The openness of the internet allows us to share quite literally anything with everyone who has access to the web. Recipes, solutions to problems, event planning inspo, how-to’s, and the list could go on forever. The openness of content on the internet has created a certain kind of convenience that there has never been before.

How?

Much open web content is made possible through open-source software like GIMP or WordPress. Another example of open content would be blog groups like Reddit, where individuals are able to ask a question they have or state a problem they’re having and people can respond with answers and feedback to help (or just share chicken recipes). Take a look for yourself. Reddit chicken recipes thread.

Accessibility

Why?

To those who have never heard of ‘accessible’ content, it might be hard to understand what it is, and why or how it is made. In plain English, accessible content is going to be able to be viewed not just by people without disabilities, but also people with disabilities. Take someone who is deaf, for example, trying to watch a video without subtitles. That piece of content is inaccessible for them. Creating accessible content allows your content to reach a broader audience, giving you a greater chance of reaching whatever goal you have, and is just straight up the right thing to do, even if it creates an extra step and takes some extra time to do.

How?

There is no straight forward ‘how’ to make accessible content. It depends on things like what kind of content you’re making and what you’re trying to accomplish and it requires you to be considerate and think about how someone with disabilities may or may not be able to view your content. As Professor Cartland said, “Nothing is ever 100% accessible, or 100% open. But creators can make choices about what level to aspire to, and work to reach that goal.” Some common features of accessible content include things like alt text for photos, closed captions on videos, and choosing high contrast colors for word graphics.