Critical Review of Web Content

Critical review of web content

1. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/

2. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ WHO Personal page or site? RYT Hospital – corporate site Contact information No address, phone number or e-mail listed. Just message form to be submitted for information. Author or publisher Non listed other than hospital Organization credentials Simple web search for [RYT Hospital] lists several results that claim this site is a hoax Bios or resumes No bios or resumes for medical professionals mentioned Credibility of contributors Doctors listed do not appear in simple searches; t he pharmaceutical company, Nevardis, and the medication, Rivitalex do not exist outside of site Source: kathyschrock.net

3. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ WHAT Type of domain .com “About Us” section Looks very credible at first glance but then lists several medical innovations that seem more like science fiction than medical science. These include male pregnancy; NanoDocs , nanotech robots which monitor a person’s body status in real-time while traveling through their blood and tissue; first transgenic mouse with human intelligence Site navigation Site is very easy to navigate and slickly designed Documented facts or opinions There is a testimonial listed from a Broadway dancer who claims she was performing again one week after nanotechnology procedure; there is no specific mention of which procedure nor is the dancer well known; a Yahoo search does list a Cynthia Smith as a f ormer dancer with Sesame Street Live who now teaches dance in NYC. Source: kathyschrock.net

4. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ WHEN Date created or updated No date listed; copyright has no date Links current Most links do not work and revert back to original info; Site navigation Site is very easy to navigate and slickly designed Source: kathyschrock.net

5. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ WHERE Source of information RYT Hospital is affiliated with Dwayne University Medical College. Neither entity exists elsewhere and are not affiliated with any other university or established medical research institution External links No external links; no mentions of other sites or medical/governmental agencies References No bibliography or sources listed Info found via other sources The medical innovations discussed cannot be found elsewhere Source: kathyschrock.net

6. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ WHY Reason for site There is no apparent motive for the website other than promoting RYT Hospital and its “innovations”; search results do claim it is a hoax but the website is quite elaborate Information useful The information is not useful because it is unsubstantiated Selling product There are no product offering or external ads promoting merchandise Advocating agenda Website does not promote any specific agenda; information listed in the “factual” style used by medical institutions; the lack of bias adds to the site’s presumed credibility Source: kathyschrock.net

7. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ Bottom Line Is the website a credible source of information? NO Yet, if you entered via the patient care or education page the site could appear rather plausible.

8. Critical Review of Website Analyze content of http://www.rythospital.com/2011/ A deeper web search of RYT Hospital website finds that it is actually part of an art installation by Virgil Wong. Wong is a graduate faculty member in the MFA media studies program at The New School University in New York. He developed the project to demonstrate that the visual conventions of an institution (logo and website) can produce an aura of credibility which “coaxes viewers to suspend their disbelief for just a moment and consider the remarkable implications if such stories were actually true” (Eifmova & Wong, 2003). In 2009, the New York Times reported that it “promotes a fictitious medical center — its Web site, rythospital.com , is disarmingly authentic — that specializes in male pregnancy (Ryzik, 2009). This may be an extreme case of misinformation on a website but it highlights the most important part of evaluation – ALWAYS LOOK BEYOND STYLE FOR SUBSTANCE

9. References Ryzik , M. (2009, May 10). ‘ HomeBase IV’ - at an abandoned clinic, artists reflect on home. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/arts/design/11home.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1354471295-7jnKxru21fXx5goD1GjYhQ Scheibe , C. & Rogow , F. (2008) 12 Basic Ways to integrate media literacy and critical thinking into any curriculum (3 rd ed.). Project Look Sharp, Ithaca College. Retrieved from http://www.ithaca.edu/looksharp/Resources%202/12BasicWaysBooklet.pdf Schrock, K. (2001). The five w’s of web site evaluation Retrieved from kathyschrock.net/ abceval /5ws.pdf Efimova , A. (Interviewer) & Wong, V. (Interviewee). 2003. Art exhibitions G-Commerce (Interview Transcript). Retrieved from University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and pacific Film Archive Web site: http:// www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/art/AN0208