Whats wrong with PICS and Internet ratings in general?
In theory, there are many useful applications of rating information. Book reviews and movie ratings are only two examples of the many ways in which we use information filters. Used in conjunction with other information sources – including advertising and word-of-mouth – these ratings provide a basis for making informed decisions regarding information. Unfortunately, PICS does not currently provide users with the contextual information and range of choices necessary for informed decision making. When deciding which movies to see, we have access to reviews, advertisements and trailers which provide information regarding the content. These details help us choose intelligently based on our values and preferences. On the other hand, PICS-based systems do not provide any contextual detail: users are simply told that access to a site is denied because the site’s rating exceeds a certain value on the rating scale. Furthermore, the limited range of currently available PICS ratings system does n
