[1186] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Results: First Internet Hunt, Pt. 1 of 2
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Thu Sep 10 09:15:55 1992
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 08:03:58 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: lb05gate@UCSBUXA.BITNET (Rick Gates)
Subject: RESULTS: First Internet Hunt, Pt. 1 of 2
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WARNING !!!! WARNING !!! WARNING !!! WARNING !!!
IMMINENT EYESTRAIN DANGER !!!
THIS MESSAGE IS VERY LONG. 20 OR MORE SCREENS !!!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK !!!
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RESULTS of the FIRST INTERNET HUNT !!!
The first Internet Hunt is officially closed. And the winner
is...
Hope N. Tillman
Director of Libraries
Horn Library
Babson College
Babson Park MA 02157
... who submitted an entry scoring 46 points on Friday Sept 4, at
03:22 GMT. Congratulations Hope!
STATISTICS
===========
Entries received: 15
Comments received: 37
WHAT I'VE LEARNED
===================
1. There's a lot of interest in knowing how the players arrived
at their answers. So along with the answers, I'm also posting
the winner's methods, and any other methods that seem useful.
2. Almost all players stated that they found the Hunt fun. I
guess this should come as no surprise as those who find this sort
of mining of the networks fun were the most likely to try their
hand at the Hunt.
3. Almost all comments were extremely positive. I was glad to
see that many were pleased and surprised at the types of primary
information that are available.
4. Checking every answer for validity is very time-consuming.
I'm giving preference to those answers that provide information
now, without intemediary subscription or registration requests
(see below).
HOW I SCORED THE ENTRIES
========================
1. Not everyone used the same methods as myself for answering
these questions. This was expected (and should be quite obvious
to anyone who regularly navigates the Net). As I began to score
the entries, I found that frequently an answer that left much of
the method of access unstated made it difficult to verify the
answer. I wished to reward those who had explained how they'd
found the answers. Therefore, I began to knock points off for
answers that didn't specify clearly what methods were used.
An example would be:
Available via FTP from host.site.edu
vs.
Available via FTP from host.site.edu in
/pub/dir1/subdir2/info, filename info.txt
The second form is preferred, and should get full credit.
2. Maximum points are awarded only for those answers using access
methods that are *not* licensed to a particular subset of Net
users. For example if someone answers a question by accessing a
database that is licensed to a particular University, that answer
will not be awarded the maximum points.
3. I'm giving preference to answers that can be solved
immediately using the Net. Those answers requiring subscribing
to listservs, or registering for future use will not receive full
points. (This is not to say that these are invalid sources of
information, but that they are outside the scope of this
exercise. My main problem with them is that answers of this type
would slow down my turnaround time for checking the validity of
all answers.)
HOW I'M HANDLING THE ANSWERS
============================
1. I'll post the original question, the answer from the winning
entry, and other useful, (and legitimate answers).
2. I will not post any entry that utilizes an access method that is
licensed to a particular subset of Net users. Anyone who has cruised
the Net at any length has discovered licensed resources that are
accessible to anyone. I will not expose those resources to further
unlicensed access. For example, you will not see any mention of
access to dictionaries, as I am currently unaware of any in the public
domain.
3. If any answer has not been awarded full credit, I'll put in a
note explaining why.
SOME FINAL NOTES
================
1. Any player wishing to see how I rated their own entry may do so by
posting me. I don't wish to get into any arguments about how I grade.
This is an exercise to teach us about Net access. (It won't affect
anyone's grade point average. :-)
2. I'm as prone to mistakes as the next guy (maybe more so). I'm
totally open to any and all criticism about how to make the Hunt a
better exercise. If you have anything at all to say, let me know. I
can take it.
3. Since the comments that I *did* get were so positive, I've decided
to try making the Hunt a monthly occurrance. One comment did suggest
that I post notice of the Hunt's impending release into the Nets so
that folks are not caught off guard. What does everyone think about
this?
4. Thanks to all who commented, and especially the players. As I've
said before, the only way to learn to navigate the Nets is to unfurl
the sails, and heave ho. Try these methods of access, and let me know
if you think you learn more than reading about it in a book.
Ciao for now,
Rick
End of Part 1 of 2
