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.<\/p>\n
“The reason this is important is that very often you’ll read a website and not realize this is only one side of the story,” Intel research scientist Robert Ennals said in an online video.<\/p>\n
Dispute Finder automatically highlights text containing contested claims and then links to boxes summarizing points and counter-points. The data base is designed to grow and evolve with user input.<\/p>\n
Votes regarding the reliability of information are used to filter dubious data.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The mini-program, which works with Firefox web browsers, became available Thursday online at disputefinder.cs.berkeley.edu.<\/p>\n