Importance

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Abstract

An Internet technology-based system (e.g., Web site) helps individuals filter and evaluate conflicting information through a process of online debate. The system leverages the inter-connection of the Internet to tap the expertise of users anywhere in the world, such that filtering and evaluation emerges dynamically from the process of communication and debate. In an illustrative implementation, the system infrastructure includes a data base, a rating process, community services, mechanisms for site organization and operation, and user interfaces. The database includes an argument base that structures discussion as a network of debates. The rating process operates directly and indirectly to accumulate the knowledge of the community for filtering and evaluating the information in the argument base. The argument base, rating process, and other elements of the system help users to quickly understand the key points of argument surrounding important issues without time consuming research, to identify the key facts or assumptions that are in contention while not having to think about extraneous and misleading rhetoric, and to support further research to explore specific points of interest in more detail.

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First Claim