Wolfram Alpha
What was once referred to as the double-edged sword of humanity, technology is slowly starting to win over the crowd that believed it will only bring harm in the end. One group in particular that has been wooed by the recent advances in technology is the student body. There have always been devices and tools such as calculators and word processors to help students with their studies, but there has never been a program that will not only aid you, but complete the problem for you and give you a visual of how it reached that answer. This futuristic-sounding marvel is now a reality thanks to “Wolfram Alpha”.
Wolfram Alpha is an online computational knowledge engine; it is an online server that answers fact based question in real time. The Wolfram Alpha super computer was invented by the Wolfram Research Company. Wolfram Research is a private company founded by Stephen Wolfram, the scientist responsible for a majority of the development of the mathematical link in excel. The site was released on the 15th of May, 2009 on the same platform as Stephen Wolfram’s Mathematica, a computer software launched over twenty years ago that was capable of doing tremendous amounts of mathematical equations. The Mathematica program has evolved over the years and is now more powerful than ever. Stephen Wolfram stated that mathematica is written in over 15 million lines of code and runs on more than 10,000 processing units. This makes the mathematica program one of the major components of the Wolfram Alpha knowledge system. In the Wolfram website, the overview of Mathematica says “The Automation is the key to productive computing. Unlike other systems, Mathematica applies intelligent automation in every part of the system, from algorithm selection to plot layout and user interface design. You get reliable, high-quality results without needing algorithm expertise—and even if you're an expert, you get results faster.”
Aside from the numerical logistics, the website is linked to the United States Geological Survey, CIA's World Fact book, and even Publications from Universities. As stated on the CIA’s website, the CIA World Factbook started as a “biannual federal report on international sections of Land, Water, People, Government, Economy, Communications, and Defense Forces.” Now The CIA World Fact book is a continually updating, government funded, accurate resource for all types of questions relating to the world. Wolfram Alpha’s access to resources like the CIA’s Fact Book insures accurate information is provided and helps filter out false information from unreliable sources.
Thanks to the supercomputer powering the website, it is capable of answering numerical equations such as algebra, statistics, chemical equations and even physics problems. This means you could enter an algebraic equation into the Wolfram search bar and the website would solve the problem step by step and would walk you through even the most complex equations you can hurl at it.
Wolfram Alpha will solve most math related problems using its own mathematical knowledge. Wolfram Alpha can also be used as a converter for many different forms of measurement. What's neat about the converter is that it can do several steps in one. For example, in chemistry, to convert from grams to number of atoms you have to first convert the grams to moles, and then convert the moles to number of atoms, while on Wolfram Alpha you can simply type in 12 grams of Silicone to number of atoms and Wolfram Alpha will respond with the number of Atoms in 12 grams of Silicone. These types of conversions can be very time consuming and because of the amount of steps, are easy to make mistakes on. So, by using Wolfram Alpha you not only save time but you can trust the answers are correct. You can do the same for balancing chemical equations or even a physics problem you need help with. So, let’s break down the main features of the Wolfram system; it started as an all in one calculator, but now it’s also an encyclopedia, unit converter, and even a fact finder. With almost any homework help you would need as a student, Wolfram can help you do it. Wolfram Alpha is different from a search engine because while Google will give you the links that might contain what you’re looking for, Wolfram Alpha will spit out the answer - Wolfram gives data instead of links. With that in mind, questions must be much more specific in order for Wolfram Alpha to process it. Another amazing feature that involves Wolfram Alpha with Web 2.0 is that once you have an answer you can share it with friends via e-mail or social networking sites, which can be helpful during group projects.
Wolfram Alpha is quickly becoming the weapon of choice for students worldwide when it comes to their arsenal of academic aids. The supercomputer powering the website is not the only thing that makes this website leap above the rest. A very overlooked feature that acts as the maestro for this orchestra of innovation is its simplistic layout that is one hundred percent user friendly and allows incredibly easy access to all of the site’s features. Much like Google, a goal for Wolfram Alpha is to keep the site clutter free and easy to use. The problem with many websites today is that they try too hard to stuff as much content as they can in one page, making it very hard to navigate. This can be especially true to the older generations who are not as tech-savvy and take longer to navigate through websites. Along with it’s seamless design that allows for quick and easy navigation, its fast processing speed reduces time spent on tedious questions and gets you answers quick when you need them, without the hassle of waiting for your answers. Another awesome feature Wolfram has added is the ability to share the answer derived with friends. And of course, the most raved about feature of Wolfram Alpha is that it not only gives you the correct answer, but it will show you how to do each problem step by step. This is an amazing feature that is incredibly hard to find, especially for upper level courses. Lastly, all this power is available at your fingertips with the recent addition of the mobile app. You can now solve problems on the go with the use of your smart phone. This feature was welcomed with open arms as it was given a five star rating on the Apple App Store.
Now, as far as the cons go, while they are limited they do still exist and should be addressed. One of the main concerns of programs like Wolfram Alpha is that they can be used to speed through homework without learning anything. While this is a possibility it really can't be blamed on the program, much like a calculator can't be blamed for kids being lazy with their multiplication. While this is conceivable, the problem would lay on the ethics of the user, rather than on the structure of the program. Wolfram Alpha is a powerful resource and is built around the idea of readily accessible information; how it’s used depends on the user. It has long been debated that sites such as Wolfram Alpha will hurt a student’s academic performance overtime as they become dependent on a computer to complete all their homework for them. The main idea behind daily homework is to learn through repetition so one will be familiar with the content on the day of the exam. This means that come exam day, the student will not be prepared for his or her exam. Again, this is a matter of ethics and is in the hands of the user, not the program itself.
Overall, the pros heavily outweigh the cons for Wolfram Alpha. The bottom
line is that this website does what it was created for - helping with almost any form of school work ranging from beginner algebra to graduate level chemistry. Wolfram did an amazing job with the design of the website as you do not have to spend hours sifting through link after link trying to find an answer that is similar to what you are looking for, as the high powered search engine will find you the right answer immediately. On top of its user friendly interface, Wolfram Alpha is a very reliable source of information since its data goes through a certification check from experts in the field the data pertains to. The main grudge teachers have over the internet these days is the swamp of unreliable information out there that students can’t seem to keep out of. That is no longer a point of concern for those who use Wolfram Alpha as their source of information. In conclusion, Wolfram Alpha proves to be the most efficient and reliable computing software program available to students. Wolfram Alpha is an incredible display of modern software engineering that will only get better as the computer age continues to evolve. If used responsibly, Wolfram Alpha can be a game changer for students looking to bring their academics to the next level.
Works Cited
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.
"How the Hell Does Wolfram Alpha Work?" TechRadar. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"Stephen Wolfram: The Background and Vision of Mathematica." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Oct.
2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"What Is Mathematica?" Wolfram Mathematica: Technical Computing Software—Taking You from Idea to Solution. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
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