Trust and Authority System

1. Trust and Authority System Or, a deeper look at inter-personal relationships

3. One of the most interesting aspects of this site is the relationship dynamics between users.

4. One of the most interesting aspects of this site is the relationship dynamics between users. Computer scientists are skilled at interacting with other people.

5. Wait a second…

6. One of the most interesting aspects of this site is the relationship dynamics between users. Computer scientists are skilledterrible at interacting with other people.

7. So how are we supposed to be able to design a system that we have trouble understanding in the first place?

8. Our suggestion: So how are we supposed to be able to design a system that we have trouble understanding in the first place?

9. Our suggestion: So how are we supposed to be able to design a system that we have trouble understanding in the first place? Hire a psychologist.

10. Our suggestion: So how are we supposed to be able to design a system that we have trouble understanding in the first place? Hire a psychologist. But since this probably isn’t the solution you were looking for…

11. Our first priority is to design the system such that it is flexible, and can be changed once real users start providing real data.

12. Our first priority is to design the system such that it is flexible, and can be changed once real users start providing real data. • Especially since a team full of psychologists probably wouldn’t get it right the first time either…

14. 1. TRUST

15. Two forms of trust • What the user sees • What the system calculates

16. Two forms of trust • What the user sees • “I trust the user this much.” • What the system calculates • “We think you might be interested in this user.”

17. 9 Levels of Trust 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

18. 9 Levels of Trust “I would trust this user with my life.” 8 7 “I trust this user.” 6 5 4 “I don’t know whether or not to trust this user.” Default Value 3 2 1 “I don’t trust this user one bit.” 0

19. 9 Levels of Trust • Simple to the user • More levels of trust than distrust • Most values between 2 and 6, so these are close while ends are further apart

20. 9 Levels of Trust • Besides giving us information, • Allows the user to organize his own information as well

21. Not all people will • utilize this system.

22. Not all people will • utilize this system. • Laziness • Doesn’t care • Chooses not to • Can’t find/understand it • (Shouldn’t be a problem if we design the website properly)

23. So, how do we • fix this?

24. So, how do we • gather information?

25. So, how do we • present interesting content?

26. So, how do we • establish relationships between people?

28. 2. Implicit Trust

29. If a user doesn’t tell us how much he trusts someone, we have to guess for him.

30. Page views

31. Good (or bad) ratings

32. Comments and other interaction

33. Calculate and apply small deviations to the current trust level • Use this value in all calculations, such as search results • This value is never shown to the user!

34. Addresses not only those who never set trust levels, but also: • Trust levels that haven’t been updated in a while • Trust levels that are inconsistent with other information

36. 3. Authority

37. Ideally, users would have an amount of inherent trust. • Because this is how it works in real life.

38. Someone has inherent trust because: • A lot of people trust him • He is in a position to be trusted

39. Someone has inherent trust because: • A lot of people trust him • He is in a position to be trusted • This is where authority comes in.

40. A self-selected, self-correcting, system • An author, when posting content in an area, is prompted to indicate his own level of authority • There’s an incentive to tell the truth: • If you lie, people will distrust you!

41. A self-selected, self-correcting, system • If a user is not trusted enough to support his authority, he may be dropped down a rank • If the user is trusted by a number of people, it may suggest that the user move up a rank • This is affected by trust, ratings, views, and possibly peer reviews (more on this in a moment)

42. Elitism • A system of our nature will create strong relationships, and high quality authors will emerge from the start • Newer users will have a tough time breaking into this network, however • By allowing a user to designate an appropriate authority level, he can be found early on

43. Perks:

44. Perks: • Influence

45. Perks: • Higher search results

46. Perks: • $$$$$

47. Management by Admin • Always better to have more eyes (and control) • Can’t guarantee people will use trust and rating systems • Might want to require Admin approval for highest levels of authority

48. Also, Peer Reviews • High-authority users can review other authors’ content, and suggest a higher (or lower) authority • Reviews should be well-written, high quality feedback provided by a reputable source • A quick way to move up through the ranks

49. Authority Levels • Guru • Expert • Professional • Teacher • Amateur • Student

50. Authority Levels • Guru • Expert • Professional • Teacher • Amateur • Student User can select