Good Quality Content Research Articles

Robust Semi-Automatic Depth Map Generation in Unconstrained Images and Video Sequences for 2D to Stereoscopic 3D Conversion

We describe a system for robustly estimating synthetic depth maps in unconstrained images and videos, for semi-automatic conversion into stereoscopic 3D. Currently, this process is automatic or done manually by rotoscopers. Automatic is the least labor intensive, but makes user intervention or error correction difficult. Manual is the most accurate, but time consuming and costly. Noting the merits of both, a semi-automatic method blends them together, allowing for faster and accurate conversion. This requires user-defined strokes on the image, or over several keyframes for video, corresponding to a rough estimate of the depths. After, the rest of the depths are determined, creating depth maps to generate stereoscopic 3D content, with Depth Image Based Rendering to generate the artificial views. Depth map estimation can be considered as a multi-label segmentation problem: each class is a depth. For video, we allow the user to label only the first frame, and we propagate the strokes using computer vision techniques. We combine the merits of two well-respected segmentation algorithms: Graph Cuts and Random Walks. The diffusion from Random Walks, with the edge preserving of Graph Cuts should give good results. We generate good quality content, more suitable for perception, compared to a similar framework.

HON Label and DISCERN as Content Quality Indicators of Health-Related Websites

Content quality indicators are warranted in order to help patients and consumers to judge the content quality of health-related on-line information. The aim of the present study is to evaluate web-based information on health topics and to assess particular content quality indicators like HON (Health on the Net) and DISCERN. The present study is based on the analysis of data issued from six previous studies which assessed with a standardized tool the general and content quality (evidence-based health information) of health-related websites. Keywords related to Social phobia, bipolar disorders, pathological gambling as well as cannabis, alcohol and cocaine addiction were entered into popular World Wide Web search engines. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability and content quality (evidence-based information). "Health on the Net" (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Of 874 websites identified, 388 were included. Despite an observed association with higher content quality scores, the HON label fails to predict good content quality websites when used in a multiple regression. Sensibility and specificity of a DISCERN score >40 in the detection of good content quality websites were, respectively, 0.45 and 0.96. The DISCERN is a potential quality indicator with a relatively high specificity. Further developments in this domain are warranted in order to facilitate the identification of high-quality information on the web by patients.

Media, Aggregators and the Link Economy: Strategic Hyperlink Formation in Content Networks

A key property of the World Wide Web is the possibility for firms to place virtually costless links to third-party content as a substitute or complement to their own content. This ability to hyperlink has enabled new types of players, such as search engines and content aggregators, to successfully enter content ecosystems, attracting traffic and revenues by hosting links to the content of others. This, in turn, has sparked a heated controversy between content producers and aggregators regarding the legitimacy and social costs/benefits of uninhibited free linking. This work is the first to model the implications of interrelated and strategic hyper-linking and content investments. Our results provide a nuanced view of the much-touted “link economy,” highlighting both the beneficial consequences and the drawbacks of free hyperlinks for content producers and consumers. We show that content sites can reduce competition and improve profits by forming links to each other; in such networks one site makes high investments in content and other sites link to it. Interestingly, competitive dynamics often preclude the formation of link networks, even in settings where they would improve everyone’s profits. Furthermore, such networks improve economic efficiency only when all members have similar abilities to produce content; otherwise the less capable nodes can free-ride on the content of the more capable nodes, reducing profits for the capable nodes as well as the average content quality available to consumers. Within these networks, aggregators have both positive and negative effects. By making it easier for consumers to access good quality content they increase the appeal of the entire content ecosystem relative to the alternatives. To the extent that this increases the total traffic flowing into the content ecosystem, aggregators can help increase the profits of the highest quality content sites. At the same time, however, the market entry of aggregators takes away some of the revenue that would otherwise go to content sites. Finally, by placing links to only a subset of available content, aggregators further increase competitive pressure on content sites. Interestingly, this can increase the likelihood that such sites will then attempt to alleviate the competitive pressure by forming link networks.

Quality of web-based information on alcohol dependence

Aims: To evaluate the quality of web-based information on alcohol dependence and to assess particular content quality indicators.Methods: Three keywords, ‘alcohol addiction’, ‘alcohol dependence’ and ‘alcohol abuse’ were entered into three popular World Wide Web search engines. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability and content quality. ‘Health on the Net’ (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores aimed to assist persons without content expertise to assess quality of written health publication and were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators.Results: Of the 180 websites identified, 104 were included. Based on outcome measures, the overall quality of the sites turned-out to be poor. The global scores appeared as good content quality indicators.Conclusions: While alcohol education web sites for patients are widespread, their educational material highly varies in quality and content.

