Creating a survey in Google Documents

Recently, I was asked to assist in creating a survey that can be used for a project.  The questionnaire was already completed, but I needed to find a way to create an online version that is free, offered several options for question types, compiles the data that is easy to interpret, and can be completed by at least a 100 people.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that google doc offers a way that met all my needs.  Here is how you create a survey/poll in google docs.



In response to Neil's question, the survey in a previous blog and in the tutorial was created for several reasons.  First off, it is a very simple survey that is mostly multiple choice.  I wanted it to be simple so that the user will more likely fill it out.  I am curious about how often people are online vs. watching television.  Originally, I began creating the survey as a practice run for another project I am working on.  Then I modified it to be more meaningful to issues I am interested in.  For instance, are females more likely to watch tv as opposed to using a computer at home.  Plus there has been a lot of talk about people getting rid of their television cable service and viewing their shows online when available.  The survey doesn't offer a clear correlation between tv programming and getting online to watch shows, but I intend on creating a more comprehensive survey to target that specific variable.  For now, I am curious and want to see what sort of results I get and then create a new poll.

Survey

Bringing two platforms together

Introducing Web 2.0 to Artificial Intelligence

How can artificial intelligence and web 2.0 work in conjunction with each other?  Consider for a moment social networking.  Currently, there are over 400 million people interacting through Facebook and they have access to over 160 million interactive objects.  Zabaware has created an AI chat bot, named Ultra Hal, that

"evolves and learns through social interaction with Facebook users."

 Aside from acting as a personal assistant, it can respond in similar ways that the user would and also differentiate between various friends and those that aren’t classified as friends.  This particular application can increase efficiency in task management, remind the user of events, and synthesize information to provide a “daily digest” of activity.  Also, for users with reading disabilities, Hal can assist them by reading aloud, converting text to speech and vice versa without using in conjunction with Facebook.   Some of Hal’s features include:

• Understands English
• Shows emotion
• Evolves
• Speaks out loud
• Defines words
• Keeps appointment book.....

For teachers, depending on the regulations/permissions of the school, they may be interested in using Hal in Second Life (SL).  Psychology students may program their avatar to interact and collect data based on events with real people in SL.  Here is an example of a professor using a chat bot teaching English in Second Life:



There are several examples online where individuals and groups have successfully used chatter bots on their blogs.  The chatter bot learns from the blog and certain information outlined by the blogger.  In essence, a chatter bot can communicate with the viewer so there is communication back and forth.  One such example is the Inf., from Inf.net5.  The inf. is customizable and can be used on various platforms.  Once again it is great for users with disabilities.  However, there are some advantages for educators to use an Inf.  An instructor can design and instruct and Inf. to communicate with their students whenever they are not available.  The Inf. learns from dialogue and also can be programmed to have a specific response to questions.

It is fascinating to learn about this emerging technology and envision all the practical applications for education.  If you have some great ideas about how it can help in education-leave a comment. 

My Inf

Today I created my Inf. I have been doing research on web 2.0 and artificial intelligence (AI). To be more precise, I am interested in how interactions and relationships develop online as well as learning. So I began reading more about all of them and it led me to this....



Some of the questions I began with include:

• What is intelligence
• How do people interact with each other using web 2.0 tools
• What about the future-will these tools still be there
• Then it became, what role will AI have in the future?  So I thought there must be an intermediate stage where AI and web 2.0 must overlap.
• How can AI avatars help in education, handicap individuals, and interaction between people

The report is still in the works because I want to be as thorough and clear as I can be.  Since it is mostly theoretical I think it is important to note what is currently available and how it can be applied along with some minor suggestions on what the future may allow in terms in AI, web 2.0, and trends in technology.