My Thoughts on One Man's Answer (by Barrett Sheridan on Newsweek)

         As a whole, this article has provided interesting information and discussion on the advent of newly formed computational knowledge engine, Wolfram Alpha. Everything presented is well thought of. However, I disagree on some elements of his arguments and think that there are some parts on which he can improve.

            The author’s description about Wolfram Alpha using analogy, examples and Stephen Wolfram’s own sayings is decent. Nonetheless, he left out some important features of Wolfram Alpha worth explored in the context such as, its feedback system, data contribution (similar to that of Wikipedia), and widgets and so on. Drawing comparison between these tools with those of Google and Wikipedia might provide fresh insights into the prospects of Wolfram Alpha.

            Besides, I think the author’s statement in paragraph 6, “But for questions not rooted in science or numbers, Wolfram Alpha throws up its hands,” is too one sided. Wolfram Alpha is certainly not limited to scientific and numerical knowledge. It has covered a wide range of socioeconomic and cultural data. For example, when you type a song name in, it tells you the names of composers and performers. It uses advanced linguistic processing system with its own ontology system, different from the usual Natural Language Processing (NLP.) Besides, the developer is developing more models, methods and algorithms to calculate all the potentially calculable knowledge including language. A fairer statement would be that it is more specialized in presenting facts rather than narrative and opinions.

            However, I agree with author’s claim that Wolfram Alpha is still lacking in local data at this early stage because I have tried searching for more place specific information such my previous high school address and information on local actress but to no avail. Most of the information is limited in U.S. only. Besides, some data shown are outdated. For example, when I tried researching on Haiti earthquake, it showed that no earthquake had happened this year. As for financial information, Wolfram Alpha shows a remarkable level of real time data.

            I think that the author also left out some weaknesses or limitations worth mentioned in this article. Among them are its preciseness of semantics and syntax structures required of our input, its availability only in one language and above all, its mode and rate of acquisition of data. Wolfram Alpha chooses to build its internal knowledgebase using primary sources instead of collaborating with Wikipedia or any other online encyclopedia. This step requires higher cost and longer time and most importantly, sacrifices the growth rate of its knowledgebase. Bypassing Wikipedia as a tested comprehensive knowledge compilation system and starting all over on its own might delay its impact on the ever-changing internet business sphere.

            There is also another faulty argument in paragraph 12. The author claims that Google could easily be an Alpha killer with its abundant workforce and cash. This claim, however, is based on a tenuous assumption: big fish certainly catches small fish. Size and resources are not the only determinant factors in internet as seen from the cases on how Microsoft surpassed IBM in operation system and how Google overtook Yahoo. First, Wolfram Alpha is currently holding the core technology, Mathematica, which Google cannot emulate and overcome in short period. Besides, Stephen Wolfram is also a shrewd businessman. As shown from Wolfram Alpha’s blog, it has announced partnership with Google’s long time rival, Bing. Such partnerships with big company will certainly prevent it from being acquitted by giant Google.

            After reading this article and experimenting with Wolfram Alpha, I also have come out with a few suggestions on further improving this website. It would certainly rid itself of outdated data if it collaborate with other websites such Wikipedia, About, Time and even some social networking websites like Facebook and Friendster. Such cooperation can provide it with real time data which, if combined with complex computational and analytical functions of Wolfram Alpha, poses high commercial and scientific values. Besides, Wolfram Alpha can also consider connect its outputs to other forms of content such as video and audio. Even more thrilling is that if Wolfram Alpha incorporates artificial intelligence in its system, it might form its own analysis, opinions and even discover new knowledge.


Note: This is my reaction paper written when WolframAlpha was first launched. 

Here is the link to Barrett Sheridan's article http://www.newsweek.com/2009/05/15/one-man-s-answer.html

                                                                                                                                                                  

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