Aligning internet usage with business priorities
Communications of the ACM - Internet abuse in the workplace and Game engines in scientific research
Does electronic monitoring of employee internet usage work?
Communications of the ACM - Internet abuse in the workplace and Game engines in scientific research
Calculating error rates for filtering software
Communications of the ACM - End-user development: tools that empower users to create their own software solutions
Evaluation of menu structure based on signal detection theory
Proceedings of the 26th annual ACM international conference on Design of communication
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
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Software filters are increasingly being touted as a solution to restrict access to inappropriate information in a variety of settings. Families want to protect young children from pornographic sites, corporations are searching for ways to minimize trivial use of the Internet by their employees, and non-profit organizations look to control information access to reflect the value system of their communities. Despite the exponential increase in software filter usage, its effectiveness is not clear. In addition, critics of the approach argue that mandated use of filtering software on public computers like libraries may result in denial of vital information to poorer sections of the society who do not have independent access to the Internet, thereby curbing intellectual freedom and creating inequity in access to information. The purpose of this study is to analytically evaluate the performance of software filters using the Signal Detection Theory (SDT) framework. Two types of software filters are modeled and analyzed--simple software filter (single method) and a sequence of software filters (multiple methods). Analysis shows the Iimited capability of both types of filters, with the multiple-method filter outperforming the simple filter. Results of this study caution proponent of filter-based solution to be realistic with expectations of the benefits of filtering based solutions. Implications of the findings for proper use and design of software filters are discussed.