Brief DISCERN, six questions for the evaluation of evidence-based content of health-related websites

Objective To extract and to validate a brief version of the DISCERN which could identify mental health-related websites with good content quality. Method The present study is based on the analysis of data issued from six previous studies which used DISCERN and a standardized tool for the evaluation of content quality (evidence-based health information) of 388 mental health-related websites. After extracting the Brief DISCERN, several psychometric properties (content validity through a Factor analysis, internal consistency by the Cronbach's alpha index, predictive validity through the diagnostic tests, concurrent validity by the strength of association between the Brief DISCERN and the original DISCERN scores) were investigated to ascertain its general applicability. Results A Brief DISCERN composed of two factors and six items was extracted from the original 16 items version of the DISCERN. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were more than acceptable for the complete questionnaire (alpha = 0.74) and for the two distinct domains: treatments information (alpha = 0.87) and reliability (alpha = 0.83). Sensibility and specificity of the Brief DISCERN cut-off score ≥16 in the detection of good content quality websites were 0.357 and 0.945, respectively. Its predictive positive and negative values were 0.98 and 0.83, respectively. A statistically significant linear correlation was found between the total scores of the Brief DISCERN and those of the original DISCERN ( r = 0.84 and p < 0.0005). Conclusion The Brief DISCERN seems to be a reliable and valid instrument able to discriminate between websites with good and poor content quality. Practice implications The Brief DISCERN is a simple tool which could facilitate the identification of good information on the web by patients and general consumers.

Quality of Web-Based Information on Cannabis Addiction

This study evaluated the quality of Web-based information on cannabis use and addiction and investigated particular content quality indicators. Three keywords ("cannabis addiction," "cannabis dependence," and "cannabis abuse") were entered into two popular World Wide Web search engines. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability, and content quality. "Health on the Net" (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Of the 94 Websites identified, 57 were included. Most were commercial sites. Based on outcome measures, the overall quality of the sites turned out to be poor. A global score (the sum of accountability, interactivity, content quality and esthetic criteria) appeared as a good content quality indicator. While cannabis education Websites for patients are widespread, their global quality is poor. There is a need for better evidence-based information about cannabis use and addiction on the Web.

Quality of web-based information on cocaine addiction

Objective To evaluate the quality of web-based information on cocaine use and addiction and to investigate potential content quality indicators. Methods Three keywords: cocaine, cocaine addiction and cocaine dependence were entered into two popular World Wide Web search engines. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability and content quality. “Health on the Net” (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores aiding people without content expertise to assess quality of written health publication were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Results Of the 120 websites identified, 61 were included. Most were commercial sites. The results of the study indicate low scores on each of the measures including content quality. A global score (the sum of accountability, interactivity, content quality and aesthetic criteria) appeared as a good content quality indicator. Conclusions While cocaine education websites for patients are widespread, their global quality is poor. There is a need for better evidence-based information about cocaine use and addiction on the web. Practice implications The poor and variable quality of web-based information and its possible impact on physician–patient relationship argue for a serious provider for patient talk about the health information found on Internet. Internet sites could improve their content using the global score as a quality indicator.

Quality of Web-based Information on Pathological Gambling

The present study aims to evaluate the quality of web-based information on gambling and to investigate potential content quality indicators. The following key words: gambling, pathological gambling, excessive gambling, gambling problem and gambling addiction were entered into two popular search engines: Google and Yahoo. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of "accountability", "presentation", "interactivity", "readability" and "content quality". "Health on the Net" (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores aiding people without content expertise to assess quality of written health publication were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Of the 200 links identified, 75 websites were included. The results of the study indicate low scores on each of the measures. A composite global score appeared as a good content quality indicator. While gambling-related education websites for patients are common, their global quality is poor. There is a need for useful evidence-based information about gambling on the web. As the phenomenon has greatly increased, it could be relevant for Internet sites to improve their content by using global score as a quality indicator.

