Intel program focuses on dubious web claims

Intel has launched a software that sniffs out questionable claims on websites. A 'Dispute Finder' crafted by Intel researchers in Berkeley, California, for Firefox web browsers alerts internet surfers to contentions that are contradicted by information elsewhere online.

"The reason this is important is that very often you'll read a website and not realise this is only one side of the story," Intel research scientist Robert Ennals said in an online video. Dispute Finder automatically highlights text containing contested claims and links to boxes summarising points and counter-points. The data base is designed to grow and evolve with user input.

Votes regarding the reliability of information are used to filter dubious data.

Researchers reportedly envision a version of the software that will scan caption information in television programs for specious claims and a mobile device capable of "listening" for questionable comments in conversations. The mini-program, which works with Firefox web browsers, became available online on Thursday at disputefinder.cs.berkeley.edu. Intel has also made public a beta website where users can play 'point, counterpoint' by submitting a statement found online and learning whether he or she has been duped.

This was revealed at the company's annual Research@Intel Day held in California.

About 40 futuristic projects and concepts were showcased in such areas as eco-technology, 3-D internet, enterprise IT and wireless mobility.

As future Intel chips scale from a few cores to many, researchers at Intel Labs believe the transition to mainstream parallel computing will lead to a future internet, which is rich in 3-D graphics and relies a lot less on text, making possible an Internet experience with ultra-realistic 3-D visualisations and natural human-computer interfaces. Picture a travel website that allows you to check out your vacation destination, like New York City, before you actually get there. So in addition to a virtual walk around the hotel room, users could also check out Times Square, restaurants, nearby theatres and even walk the route to estimate how far they are from the hotel.

Intel has begun prototyping the 3-D internet in the scientific world first, using a tool called ScienceSim.

 

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the daily Emirates Business 24|7 newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.