I Just Got an Idea

[slash196]

These message boards are quite possibly the greatest wealth of computer information in existence.

 

[nbarb99]

I've thought of this in the past but never did anything with it. I think it'd be great to have a general computer quiz, especially if individual categories and seperate skill levels were implemented (both of which have already been suggested).

Go for it!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Czar
isnt this called A+

This one should be called "AT+".

And then the extra-hard version (with loads of bonus questions), could be called the "AT++".

For those that scored perfectly on both of them, we can later create a "WTFBBQAT++++++" quiz just for them.

 

[DKlein]

Alright, I'll give it a go. New thread, same forum.

Also, anyone have any specific individuals in mind that could make the really tough questions? Nominations now open...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: PCHPlayer
Back on topic: It is an interesting idea, but I think it would be alot of work. Once completed, you could start a thread where people could post their score. Once the shine wears off nobody will take the test anymore and the thread dies... end of work. You are left with an interesting "computer knowledge test" web page.

That hasn't stopped those "purity test" web pages from remaining online. Some people like taking those sorts of "tests", kind of like magazine quizzes, you know the ones about "take our quick quiz, find out how good you would be with a supermodel in bed with hot grits", etc. (To paraphrase both popular magazine-cover themes and Slashdot/geek themes.)

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: DKlein
Alright, I'll give it a go. New thread, same forum.

Also, anyone have any specific individuals in mind that could make the really tough questions? Nominations now open...

MechBgon, Schadenfroh, VLarry, Zebo, Duvie are just a few who come to mind. I'm not really smart enough myself to judge and rarely visit the Networking section for example to know who the "whizzes" are over there. See if you can find a list of "Elite" members who are NOT from OT and P&N. Surely the "Elite" people can better judge who are the other expert members. There are likely members very knowledgeable who just don't post frequently as well.

But there's nothing wrong with starting out with "beginer" or "moderate" or "advanced". If we got that done, the "expert" guys could come in review that stuff and then add a layer of questions for higher difficutly levels.

IMHO to do this well it'll have to have some organization/discipline/management. Ex. define clear goals/objectives. Like the first thread focuses on defining the categories. Then moves to those categories one at a time eliciting questions which can be later be sorted into different difficulty levels.

If it's a wide open thread with comments about everything from A-Z it'll be ungodly mess of discordanant babble impossible to sort and organize.

Fern

DKlein, you're profile is not enabled. If you're a student, turned it into a school project and get an additional bonus out of it. Likewise for other participants.

 

[MisterChief]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Shut up. Make it. Post it.

:thumbsup::beer:

 

[minofifa]

don't know if this has been said already (if it has, sorry). but:

it would be cool if there were a series of tests, from easy to hard, each time one was passed (say 90% or better) you would move up one in member rankings. this way when somebody posts a response, that response could be taken as more or less reliable.

oh yeah, you would have to write the exams in order, and if you failed one, you would have to wait a week to write it again. this would make it so people couldn't write the test a bazillion times to memorize the answers.

 

[DKlein]

Nominations remain in here, difficulty level conversation starting in new thread (The TEST).

 

[Zebo]

The problem with any tests of this sort is things are ever changing at a very rapid pace so it makes a knowledgable person today a dummy 6 months if he gets a life and stops frequenting tech sites . It's also this rapid pace which makes this such an interesting hobby.

I would describe myself as having basic knowledge of parts, settings and OS configuration/networking. Certainly not to the level of understanding unerlying EE of what makes it all work nor some programs with high learning cruves such as CAD, modeling, and image manipulation..progamming? forgettaboutit.. All I know is fleating only helped by continual builds and reading tech sites/forum.

FREN's on the right track though.. some basics of networking, OCing, ghosting, building...would all be good Q'S.

 

[DrCool]

Originally posted by: DKlein
Then I thought, "that's a good idea, Dave, you're so smart." Then I thought it would be best to put up a post about this idea. Then I did.

then i thought, "i think dave is killing me, because i'm laughing so hard it hurts!"
then i thought, "DrCool your so handsome!"
and I was RIGHT

Originally posted by: Blain
Modesty would prevent me from nominating myself, even though I am quite the expert on every facet of computer knowledge.

 

[natethegreat]

My first thought, whats to stop people from just googleing up the answers as they take the quiz?

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: natethegreat
My first thought, whats to stop people from just googleing up the answers as they take the quiz?

time limit on each question

 

[Rami7007]

I think it is a good idea... DO IT!!!

I agree with what someone was saying that you need some REALLY, REALLY, basic things like left and right click ! Moderate questions like what is RAM (random access memory), or CPU (central processing unit), etc... Then tougher questions like what is ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) or how are RAM and HDD's different in storing information and which interacts directly with the CPU, etc... Oh almost forgot, what is a bit, how many bits are in a byte, what is a nibble (i love the nibble), kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, etc...

I think it would be cool to do it... so do it!

Oh you could make a quesion about converting to binary, octal, or hex...

01011001011011110111010100100000011000010111001001100101001000000111001101101101011000010111001001110100

 

[Rami7007]

oh yeah... what are you going to make the quiz with?? Flash??

 

[DKlein]

We are doing it, check out the newest thread http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear]Here[/url.

We're not sure about how we're making it yet. Until we can find someone capable of making it in Flash, it will have to remain basic. Unfortunately I don't have many skills for this sort of thing, but we're still looking around.

 

[Rami7007]

i could make it for you in flash !!!! I use flash a whole lot.... i program games with physics and gravity (side scrolling counter strike baby!!!!!) in it so i could make the quiz if you would like! I could make it look flashy too


Really i use flash a WHOLE LOT.... as a matter of fact im on it now!

 

[Rami7007]

takin my offer??

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Rami7007
oh yeah... what are you going to make the quiz with?? Flash??

If it is Flash, which I don't think it should be - just keep it basic, especially for the basic folk who might not know what "Missing Plugin" means, or those who couldn't figure out how to click "Yes" when IE prompts to download Flash Player. But anyway, if it is Flash, PLEASE don't have annoying sounds enabled by default. I hate sites that have a Flash menu that must fully load until the "Skip intro" button appears, by which time you are slammed with loud, irritating sounds for everything your cursor moves over.
Also, have I ranted recently that I hate websites with background sound that you can't turn off? Looking for physics equations, and some site has midi files, LOUD midi files playing. Luckily, Adblock was able to block them.

 

[DKlein]

Well, if we decide to go Flash, we'll definately take you up on that. As it stands, I'm not sure exactly what the format will be yet, though.

 

[Cawchy87]

Whoever has an internet connection and knows how to type google wins.