Quality of medication information available on retail pharmacy Web sites

Background The Internet is becoming an important source for medication information. Although the quality of consumer medication information (CMI) in brick and mortar pharmacies has been reported to be suboptimal, little is known about the quality of CMI offered by pharmacy Web sites. Objective To evaluate the quality, readability, and provision of Web functionality of 4 popular medications (atenolol, nitroglycerin, atorvastatin, and glyburide) available on the websites of 3 of the largest retail pharmacies: Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, and Rite Aid. Methods The quality of online medication information was evaluated by 2 reviewers using a preexisting evaluation instrument created by a national panel of experts. Readability level was assessed using the Gunning Fog Test. We also assessed the presence of 4 Web-specific functional criteria: (1) capability for font enlargement, (2) availability of a glossary of terms, (3) presence of an “Ask a pharmacist” feature, and (4) access to detailed medication information or full prescribing information. Results Overall, medication information was 77% adherent to the criteria evaluated. When broken down by drug, CMI was most adherent for atorvastatin (83%), followed by glyburide (77%), atenolol (76%), and nitroglycerin (75%). The average readability level was found to be 10th grade. No pharmacy Web site provided the ability for font enlargement, a glossary of terms, or access to detailed medication information; however, all pharmacy Web sites provided an “Ask a pharmacist” service. Conclusion Although pharmacy Web sites were found to have an overall good content quality, the high readability level of text, areas of incomplete information, and limited use of desirable Web functionality suggest room for improvement.

Immersion experience of the cyber world of adolescents

The purpose of this research was to explore the cyber world immersion experience of adolescents. Multiple strategies for data collecting were used: an in depth face-to-face interview; analysis of adolescent' writings; and analysis of examples of phenomenon in the realistic world. The sample group consisted of 10 adolescents. Although the experience was different for all adolescent interviewed, the essential themes of experience emerged: "fill up", "homoeologous feeling", "the older generation has a conflicting negative opinion", "change in social character", "become habitually skeptic", "have bad health", "mean of superiority and getting everything solved", "ease of access", "monetary benefit", "addiction to the computer", "forget real life solved stress", "do harm to society", "take comfort", or "new job". Accordingly this paper suggests that contact with various software is necessary in adolescents, and good quality contents function to prepare and activate adolescents to apply the internet for good use.

Audio and video on the Web.

(Medical Education Web Page Series – Part 7) The dramatic increase in the Internet bandwidth available to many users as a result of the proliferation of cable modem and DSL technologies has led to increasing interest in the use of audio and video technologies in Internet-based distance education. Audio and video delivered via the Internet can be used for a variety of educational purposes such as transmitting lectures and demonstrations. In particular, short video clips can be enormously beneficial in demonstrating clinical procedures such as intubation or line insertion. While video files often take up considerable space, audio files usually have much more modest space requirements, depending on the quality of recording delivered. Multimedia files such as audio or video come in two general formats: “downloaded” format and “streaming” format. In the case of the former, the file must be completely received before it can be played, while in the case of streaming files, the material can be played before the material is fully received. Another difference is that downloaded files can usually be saved to hard drive for later use while some streaming formats do not allow the material to be permanently saved so that one can replay them at will. (This “single play only” feature appeals to many music distributors who fear that their material could be spread over the Internet without any restriction such as happened when Napster first set up shop). Sound, image and video files can be uncompressed or compressed, but compression is almost always used when multimedia materials are transmitted via the Web. This is necessary in order to reduce transmission time. Compression can be as much as 90% or more, depending on the technology used. Furthermore, compression can be lossless or lossy, depending on whether or not the original data can be mathematically reconstructed exactly by a reverse operation. Incorporation of multimedia into Web pages is now relatively easy when advanced Web page production packages such as Microsoft Front Page are used. Such packages often allow incorporation of multimedia files using simple “click and drag” methods. This shifts the challenge to that of producing good quality content. A variety of inexpensive audio and video editing tools are available for that purpose. For more information, please consult the information shown in Tables I and II. To see some sample Web-based videos on a variety of anesthesia topics, visit http://gasnet.org/videos/index.php (you will need to download the RealVideo G2 player before you can view these videos).

The Tutor Assistant: An Authoring Tool for an Intelligent Language Tutoring System

This paper describes the Tutor Assistant, an authoring tool for an Intelligent Language Tutoring systems (ILTS) for English as a Second Language (ESL). The common goal of authoring tools for ITSs is to reduce the costs in expertise and time that is required to produce a usable intelligent learning environment. The Tutor Assistant is designed to be usable by language instructions with little of no experience of ILTSs and ILTS authoring tools. This paper reports on a recent study which evaluates the degree to which typical users of our system can author good quality content for an ILTS and establishes benchmarks for development times.