| Q1 | How can I get into the system? |
| If you are a registered participant, log in here. If you don't remember your password, you can generate a temporary one. This only works if we know your email. Otherwise, the only thing you can do is to register a new account (see below). | |
| You need to register before you can use the service for the first time. The registration is simple, you are only required to choose your login name and a password. Optionally, you can enter some additional information, for example, your email allow us to send you a new password if you forget one. The login name is used to keep track of your problems and contribution. Please read the registration agreement carefully. The important thing that you should notice is that you allow us to publish your contributed content without mentioning your name. This is similar to blind peer-review and is an important in our technology to ensure that all contributions will be evaluated without any subjective bias. | |
| Q2 | I got in, what shall I do next? |
| When you are in, you can browse problems we are solving and solutions to them. It interesting to know what problems other people have. The Community problems list contains questions that were submitted by someone earlier and not resolved yet. Next to each question there is a selection box that allows you to evaluate this question or add it to your interest list. It is like bookmarking an interesting problem, so that you can check solutions to it anytime. This brings it to attention of more people, so it helps to get more solutions faster. You can press Community problems tab to refresh the list | |
| Selection: Many problems come with several solutions already. Not all of them are equally good. You can contribute your knowledge by selecting better solution options. To select a solution, click the radio button next to it (as the one you can see to the left of this paragraph). Use your best judgment to determine which solution is better. We aggregate choices of many people to decide which solutions are the best. By selecting better solutions you also reward their authors for their contribution, their ranking increases each time their solution is selected by someone. You submit your evaluation by pressing Submit button at the bottom of the list. You can also press Community problems tab to refresh the list | .|
| Mutation: Another way you can contribute your knowledge is by improving solutions suggested by others. This is simple. Each problem has an input box for new solutions. It is located below the selectable options. If you see a solution that can be easily improved, paste it to the input box and improve. You can edit the content of the input box and then submit the modified solution (Submit button is at the bottom of the list. | |
| Recombination: Many problems come with two or more solutions. Think how their parts can be recombined to yield a better solution. Try it by cutting and pasting the parts of existing solutions into the input box for the new solution. In addition, you can edit the result as you see fit before submitting it. | |
| Initialization: Some problems appear with no solutions, none of the solution options are appropriate, or you may know a completely different solution that is better than all listed. If you see no appropriate solution, don't choose any of them -- submit yours instead. Type your new solution into the input box. However, the input box don't have to be filled. It can be left empty, especially if you don't have any solution. Don't type "I don't know" or "I agree with the above solution", just leave it empty. In the latter case, selecting the solution you agree would be a more proper action. On the other hand, if you don't have a solution, but have a hint potentially useful to others, we encourage you to submit it as it might evolve into a complete answer. if you are unsure of your answer, you may type it. Do not be afraid to give incorrect, uncomplete or just weird answer, because all answers will be collaboratively filtered multiple times. There is no fine for incorrect answer and your reputation will not be damaged in any way. | |
| Q3 | I have my own problem to be solved. What shall I do? |
Many questions can be instantly answered by searching the web. If you suspect that your problem falls into this category, try web search first. If your problem is in a text form, click here for an easy way to select search keywords. If you have keywords rather than the text, type them right here to search Google |
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| Alternatively, you can add your problem to the end of the list of Community problems. At the bottom of the list there is a place for your problem and (optionally) a solution. Type one if you have it, or leave the solution field blank. Typing an imperfect solution or a hint that you already have can save time and produce better solution faster. Other people will be able to improve on your imperfect solution or use your hints. Please don't put your hints in the problem description because there is always a chance that a hint will lead others away from the good solution. Posting them as a solution will work better. | |
| Q4 | I posted a question. Where did my question go? |
| Press My problems tab to see a ranked list of your problems/questions. They are ranked by community interest to them. This means that the problems at the top will tend to acquire solutions faster. Each problem comes with solutions we have so far. The solutions are also ranked according to their fitness for their respective problem. This ranking is based on community evaluation. If you are no longer interested in a certain problem, delete it using the popup menu box next to it. Keep in mind that the problem solving power associated with your contribution is divided equally among all problems in your interest list. So don't forget to remove the problem you no longer interested. Although you can have many problems in your list, the concentration on few problems at a time can be more effective. | |
| Q5 | I posted a solution. Where did my solution go? |
| Your solution was routed to other people for evaluation. If the problem is in your interest list and your solution is selected, you will see it among other solutions when you press My problems tab. | |
| Q6 | What are the user stats? |
| Our system is constructed in such a way that it pays equal attention to the solutions submitted by its users. At the same time, it pays unequal attention to the problems submitted. Problem page is constantly changing, and the problems of members with higher credit (rating) appear there more frequently. This is fair because these people helped to solve many problems. They deserve, that their own problems were solved quickly. Rating is not a measure of intelligence (IQ), or abilities. It shows only the credit that our community owe to the certain person for helping us. It is a measure of contibution to our community. You can be very bright and contibute nothing, you can be very slow in thought, but your one idea can worth more than thousand. |